Small Claims
A case may be filed in Small Claims if the amount being sought
is $5,000 or less; $7,500 or less for "natural persons." Only two
cases above $2,500 may be filed each year. An attorney is not
allowed to represent you in court. Resources for learning to present
your own case are noted below.
Small Claims Court Clerk Information
Telephone Number:
Ukiah: (707) 468-2002
Fort Bragg: (707) 964-3192
Willits: (707) 459-5554
Court Clerk's Office Hours:
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday
Jurisdiction
One or more of the following statements
must be true in order to file your small claims action in Mendocino
County:
■ A defendant lives in this judicial
district, or if the defendant is a business that has its principal place
of business in this judicial district.
■
A person was injured or personal property was damaged in this judicial
district.
■
A defendant signed or entered into a contract in this judicial district,
a defendant lived in this judicial district when the contract was
entered into, a contract or obligation was to be performed in this
judicial district, or if the defendant is a corporation, the contract
was breached in this judicial district.
Forms and Filing
A packet, "Information for the Small Claims Plaintiff", complete with Claim Form, is available from the court clerk's office.
Other Small Claims forms are available from the court clerk, the
Law Library or the
Judicial Council website.
Forms that may be filled in on-line are available on the Judicial Council
website and EZLegalFile.org.
www.EZLegalFile.org is an
interactive website that can help you complete the court forms.
All paperwork must be typewritten or neatly written in black ink. There are typewriters available for public use at the Public Library at 105 N. Main St, Ukiah or the Law Library in the Ukiah courthouse, Room 307.
Fees
Effective January 1, 2006, the Filing Fee is based on the amount of the
claim:
- Up to $1,500, the fee is $30.00
- $1,500.01 to $5,000.00, the fee is $50.00
- $5,000.01 to $7,500.00, the fee is $75.00
If you have filed more than 12 claims in the past year, the filing fee is $100.00 per claim.
