Nevada County Small Claims Court: Address, Fees & How to File

Court Information

Court name

Nevada County Superior Court -- Small Claims Division (Nevada City Courthouse)

Address

201 Church Street, Nevada City, CA 95959

Phone

(530) 362-4309

Hours

Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:00pm (Clerk's Office)

Official website

https://www.nevada.courts.ca.gov/small-claims

Typical hearing wait

6 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

Nevada County Superior Court -- Truckee Courthouse (Joseph Government Center)

Address

10075 Levon Avenue, Truckee, CA 96161

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 (form SC-100, plus the filing fee or a fee-waiver request using form FW-001) at the Nevada City Courthouse, 201 Church Street, Nevada City, CA 95959, or at the Truckee Courthouse -- Joseph Government Center, 10075 Levon Avenue, Truckee, CA 96161; the Civil Division handles cases filed at either location. Electronic filing is also available through the court's online filing system. The court's no-cost Small Claims Advisor can help you complete your paperwork but cannot represent you in court.

Serving the Defendant

Serve the defendant with your claim and the Notice of Court Hearing at least 15 days before the hearing if they live in the same county, or 20 days before the hearing if they live outside the county, using personal service, substituted service, or certified mail sent by the court clerk, per CCP Section 116.340. After service, file proof of service with the court before your hearing date. Only the court clerk may serve a filed small-claims claim by certified mail (Code of Civil Procedure §116.340(a)) — you, your process server, and any other adult cannot serve it by mail. Clerk-sent certified mail counts as served only on the date the defendant signs the return receipt (§116.340(c)); unsigned or returned mail is failed service, not service.

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

Hearing Tips

A free Small Claims Advisor is available to answer questions about preparing and presenting your case (though the Advisor cannot represent you or prepare your documents); call (530) 362-5328 -- noted by the court as the least-preferred contact method -- or use the Self-Help Center's online contact form.
For civil or small claims hearings, you may be provided a court interpreter if one is available; notify the court of your need in advance using a Request for Interpreter Services form.
Small claims hearings and trials are eligible for remote appearance via the court's video platform; if you request a remote appearance, you must notify all other parties at least 5 court days before the hearing (no forms or proof of service are required for that notice).
If appearing remotely, you must be in a private, quiet location -- the court states you may not appear from a moving vehicle or from bed.

✓ Interpreters available ✓ Phone appearance allowed

Know Your Rights Under California Law

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Read the full California Security Deposit Law guide →

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Nevada County Small Claims Court