How to

• • Small Claims v. Limited Civil cases
    How to determine if you should file your case in Small Claims Court.
  • Filing a Small Claims Case
    • Steps involved in filing a case in Small Claims Court, with links to court forms from the CA Courts Self-Help Center
    • Small Claims Court information from Alameda County (PDF, external)
  • Write a Demand Letter
    Interactive program that helps you write a demand letter.
  • Responding to a Small Claims Suit
    • From the CA Courts Self-Help Center
    • From Alameda County Self-Help Center  (PDF, external)
  • Submit Evidence Electronically
    The court has created the Digital Evidence Portal for the submission of electronic evidence in Small Claims departments.
  • Small Claims Appeals
    Information about appealing a Small Claims Court judgment.
  • Collecting Your Money: 
    • From the CA Courts Self-Help Center
    • From the Alameda County Self-Help Center  (PDF, external)

Forms

• • Small Claims Forms (All)
  • Interactive Form Builder (Law Help Interactive) – Plaintiff’s Claim  
  • Small Claims Forms with samples from the LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs https://dcba.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SCC-Sample-Forms-2024.pdf

Library Books

• • Everybody’s Guide to Small Claims Court in California,  available at the Reference desk, call number KFC976 .Z9 W37 2021
  • California Judges Benchbook – Small Claims Court and Consumer Law,   available at the Reference desk, call number KFC976 .C34

eBooks

California Judges’ Benchguide – Small Claims  (PDF, external)

Videos

• • Small Claims: Where You Begin
    This video, presented by the LA Law Library, provides information you need to go to small claims court with confidence.
  • A Guide to Going to Court
    What you should do to prepare for your upcoming court date depends on what type of case you have. In this section we give you general guidelines for how to best prepare yourself for court.
  • Preparing for Your Small Claims Trial
    This page has suggestions for preparing for court, including a video created by the California Courts Self-Help Center. Learn how to prepare your questions, evidence, notes, and summary of events before you go to small claims court.

Free Legal Help

Alameda County Court Self-Help Center

Self-Help Center website:   Contact the SHC via phone or chat to ask a questions, make an appointment, or register for a workshop. The Self-Help Center does not take walk-in patrons, but you may make an appointment to talk to someone in person.

Live Chat – Monday-Thursday, 9AM-12PM

• • • Access via “Need Help” chat widget
    • Login early. They may stop taking chats before the stated hours once reaching capacity

Phones Mon-Thurs, 2PM-4PM

• • • Call: (510) 272-1393, Mon-Thurs, 2PM-4PM
    • Voicemails can only be left during phone hours; Messages are returned within 5 business days

Workshop

• • • Start Small Claims Workshop offered monthly.

Community Legal Assistance Saturday Program (CLASP)
Free all-topics telephone legal clinic on the first Saturday of the month.  Volunteer attorneys speak with individuals for 15-20 minutes.  To make an appointment, call the intake line at (510) 485-9933 between 10:00 am – noon on the first Saturday/month and an attorney will call you back later that day.  CLASP Flyer  (PDF)

• • To sign up for an appointment call (510) 485-9933 on the first Saturday of the month between 10:00 am and 12 Noon.  At attorney will call you back that afternoon
  • The phone call from the attorney will be from an “blocked number” or “private party” – you won’t be able to see a phone number.  You must answer the phone, because if you miss the call, the attorney will call the next person on the list, and might not have time to call you back.

Consult an Attorney

BALI – Bay Area Legal Incubator

• • Address: 125 12^th St. Oakland, CA Mezzanine Level
  • Affordable legal services. Some attorneys offer sliding scale fees
  • In-take form available on website, and you can also read the profiles and get contact information for the BALI attorneys
  • Bay Area Legal Incubator Website for more information:

ACBA Lawyer Referral Service

• • $40.00 for attorney referral and 30-minute consultation. Attorneys charge $200 – 400/hour for services
  • Phone: (510) 302-2222 x4
  • You can also self-book a consultation online

California State Bar

The California State Bar lists basic information about all attorneys registered to practice law in the state of California.  In addition, the site also provides an attorney referral service for the public to find qualified attorneys in their county.

Updated 4.15.2026