Court Information
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 claim (Form SC-100) in person at the Sutter County Superior Court -- Small Claims Division, 1175 Civic Center Blvd, Yuba City, CA 95993 (small claims cases are exempt from the court's mandatory e-filing program). File in the county where the defendant resides or does business, where the damage or accident occurred, or where the contract was signed, carried out, or broken. Bring the filing fee ($30, $50, or $75 depending on your claim amount) or a fee waiver application (Form FW-001) if you cannot afford it.
Serving the Defendant
You cannot serve the defendant yourself. Have the sheriff, a registered process server, any other adult who is not a party to the case, or certified mail arranged through the court clerk serve the claim. Service must be completed at least 15 days before the hearing (20 days if the defendant is served outside the county).
Allowed methods: Personal service, Substituted service, Certified mail
Deadline: Serve at least 15 days before the hearing date.
Hearing Tips
- Bring all witnesses, receipts, contracts, photos, and other evidence needed to prove your case.
- Before filing, you must have already asked the defendant -- in person, by phone, or in writing -- to pay what you are owed.
- The court does not provide interpreters for small claims hearings; if you do not speak English confidently, you must bring your own adult interpreter who is not a witness in your case.
- Call the court (530-822-3304) in advance to confirm whether a phone or remote appearance can be arranged for your small claims hearing -- the court's published remote-appearance policy covers civil, family, criminal, and juvenile matters but does not specifically list Small Claims.
✓ 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.
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