How to fill out California's SC-100 (Plaintiff's Claim)

Name, phone, street address, mailing address, email

This block asks for your full name and contact information, with separate lines for street and mailing address if they differ. If two plaintiffs are suing together, the form has a second identical block; for more than two, it has a checkbox pointing to attachment form SC-100A.

Fictitious business name checkbox

The form asks whether a plaintiff is doing business under a fictitious name (a DBA). If checked, the form requires attaching form SC-103, a declaration about the fictitious name registration.

Licensee / deferred deposit originator checkbox

A checkbox that applies only to lenders licensed under Financial Code sections 23000 et seq. (payday lenders). Most filers leave it blank.

Name, phone, street address, mailing address

This block asks for the defendant's name and addresses. The court's instructions emphasize the complete, correct legal name — for a corporation or LLC, that means the registered entity name, and the form provides lines for the person or agent authorized to accept service of process.

More than one defendant / military duty checkboxes

A checkbox for suing more than one defendant (attach SC-100A), and a checkbox plus name line if any defendant is on active military duty — a fact the court needs because federal law (the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) gives active-duty servicemembers procedural protections.

3 — "The plaintiff claims the defendant owes $___"

The amount you are claiming. The form's own notes say not to include court costs or service fees in this number, and the amount must be within the small claims limit ($12,500 individual / $6,250 entity).

3a — "Why does the defendant owe the plaintiff money?"

A short written explanation of the basis for the claim — the form provides a few lines and asks for the reason in plain language.

3b — "When did this happen?"

The date of the events, or a start and end date if there is no single date.

3c — "How did you calculate the money owed to you?"

The arithmetic behind the amount in item 3 — the form asks you to show how you got to the number, and has a checkbox for attaching an extra sheet (or form MC-031) labeled "SC-100, Item 3" if the lines aren't enough.

"Have you done this?" Yes / No

California requires a plaintiff to ask the defendant for the money (in person, in writing, or by phone) before suing. Item 4 asks whether you did, and if the answer is no, the form requires an explanation of why not. This question cannot be left blank.

Item 5 — checkboxes a through e

The form asks why you are filing at this particular courthouse and lists the legally valid reasons as checkboxes: where the defendant lives or does business; where property was damaged or the plaintiff injured; where a contract was made, signed, performed, or broken; plus special rules for consumer contracts, retail installment contracts, and vehicle finance sales, each with its statute cited on the form. Exactly one applicable box is checked.

Item 6 — zip code

The zip code of the place you identified in item 5, if you know it. Courts use it to confirm the case is in the right courthouse's coverage area.

Item 7 — attorney-client fee dispute

Asks whether the claim is a fee dispute with an attorney; if yes and there has been arbitration, the form requires attaching form SC-101.

Item 8 — suing a public entity

Asks whether the defendant is a government entity. If yes, the form asks for the date a written claim was filed with that entity first — California requires that administrative claim before a lawsuit, and the form records that it happened.

Item 9 — "Have you filed more than 12 other small claims within the last 12 months in California?"

A yes/no question — California charges frequent filers a higher filing fee, and this is how the court knows which fee applies.

Item 10 — "Is your claim for more than $2,500?"

A yes/no question tied to another statutory cap: with limited exceptions, a plaintiff may file no more than two small claims cases over $2,500 anywhere in California in a calendar year, and the form has you confirm you are within it.

Item 11 — the no-appeal acknowledgment

Pre-printed text: "I understand that by filing a claim in small claims court, I have no right to appeal this claim." In California, the plaintiff who chooses small claims gives up appeal rights on their own claim (a defendant who loses can appeal); item 11 records that you know that.

Date and signature block

You sign and date the form under penalty of perjury — the declaration above the signature line says the information is true and correct. If there are two plaintiffs, both sign.