Los Angeles County Small Claims Court (California): How to File in Superior Court

Home › States › California › Los Angeles County

This independent guide covers small claims cases in Los Angeles County, California, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Clarita, Glendale, Lancaster, Palmdale, Pomona, Torrance and Pasadena. Small Claims Coach is not the court; we link to the court's official pages throughout.

Checked on 2026-10-27 against the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles website and the Statewide Civil Fee Schedule. Sources are listed below. Jump to court addresses and phones ↓ For the statewide rules, see our California small claims guide.

Which court hears small claims in Los Angeles County?

• Court: the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.
• Limit: $12,500.00 or less. There are no lawyers, no rules of evidence and no juries.
• Online Dispute Resolution: the court says all small claims litigants must register for Small Claims Online Dispute Resolution before their scheduled hearing.
• Evidence exchange: both sides must exchange and submit evidence to the court at least 10 days before the hearing (form LASC CIV 278).

Which courthouse do I file in?

• Local Rule 2.3 says to file in the nearest or most accessible courthouse where the court hears small claims. The court's filing guide names 11 hubs: Chatsworth, Compton, Downey, Governor George Deukmejian (Long Beach), Inglewood, Michael D. Antonovich (Antelope Valley), Pasadena, Santa Monica, Stanley Mosk (Downtown Los Angeles), Van Nuys East and West Covina.
• Injury and property claims: generally filed in the courthouse nearest or most accessible to the place (by ZIP code) where the injury occurred or where the defendants, or some of them, live.
• Contract claims: tied to where the buyer signed, where the buyer lived then, or where the buyer lives now.
• The court's filing guide is dated 2017, and its ZIP code table is older, so confirm your courthouse with the court's Filing Court Locator, or call the Small Claims Advisor at (213) 974-9759. The locator itself warns that a mailing address may not show true location, and that caseload adjustments may move some cases to a different district.

Los Angeles County small claims courthouses by city (approximate)

Approximate guide. This list comes from the court's ZIP code table. It isn't an address lookup: the ZIP code of the relevant address (where the injury happened or where the defendant lives) decides the courthouse, not the city name.

Checked 2026-10-27. Confirm with the Filing Court Locator or the Small Claims Advisor at (213) 974-9759.

Addresses, phone numbers and hours

We couldn't confirm courthouse addresses, phones and hours: the court's courthouse pages were down when we checked. Call the free county Small Claims Advisor at (213) 974-9759, or check the court's courthouse page before you go. The advisor's recorded information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you can speak with an advisor Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How much does small claims cost in Los Angeles County?

The court lists these filing fees (for filers with 12 or fewer claims in the past 12 months):

• $0.01 to $1,500.00: $30.00
• $1,500.01 to $5,000.00: $50.00
• $5,000.01 to $12,500.00: $75.00
• More than 12 claims in the past 12 months: $100.00

From the California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026):

• Clerk mails the claim to each defendant: $15 per defendant
• Request to postpone the hearing (once the defendant has been served): $10
• Notice of appeal: $75
• Motion to vacate: $20

Can I e-file in Los Angeles County?

The court's small claims page lists Small Claims efiling, a Digital Evidence System, a Hearing Reminder Service and appointment scheduling under Online Services. We haven't confirmed the details. Ask the small claims clerk, or call the Small Claims Advisor at (213) 974-9759, before e-filing.

Los Angeles County small claims forms

The claim form is California's statewide Plaintiff's Claim (SC-100). The court's small claims page has more information, and both sides use form LASC CIV 278 to show they exchanged evidence.

How to file in Los Angeles County, step by step

1. Make sure your claim is $12,500 or less.
2. Find your courthouse (see the section above) and confirm it with the Filing Court Locator or the Small Claims Advisor.
3. Fill out the Plaintiff's Claim (SC-100).
4. File and pay $30 to $75, or talk to the small claims clerk about a fee waiver if you have a low income.
5. Have the defendant served; the clerk can mail the claim for $15 per defendant.
6. Register for Small Claims Online Dispute Resolution, and exchange and submit your evidence at least 10 days before the hearing (LASC CIV 278).
7. Go to your hearing. Statewide rules are in our California guide.

How to look up a Los Angeles County small claims case

• Use the court's Case Summary site, which covers civil, small claims, family law and probate. Search by case number; picking the filing courthouse is optional.
• The court says the information doesn't constitute the official record and may be subject to error or omission.
• If you don't have the case number, call the Small Claims Advisor at (213) 974-9759 or ask the small claims clerk at your courthouse.

