Small Claims
Small claims court is a special court where disputes are resolved quickly and inexpensively. An attorney cannot represent you in court, although you may consult with an attorney both before and after court. In addition, there are limits to the amount you can request in your claim. For more information, please consult the Judicial Council website.
| How and Where to Get Forms | How to Get Help Completing Forms |
| Filing Fees | Continuances |
| When you case will be heard | Service in a small claims case |
You may obtain small claims forms at the clerk’s office on the second floor of the courthouse. If you would like to have the forms mailed to you, please send a written a request to our office, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. There is no charge for these forms.
The maximum amount of damages you may claim in a small claims case is $7,500. However, that maximum may be less depending on the situation (see Judicial Council). The filing fee for a small claims case varies. However, if you have filed over 12 small claims cases in one year, the filing fee increases to $100.00. The cost for photocopies is $.50 per page. Certifications are $6.60 per document, plus $1.00 per page.
The plaintiff is given the option of selecting the court date, which is typically set 30 to 45 days after the case is filed. Small claims cases are heard on Mondays at 1:30 in the afternoon.
How to get help completing the forms
The small claims advisor's office is located at 725 D Street, Marysville. Their office number is (530) 742-8289. Please call them directly for further information or to schedule an appointment.
If you are a plaintiff who has not been able to serve the defendant, you may request a continuance without notice to the defendant. To do this, you must bring ALL copies of your paperwork to our office and pay a non-refundable $10.00 continuance fee. The clerk will put your new court date on the paperwork. Once the defendant is served, either side may request a continuance by completing a request for continuance form and paying a non-refundable $10.00 continuance fee. The form must clearly state the reason for the continuance. It will be reviewed, and approved or denied by the judge. If granted, our office will mail notice of the new hearing date to all parties. Please note that requests for continuance MUST be received in ample time to notify the other party. Request for continuance forms are available at our office or online at the following link: Court Forms
The paperwork in a small claims case must be “served” on the other party. This can be done by the Sheriff's Civil Division, or a process server, or you may ask our office to serve your paperwork for you by certified mail. We charge $6.00 per party for this service. Our office will be happy to provide you additional information on serving papers.