Small Claims Court Tips — What I Wish I Knew Before Filing

Filed my first small claims case in LA County last month (security deposit dispute, $4,200). Just got the judgment in my favor. Sharing what I learned because the process is confusing if you've never done it.

Tips: (1) Organize your evidence in a binder with tabs — judges see dozens of cases per day. (2) Bring 3 copies of everything (you, defendant, judge). (3) Practice your opening statement — you get about 5 minutes. (4) The clerk's office is actually really helpful if you ask questions.

Congrats. The biggest tip I'd add: file a fee waiver if you qualify (income under ~$30K). Saved me the filing fee and the process server costs.

Great tips. One correction: in California, the small claims limit is $12,500 as of 2024 (was $10,000). Also worth noting: if you win and the defendant doesn't pay, you can file an Abstract of Judgment to put a lien on their property. Most people don't know about the enforcement tools available post-judgment.

How long did the whole process take from filing to judgment?

About 6 weeks total. Filed Jan 2, hearing was Feb 12, got the judgment the same day. The hardest part was serving the defendant — had to use a process server ($45) because they kept dodging personal service.

From the landlord side: if you get served with small claims, take it seriously. Showing up with organized evidence makes a huge difference. I've seen landlords lose clear-cut cases because they showed up unprepared while the tenant had a perfect binder.

Important note: small claims judgments in CA can be appealed by the defendant (but not the plaintiff) within 30 days. If appealed, it goes to a regular trial with attorneys allowed. This is a leverage tool defendants sometimes use.

I've filed 3 small claims cases this year for unpaid invoices. Won all 3. The key is sending a proper demand letter first (via certified mail). Judges love seeing that you tried to resolve it before filing.

Update: Landlord paid the full judgment ($4,200 + $75 filing fee) within 2 weeks of the ruling. Didn't even need to file for enforcement. Sometimes just the court order is enough.