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

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This independent guide covers small claims cases in Riverside County, California, including Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Palm Springs and Indio. 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 Riverside website, its Where to File Civil Documents order, 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 Riverside County?

• Court: the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside.
• Limit: $12,500 for individuals (CCP 116.221); $6,250 for businesses and other entities (CCP 116.220(a)(1)).
• No response form: the court says there is no response form in small claims. You don't need to file papers before your hearing unless you think it's the wrong court. Bring your evidence, witnesses, receipts and pictures to the hearing.

Which courthouse do I file in?

• The court's order "Where to File Civil Documents" (effective August 1, 2026) says all small claims must be filed at one of five courthouses, assigned by ZIP code.
• The order doesn't say whose ZIP code counts. Under California venue rules, you generally file where the defendant lives or does business, or where the accident or injury happened (see our California guide).
• Confirm your courthouse with the court's Where To File locator, or call the clerk at 951-777-3147 (Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.).

Riverside County small claims courthouses by city (approximate)

Approximate guide. This list follows the ZIP codes in the court's order. It isn't an address lookup: the ZIP code of the relevant address (such as the defendant's address) decides the courthouse, not the city name. Riverside city, for example, is split between Corona and Moreno Valley.

Checked 2026-10-27, from the court's Where to File Civil Documents order, subdivision (g). Note that Murrieta small claims go to Menifee and Indio small claims go to Palm Springs.

Addresses, phone numbers and hours

Clerk's offices: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday (Blythe: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Phone line: 951-777-3147, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; the court warns of lengthy wait times. Drop boxes are inside all five courthouses until 4:00 p.m. Addresses are from the court's order and its locations page.

How much does small claims cost in Riverside County?

The court lists these filing fees:

• $1.00 to $1,500.00: $30.00
• $1,501.00 to $5,000.00: $50.00
• $5,001.00 to $12,500.00: $75.00

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

• If you filed more than 12 small claims in California in the past 12 months: $100
• 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 Riverside County?

Yes. The court says it has accepted eFiling for small claims cases since July 1, 2021. You can also file in person (the original plus one copy for each party) or by mail (the original, copies, and a self-addressed, pre-stamped envelope, with a check or money order payable to "Riverside Superior Court", marked "Attn: Small Claims Division").

Riverside County small claims forms

The claim form is California's statewide Plaintiff's Claim (SC-100). The court's How to File Small Claims page explains filing. The defendant doesn't file a response form.

How to file in Riverside County, step by step

1. Make sure your claim is $12,500 or less (or $6,250 or less for a business).
2. Find your courthouse by ZIP code (see the list above), and confirm it with the Where To File locator or the clerk.
3. Fill out the Plaintiff's Claim (SC-100).
4. File in person, by mail or by eFiling, and pay $30 to $75 (or ask about a fee waiver).
5. Have the defendant served; the clerk can mail the claim for $15 per defendant.
6. Bring all your evidence and witnesses to the hearing. Statewide rules are in our California guide.

How to look up a Riverside County small claims case

• Use the court's Public Access portal. You need an online account.
• Case number searches are free. Name searches cost money: $1.00 for one name search credit, up to $250.00 per 30 days for unlimited searches.
• Documents cost $1 per page for the first 5 pages and $.50 per page after that, capped at $50 per document. Calendars show dates up to 7 days ahead.
• The portal allows up to 30 searches per 5 minutes.

What does it cost to collect a judgment?

Winning doesn't mean you get paid automatically. Riverside's collection fees are on the court's fee schedule, which we haven't checked. Ask the clerk at 951-777-3147, and see our California guide for the statewide steps.

Fee waivers and venue changes

• Fee waiver: ask the clerk at 951-777-3147 how to request one.
• Wrong court? If you think the case is in the wrong court, that's the one time the court says you may need to file papers before the hearing. Ask the clerk.
• Postponement: $10 once the defendant has been served. Motion to vacate: $20.

Coach's Tips for Riverside County

• Keep your case number. In Riverside, searching by case number is free, but every name search costs money. Keep the number from your filing receipt.
• Check the ZIP, not the city. Riverside city is split between two courthouses, Murrieta goes to Menifee, and Indio goes to Palm Springs.
• 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.

Riverside County small claims checklist

• My claim is $12,500 or less (or $6,250 or less for a business).
• I know my courthouse by ZIP code and confirmed it.
• I filled out the Plaintiff's Claim (SC-100).
• I have the filing fee or a fee waiver request, and copies for each party.
• I have a plan to serve the defendant.
• I wrote down my case number.
• My evidence and witnesses are ready for the hearing.

Riverside County small claims FAQ

What is the small claims limit in Riverside County?

$12,500 for individuals under CCP 116.221, and $6,250 for businesses and other entities under CCP 116.220(a)(1).

How much does it cost to file small claims in Riverside 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. It's $100 if you filed more than 12 small claims in California in the past 12 months.

Which Riverside County courthouse do I file in?

Small claims are filed at Corona, Moreno Valley, Menifee, Palm Springs or Blythe, assigned by ZIP code. Confirm with the court's Where To File locator or call the clerk at 951-777-3147.

Where is small claims court in Riverside?

Riverside city ZIP codes are split between the Corona Courthouse (92503, 92504, 92509) and the Moreno Valley Courthouse (most other Riverside ZIPs). Check the ZIP that applies to your case.

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

Use the court's Public Access portal. You need an account. Case number searches are free; name searches cost money.

Where do I get Riverside County small claims forms?

The claim form is California's Plaintiff's Claim (SC-100). The court's How to File Small Claims page explains filing. Defendants don't file a response form.

Do I need a lawyer for small claims in Riverside County?

No. California small claims is designed for people to handle their own cases, and you bring your own evidence and witnesses to the hearing.

Is Riverside County small claims court part of the Superior Court?

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

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

• Riverside Superior Court: How to File Small Claims
• Riverside Superior Court: Where to File Civil Documents (order)
• Riverside Superior Court: Locations and Contact Info
• Riverside Superior Court: Where To File locator
• Riverside Superior Court: Public Access portal
• California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026)
• California Code of Civil Procedure 116.221 (limit)
• California Code of Civil Procedure 116.220 (entity limit)

Checked 2026-10-27.

Nearby counties

• Orange County small claims guide
• Los Angeles County small claims guide
• San Diego County small claims guide
• Sacramento County small claims guide
• Alameda 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.