Small claims

Small to a court. Real to your life.

California small claims is built for everyday disputes — up to $12,500. We help you walk in prepared, with a real lawyer behind the work. Lawma’s guided intake is free; the licensed attorney you choose quotes a flat fee before any work starts.

See how Lawma can helpHow It Works

What it's for

A court for ordinary fights.

A security deposit a landlord won't return. A car repair that wasn't done. A friend who borrowed money and stopped answering. A contractor who took a payment and disappeared. A neighbor whose dog destroyed your fence.

Small claims court is fast, cheap, and runs in plain English on purpose — no jury, no formal rules of evidence, just a judge listening to both sides. It's designed for regular people. Lawma helps you arrive ready.

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The California rules

A few important numbers to know.

$12,500

The most an individual can ask for in a single small claims case in California. Twice a calendar year at that level — more cases that year are capped at $2,500.

$6,250

The limit for a business or corporation. Note: corporations can't use small claims to chase debts above this line.

No lawyers at the hearing

California is unusual: attorneys cannot appear for you at the small claims hearing itself. You speak for yourself. That's where Lawma's preparation matters most.

Note — the rule that bars attorneys from the hearing comes from California Code of Civil Procedure § 116.530. Lawyers can still advise you before and after the hearing — which is exactly how Lawma works. We prepare the case with you; you walk in ready.

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What we help with

These cases turn on preparation.

Most small claims are decided on who came prepared. We handle the parts that trip people up:

  • A clean, persuasive demand letter (often required before you can sue, and a key piece of evidence)
  • The SC-100 Plaintiff's Claim, accurately filled — names matter, addresses matter, the amount matters
  • Proper service of process (you cannot serve the defendant yourself; we set you up with a process server)
  • A case file the judge will actually look at — chronology, photos, texts, receipts, contracts
  • A clear plan for what you'll say in court — minutes of it, not hours
  • If you win, help with collecting the judgment — the part nobody warns you about

The process

From idea to hearing, step by step.

  1. Tell us the story. Who, what, how much, when. Receipts and screenshots welcome.
  2. Demand letter first. California expects you to formally ask for the money before suing. We help you write one that's firm and fair.
  3. Match with an attorney to review the case. They sanity-check your claim, your evidence, and the amount.
  4. SC-100 prepared and filed. We help you submit to the right county court and pay (or waive) the small filing fee.
  5. Proper service of the defendant. A process server or sheriff delivers the papers — never you.
  6. Prep for the hearing. A practice run, a tidy evidence binder, the key three sentences you'll actually say.
  7. The hearing itself. You go in alone (CA rule) — but you go in ready, with everything organized. Most hearings last 15–30 minutes.
  8. After. If you win, we help you collect. If you lose, your attorney walks through whether an appeal makes sense.

How pricing works

One flat fee. Everything covered.

Your lawyer charges one pre-negotiated flat fee for the whole matter, agreed before any work begins. No meter running, no invoice you did not expect. That single fee covers your attorney's work and everything Lawma does: the guided interview, the drafting, your case management, and the community. You never write Lawma a check.

You will see the exact fee for your matter, from the lawyer who would do the work, before you decide anything.

If you qualify for legal aid, your fee is waived. Permanently. That's a Lawma commitment.

California small claims filing fees run about $30 to $75 depending on how much you're asking for. If your income qualifies, the fee can be waived; we help you file the waiver.

Questions people ask

Honest answers.

Wait — I really have to go to court alone?

For the hearing itself, yes. California built small claims that way to keep it informal and accessible. But your attorney can — and should — help you prepare everything that leads up to it. That preparation is where cases are won.

What if I'm the one being sued?

Lawma helps defendants too. We help you understand what you've been served, file any counterclaim, gather your evidence, and prepare your side. Don't ignore a small claims notice — a default judgment is as real as any other.

How long until the hearing?

California aims to schedule small claims hearings 20–70 days after filing. In busy counties, it can land closer to the end of that window.

If I win, do they automatically pay?

No — and this is the part nobody warns about. A judgment is a court order saying you're owed the money; collecting it is a separate step. We help you with wage garnishment, bank levies, and the other tools California allows.

Walk in prepared. Walk out with a judgment.

Start with a short conversation. Guided intake is free and no commitment; the licensed attorney you choose quotes a flat fee before any work starts.

Start the small claims interview →Talk to a Lawma attorney →
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