What does it cost to collect a judgment?

Winning doesn't mean you get paid automatically. Los Angeles County's collection fees weren't on the pages we checked. Ask the Small Claims Advisor at (213) 974-9759, and see our California guide for the statewide steps.

Fee waivers and venue changes

• Fee waiver: the court says to talk to the small claims clerk about a fee waiver if you have a low income.
• Postponement: $10 once the defendant has been served. Motion to vacate: $20.
• Wrong courthouse? Ask the Small Claims Advisor at (213) 974-9759 or the clerk.

Coach's Tips for Los Angeles County

• Finish your evidence early. Los Angeles requires both sides to exchange and submit evidence at least 10 days before the hearing (form LASC CIV 278).
• Register for ODR. All small claims litigants must register for Online Dispute Resolution before the hearing.
• Check the ZIP, not the city. The city of Los Angeles alone is split across 9 courthouses.
• Only 2 bigger claims a year. California lets you file only 2 small claims a year, anywhere in the state, asking for more than $2,500 (and you sign a declaration saying so). If you have several disputes, decide which ones need the bigger claims.

Los Angeles County small claims checklist

• My claim is $12,500 or less.
• I confirmed my courthouse with the Filing Court Locator or the Small Claims Advisor.
• I filled out the Plaintiff's Claim (SC-100).
• I have the filing fee or asked the clerk about a fee waiver.
• I have a plan to serve the defendant.
• I registered for Small Claims Online Dispute Resolution.
• I exchanged and submitted my evidence at least 10 days before the hearing.

Los Angeles County small claims FAQ

What is the small claims limit in Los Angeles County?

$12,500.00 or less. There are no lawyers, no rules of evidence and no juries in Los Angeles small claims.

How much does it cost to file small claims in Los Angeles County?

The court lists $30.00 for claims up to $1,500.00, $50.00 up to $5,000.00 and $75.00 up to $12,500.00, or $100.00 if you filed more than 12 claims in the past 12 months.

Which Los Angeles County courthouse do I file in?

One of 11 hub courthouses, generally the one nearest or most accessible to the ZIP code where the injury happened or where the defendant lives. Confirm with the court's Filing Court Locator or the Small Claims Advisor at (213) 974-9759.

Where is small claims court in Los Angeles?

It depends on the ZIP code. Most city of Los Angeles ZIP codes go to the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown, but the city is split across 9 courthouses, so check the locator.

How do I look up a small claims case in Los Angeles County?

Use the court's Case Summary site and search by case number. If you don't have the case number, call the Small Claims Advisor at (213) 974-9759 or ask the small claims clerk.

Where do I get Los Angeles County small claims forms?

The claim form is California's Plaintiff's Claim (SC-100). Los Angeles also uses form LASC CIV 278 for the evidence exchange.

Do I need a lawyer for small claims in Los Angeles County?

No. The court says there are no lawyers in small claims court. The free county Small Claims Advisor can help at (213) 974-9759.

Is Los Angeles County small claims court part of the Superior Court?

Yes. It's the Small Claims Division of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.

What is the Plaintiff's Claim (SC-100)?

It's the claim form you file to start a small claims case: California's statewide Plaintiff's Claim (SC-100).

Sources

• Los Angeles Superior Court: Small Claims
• Los Angeles Superior Court: Small Claims fees
• Los Angeles Superior Court: Where should I file my small claims case?
• Los Angeles Superior Court: Filing Court Locator
• Small Claims Advisor flyer
• Form LASC CIV 278
• Los Angeles Superior Court: Case Summary
• California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026)

Checked 2026-10-27.

Nearby counties

• Orange County small claims guide
• Riverside County small claims guide
• San Diego County small claims guide
• Alameda County small claims guide
• Sacramento County small claims guide
• All county small claims guides

More for California: California small claims guide · Ready to sue · Just got sued · How to serve small claims papers · What to say on hearing day

Free: the Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists).

Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer. But if your situation is complicated, doesn't fit our samples, or a deadline is close, you may want to call a lawyer.

Small Claims Coach uses public information to build the Playbook, which coaches you as you organize and present your own case. We are not your lawyer, there is no attorney-client relationship, and we don't want the details of your case.

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice.