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Practical guides to the parts of California small claims that actually decide cases.
There is no shortage of pages explaining that California's small claims limit is $12,500. There is very little written about the parts that actually decide cases: how to word a demand letter so it gets paid, why service of process is where winnable claims get dismissed, what to say in your first ninety seconds in front of a judge, and what to do when you win and nothing arrives.
That is what these are about. Every legal statement carries its California authority — the Code of Civil Procedure or Civil Code section — so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
October 10, 2026 · 8 min read
How to write a demand letter that actually gets you paid
A California demand letter that works: the seven things it must contain, the code section to cite for your claim type, and the mistakes that make one easy to ignore.
October 10, 2026 · 7 min read
Service of process: the step that loses winnable cases
Who can serve small claims papers in California, the permitted methods, the 15 and 20-day deadlines, and why SC-104 must be filed before the hearing, not on the day.
October 10, 2026 · 9 min read
You won. Now here is how you actually get paid
A California judgment is not money. How to use SC-133, SC-134 and EJ-130 to find assets, garnish wages and levy bank accounts, plus the 10-year life and 10% annual interest.
October 10, 2026 · 7 min read
What to say at your small claims hearing
California small claims hearings are short and decided on documents. A 90-second opening structure, how to organize exhibits, what judges ask, and what not to do.
October 10, 2026 · 8 min read
California’s 21-day security deposit rule, and the penalty landlords forget
A California landlord has 21 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement. Bad-faith retention can cost them twice the deposit under Civil Code §1950.5(l). How to claim it.
October 10, 2026 · 7 min read
How to sue a business in California without wasting your filing fee
A judgment against the wrong entity is worthless. How to find a California company’s registered name and agent for service, the $6,250 entity limit, and when you can reach the owner.
October 10, 2026 · 6 min read
The evidence checklist judges actually want
Small claims cases are decided on documents. The universal evidence checklist, what to bring per claim type, how to present exhibits, and the five documents people always forget.
October 10, 2026 · 7 min read
Nine ways people lose cases they should have won
Suing the wrong entity, missing the service deadline, filing in the wrong county, ignoring the statute of limitations, and six more errors that cost people cases they should have won.
October 10, 2026 · 6 min read
The $12,500 limit, the $6,250 trap, and what to do if your claim is bigger
California small claims limits: under $12,500 for individuals, under $6,250 for LLCs. Why the entity cap catches business owners, and your options over the limit.
October 10, 2026 · 8 min read
Getting paid: a freelancer’s guide to unpaid invoices in California
How California freelancers and contractors collect unpaid invoices: the escalation sequence, the four-year deadline, the LLC limit trap, and when small claims is worth it.
Start with a demand letter
Most California small claims cases settle before anyone sees a courtroom. The letter is free to write, and you can have us print and certified-mail it for $29.
No account needed to start. We are not a law firm and cannot give legal advice.