Every way to get help with a California small claims case
Five realistic routes, from free to $650. The right one depends on what you are actually missing, not on which is cheapest.
Competitor pricing read from their own published pages on 2026-10-10. Prices change; check theirs before deciding.
1. California Guide & File — free
What it is: the courts' own guided interview. Generates your small claims form, e-files in many counties.
Best for: anyone who already knows their county and courthouse, has already sent a written demand, understands service of process, and is comfortable presenting their own evidence.
Where it stops: at the form. No demand letter, no mailing, no venue guidance, no service help, no hearing preparation, no collection support.
2. Your county court self-help center — free
What it is: a staffed office in most California superior courts that explains procedure and reviews your forms.
Best for: checking that a form is filled correctly, and asking procedural questions from a human being who sees these cases daily.
Where it stops: they cannot give legal advice or tell you whether to sue. Hours are limited and queues can be long.
3. File My Small Claims — free, or $49 a case
What it is: software covering the whole process. Free demand letter builder and all 58 county guides; $29 to print and certified-mail your letter with proof of delivery; $49 one-time for a complete case; $19/month for unlimited cases.
Best for: people who need the parts the free tools skip — the letter, the right courthouse, the service deadline, evidence organisation and something to say at the hearing. And for repeat filers, who every other option charges per case.
Where it stops: we cannot give legal advice, cannot file or appear for you, and cover California only.
4. TurboCourt — around $55 a filing
What it is: court-integrated guided filing. In supported counties it transmits your form to the court electronically.
Best for: avoiding a trip to the courthouse, if your county supports it. Also covers other case types and states.
Where it stops: it is a filing utility. Nothing before the form, nothing after it.
5. JusticeDirect — $650 a case
What it is: a law firm (JusticeDirect Law Firm LLC) that handles the matter — attorney review, forms, filing, service, hearing preparation. Attorney demand letters $600; consultations $449. Trustpilot 4.5 from 658 reviews.
Best for: larger claims where you want advice and want it handled, and where $650 is a tolerable fraction of the recovery.
Where it stops: the price. On a $1,500 claim it is 43% of what you are chasing.
Choosing, in one table
| If you are missing… | Use | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Just the form, filled correctly | Guide & File | Free |
| Someone to check your paperwork | Court self-help center | Free |
| A letter that might end it before filing | Our free builder | Free |
| Proof the letter was delivered | Our mailing service | $29 |
| The whole process, correctly, cheaply | Us | $49 |
| To file without leaving the house | TurboCourt, where supported | ~$55 |
| To file every month | Our Pro plan | $390/yr |
| Advice about whether to sue at all | A California attorney | $279–449 |
| Someone to handle all of it | JusticeDirect | $650 |
All competitor figures read from their own published pages on 2026-10-10. Court filing fees of $30–$75, or $100 for frequent filers, are payable to the court in every case.
The thing all five have in common
None of them can make a judgment collectable. Before you choose any route, ask whether the person you are suing has wages, a bank account or property. A California judgment lasts ten years, is renewable and earns 10% a year — so filing against someone who is temporarily broke can still be rational. Filing against someone who will never have anything is just a filing fee.
Common questions
What is the cheapest way to file a small claims case in California?
The genuinely cheapest route is California’s free Guide & File to generate and e-file your form, plus your county court’s free self-help center to check it, plus a demand letter you write yourself. Your only unavoidable cost is the court’s filing fee of $30 to $75. Paid services are worth it only for the parts those free options do not cover.
Is it worth paying anything at all?
It depends on what you are missing. If you know your courthouse, have sent a written demand, understand service and are happy presenting evidence, pay nothing. If any of those is a gap — and service of process in particular is where winnable cases get dismissed — then paying something is cheaper than losing a hearing date.
Which option is best for a landlord or contractor filing regularly?
A subscription, because every per-case option punishes you. Twelve claims a year costs $7,800 at JusticeDirect, around $660 through TurboCourt, and $390 on our Pro plan. California’s own fee schedule recognises repeat filers with a $100-per-filing tier once you pass 12 claims in 12 months.
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.