Small Claims
IN THIS SECTION | FAQ
Hearings will be conducted in person.
Remote appearances require compliance with CCP Section 367.75 and completion of RA-010.
Oppositions to requests for remote appearances require completion of RA-015.
Only in cases where remote appearance is opposed, written court approval will be required.Remote access is available as follows:
Department 50 Richmond/Walnut Creek Zoom Link
Department 54 Pittsburg Zoom Link
Department 57 Martinez Zoom Link
For all remote hearings, parties must serve and submit documents to the clerk’s office in person, via drop box or overnight delivery 3 court days prior to the hearing. Electronic delivery is not permitted.
Small Claims Overview
The Small Claims Court is a special court in which disputes are resolved inexpensively and quickly. The rules are simple. The hearing is informal. Attorneys are not allowed. (However, you may as your lawyer for advice before you go to small claims court.)
Small Claims cases in Contra Costa are heard in Martinez, Pittsburg, and Richmond.
As an individual you can use Small Claims Court if your claim is for $12,500 or less. If you are an individual who owns a business (i.e. sole proprietor) and do business under a fictitious business name, you are considered to be an "individual" in Small Claims Court. For example, if you are a plumber doing business as ABC Plumbing and want to sue a customer who has not paid you, you can file a claim for up to $12,500. If your business is a corporation, partnership or anything other than a sole proprietorship, your maximum claim amount is $6,250.
Important note: a claimant cannot file more than two small claims court actions for more than $2,500 anywhere in this state during any calendar year. For example, if you file a claim for $3,000 in February of one year, and another claim for $4,000 in the following month, you can't file another claim for more than $2,500 in any Small Claims Court until January 1 of the next calendar year. However, you can still file as many claims as you wish for $2,500 or less.
| Small Claims Courts | Addresses | Telephone No. |
|---|---|---|
| Martinez | 725 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553 | (925) 608-1000 |
| Pittsburg | 1000 Center Drive, Pittsburg, CA 94565 | |
| Richmond | 100 37th Street, Richmond, CA 94805 | |
| Where to File: | Contra Costa Court Filing Information and Locations |
| Amounts You May Sue For and Filing Fees | |
|---|---|
| If you are: a person (this includes sole-proprietors) you may claim up to $12,500; if you are a Corporation, limited liability company or partnership, you may claim up to $6,250. | |
| If your claim is between…. | Your filing fee is: |
| $0 and $1,500 | $30 per case |
| $1,501 and $5,000 | $50 per case |
| $5,001 and $12,500 | $75 per case |
| When you file more than 12 cases in any 12-month period, the filing fee is: $100 per case. | |
| You are limited to filing two claims per calendar year (Jan-Dec) for more than $2,500. |
Assistance and Small Claims Advisor
If you need assistance or have questions, the Self-Help/Small Claims Advisor may be able to assist you. More information can be found here.
Contact the Small Claims Advisor
You will get a response within 2 weeks of your email. If you cannot wait for a response, you can follow the links below to get information that might answer some or all of your questions.
If you would like to talk to a lawyer, call the Contra Costa Bar Association at 925-825-5700. They charge a $45.00 administrative fee to schedule a half-hour consultation with an attorney.
Download the Form Packet