Ventura County Small Claims Court

Court Information

Court name

Ventura County Superior Court -- Small Claims Division (Hall of Justice)

Address

800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009

Phone

(805) 289-8526

Hours

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

Official website

https://ventura.courts.ca.gov/small-claims.html

Typical hearing wait

8 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 Court case (Judicial Council form SC-100, plus a fee waiver form FW-001 if you cannot afford the filing fee) with the Small Claims Clerk's Office at the Hall of Justice, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. This is the only filing location for Ventura County small claims cases; filings cannot be faxed. Your hearing itself, however, is held at one of two branch courthouses depending on the defendant's zip code: the East County Courthouse in Simi Valley (3855-F Alamo Street) for zip codes 91301, 91302, 91304, 91307, 91360-91362, 91377, 93020-93021, 93062-93065, and 93093, or the Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard (4353 East Vineyard Avenue) for all other Ventura County zip codes. Businesses and individuals filing under a fictitious business name must also file form SC-103.

Serving the Defendant

Serve the defendant with the Claim and Order to Go to Small Claims (SC-100) at least 15 days before the hearing if they live or do business in Ventura County, or at least 20 days before the hearing if they are outside the county. Service may be made by personal service (through the sheriff or a registered process server) or by certified mail (a $15 court fee, noted by the court as the least reliable option), and proof of service (form SC-104) must be filed 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

Organize your trial exhibits in advance: you must exchange copies with every other party at least 5 days before trial, and give the court its own set (in person, by email to SCtrials@ventura.courts.ca.gov for 10 pages or fewer, by mail, or via the Small Claims Clerk's drop box at the Hall of Justice) at least 5 days before the trial date.
Remote hearings are held by Zoom only -- register through the court's website before 3:00pm the court day before your hearing; telephonic CourtCall appearances are not accepted.
The court will try to arrange a free interpreter for your trial but cannot guarantee one will be available, so also consider bringing your own adult interpreter (who isn't a witness in the case) or an attorney to interpret for you.
Check in with the courtroom clerk 30 minutes before your scheduled hearing time.
Free mediation is available before your hearing through the court's Consumer Mediation Unit or the Conflict Resolution Institute ((805) 384-1313).

✓ Interpreters available

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