California Small Claims Court Forms: SC-100, SC-104, and More

California small claims court uses specific Judicial Council forms at every stage of a case. Using the wrong form, missing a form, or filling one out incorrectly can delay your case or get it dismissed. This guide covers every form you are likely to encounter, organized by when you will need it.

Filing Forms

SC-100: Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court

This is the form that initiates your lawsuit. It is the single most important document in your case.

What it covers:

• Your contact information (plaintiff name, address, phone)
• Defendant information (full legal name and address)
• Claim amount (must be a precise dollar figure, not an estimate)
• Reason for claim (brief factual description of what happened)
• Venue justification (why you are filing in this specific courthouse)
• Demand confirmation (that you requested payment before filing, as required by CCP 116.320)

When you file the SC-100 at the clerk's office, the clerk assigns a hearing date and stamps the form. You then need to serve a copy on the defendant.

Filing fees range from $30 to $75 depending on the claim amount: $30 for claims up to $1,500, $50 for claims between $1,500.01 and $5,000, and $75 for claims between $5,000.01 and $12,500.

SC-103: Fictitious Business Name Declaration

Required only if the plaintiff is operating under a fictitious business name (a "dba"). If you run "Sunrise Landscaping" but your legal name is Jane Smith, you must attach SC-103 to your SC-100. This form establishes that you have the right to sue under that business name.

FW-001: Request to Waive Court Fees

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can apply for a fee waiver using FW-001. You qualify if you receive public benefits (Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI), have very low income, or cannot pay without sacrificing basic living expenses like food or housing.

The judge reviews the application and either grants or denies the waiver. If granted, it covers filing fees and certain other court costs.

Service Forms

SC-104: Proof of Service

After the defendant has been served with the SC-100, the person who performed service must complete SC-104. This form documents:

• Who was served
• How service was performed (personal, substituted, or certified mail)
• The date and location of service

SC-104 must be filed with the court clerk at least five days before the hearing date. Without a properly filed proof of service, the judge cannot proceed.

Defendant Response Forms

SC-120: Defendant's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court

If the defendant believes the plaintiff actually owes them money, they can file a counter-claim using SC-120. This form works like the defendant's version of the SC-100. Both the original claim and the counter-claim are then heard at the same hearing.

Filing SC-120 requires the same filing fees as SC-100, based on the counter-claim amount.

Post-Hearing Forms

SC-130: Notice of Entry of Judgment

After the judge makes a decision, the court mails SC-130 to both parties. This form states who won, the judgment amount, and the date of entry. The date of entry matters because it starts two important clocks:

• A 30-day period during which the judgment cannot be enforced (to allow for appeal or voluntary payment)
• The accrual of post-judgment interest at 10% per year

SC-140: Notice of Appeal

If the defendant loses and wants to appeal, they file SC-140 within 30 days of the mailing of SC-130. The appeal results in a completely new trial ("trial de novo") in Superior Court, where attorneys are allowed to represent both sides.

Note that plaintiffs generally cannot appeal a decision on their own claim. By choosing to file in small claims court, the plaintiff waives the right to appeal.

Post-Judgment Enforcement Forms

If the defendant does not pay the judgment voluntarily, these forms become essential:

SC-134: Application and Order to Produce Statement of Assets

This form requests a "debtor's examination," which forces the judgment debtor to appear in court and answer questions about their income, bank accounts, and property under oath. The filing fee is $60. This is often the first step in collection because you need to know where the debtor's assets are before you can seize them.

EJ-130: Writ of Execution

A writ of execution authorizes the sheriff or a registered process server to enforce the judgment through levies and garnishments. The filing fee is typically $25 to $50. You need this form before you can pursue a bank levy or other asset seizure.

WG-001 and WG-002: Earnings Withholding Order

These forms direct an employer to withhold a portion of the debtor's wages and send the money to you. WG-001 is the application, and WG-002 is the actual order served on the employer by the sheriff.

EJ-001: Abstract of Judgment

Filing an abstract of judgment and recording it with the county recorder places a lien on any real property the debtor owns in that county. The filing fee is $25 to $45, plus a recording fee of $30 to $100 depending on the county. The lien stays in effect for 10 years and can be renewed.

MC-012: Memorandum of Costs After Judgment

Use this form to recover your post-judgment enforcement costs, including fees for the writ of execution, sheriff's fees, and other reasonable collection expenses. These costs are added to the total judgment amount.

Where to Get the Forms

All California Judicial Council forms are available for free at courts.ca.gov. Many can be filled out on screen before printing. Some counties also offer e-filing for small claims forms through providers like Odyssey eFileCA.

Each county's Small Claims Advisory Service can help you understand which forms you need and how to complete them. The service is free and mandated by law (CCP 116.940).

Avoiding Form Mistakes

The most common form-related errors are using the defendant's informal name instead of their legal name on the SC-100, leaving the demand confirmation blank, filing SC-104 late, and not attaching SC-103 when required.

The complete California Small Claims Court Filing Guide walks you through every step -- from demand letter templates and SC-100 form instructions to evidence worksheets and post-judgment collection methods. It includes annotated examples of each form so you can see exactly what a properly completed filing looks like.