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Small claims - attorneys not permitted to represent either plaintiffs or defendants (attorneys are allowed in Small Claims appeals), cases for damages of $10,000 or less (as printed); the first step a verbal or written request for payment, a verbal demand followed up with a letter; jurisdiction where the action occurred in Mariposa County, or where the defendant's principal place of business or residence is in Mariposa County; the maximum claim $10,000, a plaintiff limited to two small claims filings over $2,500 per year; the fees - $30 for a claim of $1,500 or less, $50 for more than $1,500 but less than or equal to $5,000, $75 for more than $5,000 but less than or equal to $10,000 (claim by natural persons only), $100 for a person who has filed more than 12 small claims in California within the previous 12 months; the original and at least 2 copies of the small claims filing, a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of documents filed by mail, all documents assembled and stapled in the upper left hand corner; service by personal delivery by anyone who is not a party and is at least 18 years old, by substituted service (not complete until 10 days after the copy is mailed) or by certified mail by the Clerk of the Court for a fee of $15.00 per defendant, checking back with the court prior to the hearing to see if the receipt for certified mail was returned; the person who completes service completes the Proof of Service form, Judicial Council Form SC-104, filed with the Court five (5) days prior to the hearing date - with no proof of service on file the matter may be continued or will be automatically dropped from the Court’s calendar, and the Plaintiff must then request the matter be reset; papers never served by the plaintiff - a non-party, a professional process server or the sheriff's department for a fee; service at least 15 days before the trial date if the defendant lives in the county and at least 20 days if the defendant lives outside the county, 10 additional days for substituted service or certified mail, the trial continued if service is not completed in time; the small claims advisor at (209) 742-5322, located at 5092 Jones Street, Mariposa, CA 95338; extra copies of documents for the other side and the judge, shown to the opposing side before they are presented to the court; a subpoena or a subpoena duces tecum issued by the court clerk; many cases scheduled for the same time, each given limited time; the forms completed online for free at www.courts.ca.gov/forms.html.
California > Fifth Appellate District > Mariposa County > Superior Court of California, County of Mariposa
About Small Claims Court Small Claims is a court where you can exercise your rights to resolve a dispute. Attorneys are not permitted to represent either plaintiffs or defendants (attorneys are allowed in Small Claims appeals). Small Claims cases are for damages of $10,000 or less. Small Claims is affordable and fast, with simple and informal rules. Small Claims Advisor Phone: (209) 742-5322 Contact Information 5088 Bullion St. Mariposa, CA 95338 Phone: (209) 966-2005 Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Small Claims FAQs How and where do I file small claims? The first step in filing a small claims action is to make a verbal or written request for payment. If a verbal demand is made, it should be followed up with a letter. To establish jurisdiction, the action must have occurred in Mariposa County, or the defendant’s (the person you are filing against) principal place of business or residence must be in Mariposa County. The maximum claim allowed in small claims court is $10,000. A plaintiff is limited to two small claims filings over $2,500 per year. What is the fee to file small claims? Claim Range Claim Fee Filing claim for $1,500 or less $30 Filing claim for more than $1,500 but less than or equal to $5,000 $50 Filing claim for more than $5,000 but less than or equal to $10,000 (claim by natural persons only) $75 Filing claim by person who has filed more than 12 small claims in California within the previous 12 months $100 You must submit the original and at least 2 copies of your small claims filing. If filed by mail, you must provide a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of your documents. All documents must be assembled and stapled in the upper left hand corner. If you want the Court to notify the defendant by certified mail, there is an additional charge of $15.00 per defendant. How do I notify the other part? Before the court can exercise jurisdiction over the person (have the power to order the defendant to do something), the defendant must be aware of the lawsuit and be given an opportunity to defend the claim. The papers must be served on the defendant by personal delivery or certified mail by the court. This is called due process, a fundamental right guaranteed in the Constitution. It means that the government will not take away rights, liberty or property without first notifying the person who is to lose those rights, and giving him or her the right to appear and object. The rules governing notice to a defendant require strict compliance. How do I serve the other party? The correct way to notify a defendant about a lawsuit is by service of process. This means that a copy of the complaint filed in the court must be given to the defendant by one of the following means: Personal service. You may ask anyone who is not a party in your case and who is at least 18 years old to serve (give) a copy of the court papers on the defendant. Personal services means the person personally gave a copy of the court papers to the defendant. Substituted service. Substituted service occurs when a person other than the defendant is served on the defendant’s behalf so long as the papers are served (i) at the defendant’s business with the person in charge; or (ii) at the defendant’s home with a competent person who is at