Filing fee calculator
Enter what you are claiming. We will tell you the exact California filing fee and whether the amount fits the small claims limit.
In US dollars. Enter the total you are asking the court to award.
How California sets the fee
Small claims filing fees are set statewide, not by county, and they step up with the amount you claim.
| Amount you are claiming | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| up to $1,500 | $30 |
| over $1,500 up to $5,000 | $50 |
| over $5,000 up to $12,500 | $75 |
| More than 12 small claims filed in the past 12 months | $100 |
The frequent-filer rate is worth knowing if you chase payment for a living: once you have filed more than 12 small claims in 12 months, every filing costs $100 regardless of size. That tier exists because landlords, contractors and freelancers are in small claims court regularly.
What else it costs
The filing fee is not the whole bill. Add service of process — the sheriff's civil division or a registered process server — and, if you win and have to enforce, writ and levy fees. All of these are recoverable as costs, and MC-012 is how you add the post-judgment ones.
If you cannot afford it
FW-001, Request to Waive Court Fees, asks the court to waive your fees based on income, household size or receipt of public benefits. It costs nothing to ask, it does not delay your case, and there is nothing improper about it — the waiver exists so the fee is not a barrier to using the court.
Start with a demand letter
Most California small claims cases settle before anyone sees a courtroom. The letter is free to write, and you can have us print and certified-mail it for $29.
No account needed to start. We are not a law firm and cannot give legal advice.