Los Angeles Small Claims Court
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (Small Claims Division), Los Angeles County.
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (Small Claims Division), Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles County hears small claims at several courthouses, and the city is split between them, so enter your ZIP in the court's Filing Court Locator. For example, ZIP 90012 goes to Stanley Mosk, 91401 to Van Nuys East, and 90731 (San Pedro) to the Long Beach courthouse. In the wrong location a judge can transfer the case or dismiss it, and you'd pay the fee again to refile.
| Limit | $12,500 |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (Small Claims Division) |
| Address | Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (for downtown ZIP 90012; other parts of the city file elsewhere) |
| File online | Optional for self-represented filers since November 14, 2022, through an approved electronic filing service provider: https://www.lacourt.org/division/efiling/efiling2.aspx |
| Fees | $30 for claims up to $1,500, $50 for over $1,500 up to $5,000, $75 for over $5,000 up to $12,500, and $100 if you have filed more than 12 small claims in the past 12 months. Fee waivers are available. |
| Timing | The state court self-help site says a trial date is typically about 1 to 2 months after filing. This court's own pages don't give a figure. |
| Serving papers | You can't serve the papers yourself. An adult who isn't in the case must hand them to the defendant, or leave them at the home or business and mail a copy. By state rules, serve at least 15 days before the court date (20 if the defendant is outside the county), add 10 days for substituted service, and file proof of service at least 5 days before the court date. The court's page doesn't state a cost. |
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (Small Claims Division) small claims page
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General information to help you get organized, last checked November 1, 2026. It isn't legal advice, and SueYou isn't a law firm. Laws change and every case is different, so confirm anything important with a lawyer or the court. No lawyer has reviewed this page yet.