During a Small Claims Court Case

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If you want to sue a person, business or government agency in small claims court, it is your responsibility to make sure that you get, fill out, file, and serve the correct court forms.

For general information and an overview of how a small claims court case works, click here.

Follow these steps one at a time and in order:
 

Step 1:  Get and fill out your court forms.
              How to know which forms you need and where to get them.

Step 2:  File your court forms.
              How to file your papers at court.

Step 3:  Give other side copies of your court forms
              How to have copies of your forms delivered to the other side legally.

Step 4:  Tell the court that you served your forms
              How to tell the court that you served your forms properly.

After you have gotten started, then see the sections on: 

• Preparing your court case 
• Asking the court to do something 
• A week before your court hearing 
• Checklist for preparing for your court date 
• What to expect in court

At any time, you can:

• Read answers for Frequently Asked Questions about small claims cases.
• Watch some short videos on the Basics of Small Claims Cases, click here.
• Read some general information about How Courts Work, click here.
• Watch some videos with general information about how California's court system works, click here.
• Watch some short videos with information on "Paperwork Basics" (forms), "Service of Process" and "Tips on Going to Court", click here.
  

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