Calculate Your Filing Costs
Use the slider to estimate your total small claims filing costs, including filing fees and service of process.
Los Angeles County Courthouse Finder
LA County has 11 courthouses handling small claims. File where the defendant lives or does business, or where the incident occurred.
Statute of Limitations Lookup
Find out how much time you have to file your claim based on the type of dispute.
Step-by-Step Filing Process
Click each step to expand and see detailed instructions.
Hearing Day Preparation Checklist
Check off items as you prepare to see your readiness percentage.
Los Angeles County Small Claims Statistics
Overview of case types and outcomes in LA County small claims court.
Consider a Demand Letter First
Most small claims judges want to see you tried to resolve the dispute first. In my practice, 68% of cases settle when the other side receives a demand letter on attorney letterhead.
Flat fee. I draft and send it within 2 business days.
Learn About Demand LettersAbout Small Claims in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County is the largest county in the United States with over 10 million residents. The LA Superior Court handles more small claims cases than any other county in California.
I'm Sergei Tokmakov, a California attorney (Bar #279869). I've handled hundreds of small claims matters across LA County's various courthouses. This guide covers everything you need to know about filing and winning your case in 2026.