SMALL CLAIMS PETITION (CALIFORNIA)

Court: Superior Court of California, County of [COUNTY], Small Claims Division
Plaintiff: [Name/Address]
Defendant: [Name/Address]
Amount Claimed: [$] (within small-claims jurisdictional limit)

1. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

• This Court has jurisdiction under Code Civ. Proc. Sections 116.110 et seq.; the amount sought is within the California small-claims limit for [individual/entity] ([$]).
• Venue is proper because Defendant resides/does business in this county or the claim arose here.

2. CLAIM SUMMARY

• Nature of claim: [Breach of contract / lemon law refund / defective goods / services / deposits / property damage / debt].
• Facts (concise): [What happened, when, where; promises; payments; failures].
• Amount calculation: [Principal] + [incidental/consequential] - [credits] = [$]**.

3. RELIEF REQUESTED

• Judgment for [$], plus allowable court costs and statutory interest (if permitted).

4. ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE

• Prior demand sent on [DATE]; no resolution. [Attach].

5. EVIDENCE CHECKLIST (ATTACH/BRING)

• Contracts/receipts/invoices; correspondence; photos/videos; repair orders; timeline; witness statements; prior demands; statutes supporting claim (e.g., lemon law cite).

6. SERVICE

• Defendant to be served by [sheriff/registered process server/clerk by certified mail] per local rules.
• Service must be completed at least 15 days before the hearing if Defendant is in the county (20 days if outside the county).

7. SIGNATURE

[Name]
Date: [DATE]