California Small Claims Guides

Moreno Valley Courthouse on a sunny Inland Empire morning with clear blue sky

Riverside County Small Claims Court: A Local Guide

Lelia Fackler

Moreno Valley or Murrieta? Here's how Riverside County small claims splits between two courthouses, and what each clerk needs from you.

Riverside County Small Claims Court: A Local Guide

Lelia Fackler

Moreno Valley or Murrieta? Here's how Riverside County small claims splits between two courthouses, and what each clerk needs from you.

Hall of Justice in Ventura on a sunny coastal morning with palm trees lining the entrance

Ventura County Small Claims Court: A Local Guide

Lelia Fackler

All Ventura County small claims file at one Hall of Justice, but hearings split between three courtrooms. Here's how the routing works.

Ventura County Small Claims Court: A Local Guide

Lelia Fackler

All Ventura County small claims file at one Hall of Justice, but hearings split between three courtrooms. Here's how the routing works.

The Metro Justice Building in downtown Bakersfield on a sunny weekday morning

Kern County Small Claims: Bakersfield and Delan...

Lelia Fackler

: Bakersfield or Delano? Here's how to pick the right Kern County courthouse, what each clerk needs, and the local details most people miss.

Kern County Small Claims: Bakersfield and Delan...

Lelia Fackler

: Bakersfield or Delano? Here's how to pick the right Kern County courthouse, what each clerk needs, and the local details most people miss.

B.F. Sisk Courthouse on O Street in downtown Fresno on a bright weekday morning

Fresno County Small Claims Court: Things to Know

Lelia Fackler

Fresno County has one small claims courthouse for the whole region. Here's what to file, where to go, and what most people miss about B.F. Sisk.

Fresno County Small Claims Court: Things to Know

Lelia Fackler

Fresno County has one small claims courthouse for the whole region. Here's what to file, where to go, and what most people miss about B.F. Sisk.

Front entrance of the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in downtown Oakland on a bright weekday morning

Alameda County Small Claims: Virtual Hearings G...

Lelia Fackler

How Zoom hearings really work in Alameda County small claims, plus the Hayward vs Oakland split most people get wrong.

Alameda County Small Claims: Virtual Hearings G...

Lelia Fackler

How Zoom hearings really work in Alameda County small claims, plus the Hayward vs Oakland split most people get wrong.

Woman at a sunlit kitchen table comparing ChatGPT answers on her phone with a California small claims case on her laptop

Can AI File Your California Small Claims Case? ...

Lelia Fackler

Updated June 2026 Courts are seeing a wave of filings written with the help of AI, and they're not happy about it. The New York Times recently covered the trend,...

Can AI File Your California Small Claims Case? ...

Lelia Fackler

Updated June 2026 Courts are seeing a wave of filings written with the help of AI, and they're not happy about it. The New York Times recently covered the trend,...