SC-120, Page 1 of 3
Judicial Council of California, www.courts.ca.gov
Revised January 1, 2011, Mandatory Form
Code of Civil Procedure, § 116.110 et seq.
Defendant’s Claim and ORDER to Go to
Small Claims Court
(Small Claims)
SC-120
Defendant’s Claim and ORDER
to Go to Small Claims Court
You are being sued by the person you are suing.
La persona que ha demandado lo está demandando a usted.
Date Time
Department
Name and address of court if different from above
1.
2.
3.
The people in
Notice to the person being sued:
Read this form and all pages attached, to understand the claim against you
and to protect your rights.
Bring witnesses, receipts, and any evidence you need to prove your case.
If you lose, the court can order that your wages, money, or property be taken
to pay this claim.
You must go to court on the trial date listed below. If you do not go to court,
you may lose the case.
Aviso al demandado:
Lea este formulario y todas las páginas adjuntas, para entender la demanda
en su contra y para proteger sus derechos.
Lleve testigos, recibos y cualquier otra prueba que necesite para probar su
caso.
Si pierde el caso la corte puede ordenar que le quiten de su sueldo, dinero u
otros bienes para pagar este reclamo.
Tiene que presentarse a la corte en la fecha de su juicio indicada a
continuación. Si no se presenta, puede perder el caso.
Instructions for the person suing:
1
You must have someone at least 18—not you or anyone else listed in this case—give each Plaintiff a court-stamped
copy of all 3 pages of this form and any pages this form tells you to attach. There are special rules for “serving,” or
delivering, this form to public entities, associations, and some businesses. See Forms SC-104, SC-104B, and
SC-104C.
Fill out pages 2 and 3 of this form. Then make copies of all pages of this form. (Make 1 copy for each party named in
this case and an extra copy for yourself.) Take or mail the original and these copies to the court clerk’s office and pay
the filing fee. The clerk will write the date of your trial in the box above.
Before you fill out this form, read Form SC-100-INFO, Information for the Plaintiff, to know your rights. Get
SC-100-INFO at any courthouse or county law library, or go to: www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms
Go to court on your trial date listed above. Bring witnesses, receipts, and any evidence you need to prove your case.
Trial
Date
Order to Go to Court
Date:
Clerk stamps date here when form is filed.
Fill in court name and street address:
Superior Court of California, County of
Fill in case number and case name:
Case Number:
Case Name:
, Deputy
must go to court: (Clerk fills out section below.)
2
and
Clerk, by ________________________________
If more than one Defendant, list next Defendant here:
The Defendant (the person, business, or public entity suing now) is:
SC-120, Page 2 of 3
Revised January 1, 2011
If more than one Plaintiff, list next Plaintiff here:
(Explain below):
If no specific date, give the time period:
The Plaintiff (the person, business, or public entity that sued first) is:
Check here if more than 2 Plaintiffs and attach Form SC-120A.
Check here if any Plaintiff is on active military duty and write his or her name here:
Check here if more than 2 Defendants and attach Form SC-120A.
Check here if either Defendant listed above is doing business under a fictitious name. If so, attach Form
SC-103.
The Defendant claims the Plaintiff owes $
When did this happen? (Date):
Date started: Through:
How did you calculate the money owed to you? (Do not include court costs or fees for service.)
Check here if you need more space. Attach one sheet of paper or Form MC-031 and write “SC-120, Item 3”
at the top.
1
2
3
Street address:
Street City State Zip
Name: Phone:
Mailing address
(if different):
Street City State Zip
Street address:
Street City State Zip
Name: Phone:
Mailing address
(if different):
Street City State Zip
Street address:
Street City State Zip
Name: Phone:
Mailing address
(if different):
Street City State Zip
Street address:
Street City State Zip
Name: Phone:
Mailing address
(if different):
Street City State Zip
a.
b.
c.
Defendant’s Claim and ORDER to Go to
Small Claims Court
(Small Claims)
Case Number:
Defendant (list names):
Why does the Plaintiff owe the Defendant money?
Revised January 1, 2011
SC-120, Page 3 of 3
You may ask the Plaintiff (in person, in writing, or by phone) to pay you before you sue.
Have you done this?
I declare, under penalty of perjury under California State law, that the information above and on any attachments to
this form is true and correct.
If I do not have enough money to pay for filing fees or service, I can ask the court to waive those fees.
Is your claim about an attorney-client fee dispute?
Are you suing a public entity?
If yes, you must file a written claim with the public entity first.
If the public entity denies your claim or does not answer within the time allowed by law, you can file this form.
Have you filed more than 12 other small claims within the last 12 months in California?
If yes, the filing fee for this case will be higher.
I understand that by filing a claim in small claims court, I have no right to appeal this claim.
I have not filed, and understand that I cannot file, more than two small claims cases for more than $2,500 in
California during this calendar year.
Yes No
If yes, and if you have had arbitration, fill out Form SC-101, attach it to this form, and check here:
A claim was filed on
(date):
Date:
Defendant types or prints name here
Second Defendant types or prints name here
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Case Number:
Defendant (list names):
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Defendant signs here
Second Defendant signs here
Defendant’s Claim and ORDER to Go to
Small Claims Court
(Small Claims)
Need help?
Your county’s Small Claims Advisor can help for free.
Or go to “County-Specific Court Information” at
www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/smallclaims
?
Requests for Accommodations
Assistive listening systems, computer-assisted, real-time captioning, or sign language interpreter
services are available if you ask at least five days before the trial. Contact the clerk’s office or go to
www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms for Request for Accommodations by Persons With Disabilities and
Response (form MC-410). (Civil Code, § 54.8.)
Date:
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