Small Claims Online Interview
First make sure your legal issue falls under the jurisdiction of small claims court:
The maximum amount that you can sue for depends on who you are and who you are suing:
| If you are: | You can sue for up to |
|---|---|
| An Individual or Sole Proprietor | $12,500.00 |
| A Corporation or Business |
$12,500.00 |
Exceptions to these amounts:
| If you are: | If the defendant is a guarantor who: | You can sue for up to |
|---|---|---|
| An Individual or Sole Proprietor | Charged a fee for surety services |
$8,125.00 |
| An Individual or Sole Proprietor | Did not charge a fee for surety services |
$3,125.00 |
| A Corporation or Business | Charged a fee for surety services | $5,000.00 |
| If you are: | If the defendant is: | You can sue for up to |
| An Individual (natural person) filing for damages for bodily injury resulting from a car accident | Covered by an automobile insurance policy that includes a duty to defend | $7,500.00 |
Other:
You may only file 2 cases each year for more than $2,500.00.
If you have a claim greater than these amounts, you may sue in the Civil division or you may sue in the Small Claims Court. If you chose the Small Claims Court, you give up your right to the amount that is greater than the maximum amounts shown above. Just remember that if you waive the rest of your claim your right to collect the original amount is lost forever.
To learn more about Small Claims visit: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/small-claims/before-you-start