Stanislaus County Small Claims Court

Court Information

Court name

Stanislaus County Superior Court — Small Claims Division (Turlock Court)

Address

300 Starr Avenue, Turlock, CA 95380

Phone

(209) 530-3100

Hours

Mon-Fri 8:15am-4:00pm

Official website

https://www.stanislaus.courts.ca.gov/divisions/small-claims

Typical hearing wait

9 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 at the Turlock Court, 300 Starr Avenue, Turlock, CA 95380 -- the court's small-claims page states this is the county's single small-claims/unlawful-detainer hearing location (Department 19), serving all of Stanislaus County. You may file in person, by mail, or through e-Filing. Bring the completed Plaintiff's Claim (Form SC-100) and the filing fee, or a fee-waiver request (Form FW-001) if you cannot afford it.

Serving the Defendant

The defendant must be served at least 15 days before the hearing if they live or do business in Stanislaus County, or at least 20 days before the hearing if they live elsewhere. Service may be made by a law enforcement officer or the Sheriff's Department, by certified mail through the court clerk, or by personal or substituted service from anyone 18 or older who is not a party to the case -- you cannot serve the papers yourself. If using substituted service, the court advises allowing extra lead time (25/30 days) since service isn't complete until 10 days after the required follow-up mailing. File proof of service with the clerk 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 witnesses, photos, bills, receipts, contracts, and other documents supporting your case -- the Clerk's Office cannot accept exhibits ahead of time, so bring them to the hearing itself.
Your hearing may be presided over by a judge, commissioner, or temporary judge (Judge Pro Tem); the judge may announce a decision at the hearing or mail it to you later.
Expect a wait of roughly 60-70 days from filing to your hearing date.
Telephonic appearances are sometimes allowed but must be requested by calling the Turlock Clerk's Office directly (209-530-3100, option 6 then option 3) -- they are not available online, and are not approved if you need an interpreter or for an Order of Examination (OEX) hearing.
If you need an interpreter, submit a Request for Interpreter (Form INT-300) to the Clerk's Office at least 30 days before your court date; free help with your case (not with filling out forms) is also available from the Small Claims Advisor at (209) 530-3178 or the Self-Help Center at 800 11th Street, Room 220, Modesto.

✓ 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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