Sonoma County Small Claims Court

Court Information

Court name

Sonoma County Superior Court — Small Claims Division (Civil and Family Law Courthouse)

Address

3055 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Phone

(707) 521-6610

Hours

Mon-Fri 8:00am-3:30pm (office), phone 8:00am-12:00pm

Official website

https://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/divisions/small-claims

Typical hearing wait

6 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 in person at the Civil and Family Law Courthouse (3055 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa). Office hours are Mon-Fri 8:00am-3:30pm; phones are answered 8:00am-12:00pm. Bring the SC-100 and filing fee (or fee waiver form FW-001). Sonoma County also offers voluntary e-service for case documents through the Sonoma County Bar Association portal.

Serving the Defendant

Serve the defendant at least 15 days before the hearing (20 days if the defendant lives outside Sonoma County). Service can be made by the Sonoma County Sheriff for a fee, by a registered process server, or by any adult who is not a party. File proof of service (SC-104) with the court before the hearing.

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

Hearing Tips

The clerk's office closes at 3:30pm — arrive well before then to file same-day documents.
Phone inquiries are only answered until noon; call in the morning for best access.
The Civil Self-Help Center provides small claims advisory services — contact them for case preparation assistance.
Bring three copies of every document and arrive at least 15 minutes early.

✓ 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 →

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