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Los Angeles County Small Claims Court

Everything California tenants need to file a security deposit claim — address, fees, deadlines, and hearing tips.

Court Information

Court name
Los Angeles County Superior Court -- Small Claims Division (Stanley Mosk Courthouse)
Address
111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone
(213) 830-0800
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
Official website
https://www.lacourt.org/division/smallclaims/smallclaims.aspx
Typical hearing wait
8 weeks

Other Courthouses in This County

This county hears small claims cases at more than one courthouse. Confirm the correct location on your Notice of Hearing before you file or appear.

Court name
Chatsworth Courthouse
Address
9425 Penfield Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311
Phone
(818) 407-2200
Court name
Compton Courthouse
Address
200 West Compton Blvd., Compton, CA 90220
Phone
(310) 761-4300
Court name
Downey Courthouse
Address
7500 East Imperial Highway, Downey, CA 90242
Phone
(562) 658-0500
Court name
Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse (Long Beach)
Address
275 Magnolia, Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone
(562) 256-3100
Court name
Inglewood Courthouse
Address
1 Regent Street, Inglewood, CA 90301
Phone
(310) 419-1300
Court name
Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse
Address
42011 4th Street West, Lancaster, CA 93534
Phone
(661) 483-5500
Court name
Pasadena Courthouse
Address
300 East Walnut St., Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone
(626) 396-3300
Court name
Santa Monica Courthouse
Address
1725 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone
(310) 255-1840
Court name
Van Nuys East Courthouse
Address
6230 Sylmar Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91401
Phone
(818) 901-4600
Court name
West Covina Courthouse
Address
1427 West Covina Parkway, West Covina, CA 91790
Phone
(626) 430-2600

Filing Fees

Max claim: $12,500  ·  Required forms: SC-100, SC-104

Claim amountFiling fee
$1 – $1,500$30
$1,501 – $5,000$50
$5,001 – $12,500$75

Fee waiver available if you qualify (form FW-001).

How to File

Los Angeles County hears small claims cases at 11 small claims hub courthouses: Chatsworth, Compton, Downey, Governor George Deukmejian (Long Beach), Inglewood, Michael D. Antonovich (Antelope Valley), Pasadena, Santa Monica, Stanley Mosk (Downtown Los Angeles), Van Nuys East, and West Covina. Local Rule 2.3 requires you to file at the hub court nearest or most accessible to where your claim arose (based on the defendant's residence, where the property is located, or where the injury or contract occurred) -- use the court's Filing Court Locator to confirm the correct location for your zip code. File in person or by mail at the appropriate courthouse, or e-file through an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP) for an additional $2.25 court service fee. Bring the completed Plaintiff's Claim and Order to Go to Small Claims Court (SC-100) and the filing fee, or submit a Request to Waive Court Fees (Form FW-001) if you cannot afford it.

Serving the Defendant

Serve the defendant with the Claim and Order (SC-100) by personal delivery or substituted service through a registered process server or any adult who is not a party to the case and is not you -- you cannot serve the papers yourself. File proof of service with the court at least 5 days before the hearing: use Form SC-104 for personal service or Form SC-104A for substituted service/mailing. Statewide law (Code of Civil Procedure section 116.340) requires the defendant to actually be served at least 15 days before the hearing (20 days if the defendant lives outside Los Angeles County).

Allowed methods: Personal service, Substituted service, Certified mail
Deadline: Serve at least 15 days before the hearing date.

Hearing Tips

✓ Interpreters available   ✓ Phone appearance allowed

Know Your Rights Under California Law

California Civil Code § 1950.5 requires landlords to return your deposit or provide an itemized statement within 21 days of move-out. If they fail to do so, you may be entitled to your deposit back plus up to 2× the deposit amount in statutory damages.

Read the full California Security Deposit Law guide →

Let us handle the legal work for you

Accessible Justice files your claim, prepares your documents, and guides you through the process — no upfront cost.

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