least 18 years old. The person who receives the court papers must be told about their contents. Another copy of the same court papers must be mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to the defendant at the address where the paper was left. The service is not complete until 10 days after the copy is mailed. Certified mail. For small claims cases only, you may ask the Clerk of the Court to serve the defendant by certified mail. The clerk will charge a fee of $15.00 for this service. You should check back with the court prior to the hearing to see if the receipt for certified mail was returned to the court. Service by certified mail can only be accomplished by the Clerk of the Court. The person who completes service as stated above must complete the Proof of Service form, Judicial Council Form SC-104, and have it filed with the Court. PROOF OF SERVICE MUST BE FILED WITH THE COURT FIVE (5) DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING DATE. If there is no proof of service on file the matter may be continued or will be automatically dropped from the Court’s calendar. The Plaintiff must then request the matter be reset. YOU CANNOT SERVE PAPERS ON THE DEFENDANT YOURSELF. YOU MUST USE A NON-PARTY. Professional process servers are available for hire, and the sheriff’s department may also serve legal papers for a fee. The defendant must be served at least 15 days before the trial date if he or she lives in the county, and at least 20 days if the defendant lives outside the county. If service is not completed in time, the trial will be continued (postponed). If service is accomplished by substituted service or by certified mail, you must allow 10 ten additional days. How do I prepare my case? You may prepare your own case, or consult with an attorney about the applicable law and preparation for trial. You may also receive assistance from the small claims advisor (209) 742-5322 located at 5092 Jones Street, Mariposa, CA 95338. If you prepare the case yourself, you may wish to research the legal theory by which you are seeking relief from the court. Small claims court is informal, so you do not have to know the law; however it will improve your chances for success if you can distill the essential elements of the case and present them to the court in a clear and concise manner. The opposing side is entitled to see all evidence before it is submitted to the court; therefore, if you plan to bring documents to show the court, you need to make extra copies for the other side, and for the judge. It will save time if you can each have a copy to refer to in court. Be sure you are on time for the trial. Although the small claims trial is informal, you must be prepared with witnesses, books, receipts and other documents needed to prove your case. If your witnesses are not willing to come to court voluntarily, you can request that the court clerk issue a subpoena. A subpoena is a court order that requires the witness to appear. The witness has a right to charge a fee for appearing. If you do not have in your possession the records or papers necessary to prove your case, you may request the court clerk issue a subpoena duces tecum in advance of the trial date, which orders the documents you are requesting be delivered to court for trial. Many cases are scheduled for the same time, so each case is given limited time. You should describe the events clearly and concisely. Before you present to the court any photographs, diagrams or documents, you must first show them to the opposing side. If possible, observe other small claims proceedings in the same department or courtroom where your case is scheduled, prior to the day you are to appear. You will get an idea how to proceed in an organized manner due to the limited time available for each case. Where do I get the forms for file a claim? You can complete forms online for free at www.courts.ca.gov/forms.html. Related Links California Courts: Small Claims California Courts: Judgment Collection Local Civil Fee Schedule
About Small Claims Court Small Claims is a court where you can exercise your rights to resolve a dispute. Attorneys are not permitted to represent either plaintiffs or defendants (attorneys are allowed in Small Claims appeals). Small Claims cases are for damages of $10,000 or less. Small Claims is affordable and fast, with simple and informal rules. Small Claims Advisor Phone: (209) 742-5322 Conta
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-15 (California T4 Mariposa build 2026-10-15) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-mariposa/pages/divisions__small-claims-unlawful-detainers.html (the page as fetched 2026-10-15; 632837 bytes, sha256 336b876171103d5d10e998c3ea5d2b3594004bca5305b6e4ff2d1352b47be20c) with the Orange HTML composer (compose-site.py, the Judicial Council theme's area): the article's content sections (section.jcc-section), news bodies (div.jcc-news-full) and title banners (div.jcc-hero; the first banner's heading, the page title, is chrome) - the site header, menus, breadcrumb and footer lie outside them; each block starts a line and each table cell is set on its own line; chrome removed: 1 item (the page title, “Information on Small Claims & Unlawful Detainers”); proof (the multiset of non-space characters equals the containers' text less chrome and scripts) passes. Review note: The page prints “The maximum claim allowed in small claims court is $10,000.” and the fee tiers up to $10,000 (the figures as printed, not checked against the statute as now in force); its small claims advisor's telephone and address, “(209) 742-5322 located at 5092 Jones Street”, are the Self-Help Center's, which the Self-Help page says “is currently closed”. Its heading names unlawful detainers, on which the page says nothing. A review task asks the court.
6 verbatim requirements on divisional requirements in GIUSEPPINA MIRANDA's division.
4 verbatim requirements on divisional requirements in HILARY CREARY's division.