Mariposa County Small Claims Court

Court Information

Court name

Superior Court of California, County of Mariposa — Small Claims & Unlawful Detainers Division (Historic Courthouse)

Address

5088 Bullion Street, Mariposa, CA 95338

Phone

(209) 966-2005

Hours

Mon-Fri 8:00am-3:00pm

Official website

https://www.mariposa.courts.ca.gov/divisions/small-claims-unlawful-detainers

Typical hearing wait

7 weeks

Filing Fees

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

Claim amount	Filing 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

File your small claims case in person at the Historic Courthouse, 5088 Bullion Street, Mariposa, CA 95338. Bring the original plus at least two copies of your SC-100 claim form, along with the filing fee (or a fee-waiver request, form FW-001, if you cannot afford it). The Small Claims Advisor, reachable at (209) 742-5322, can help you prepare your paperwork free of charge.

Serving the Defendant

The defendant must be served at least 15 days before the trial date if they live in Mariposa County, or at least 20 days if they live outside the county. Service may be made by personal delivery, substituted service, or certified mail (an extra $15 fee per defendant for certified mail). File your proof of service (SC-104) with the court at least 5 days before the hearing.

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

Hearing Tips

Bring all witnesses, documents, and receipts that support your claim to the hearing.
Many cases are scheduled for the same time slot, so each case is given limited time -- come prepared and organized.
Consider observing a small claims session before your own hearing date to see how the process works.
Interpreters are provided at no cost for small claims hearings; request one from courtroom staff or the clerk's office in advance.
The court's Remote Appearance page does not list Small Claims among the divisions eligible for phone/remote hearings (only Civil & Probate, Criminal, Drug & Behavioral Health, and Family Law are listed) -- call the court at (209) 966-2005 to confirm before planning to appear by phone.

✓ Interpreters available

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