Link to Small Claims Forms

Small Claims Court Advisor

Ventura County has two Small Claims Courts. One is located at the Government Center, Hall of Justice, 800 S.Victoria Avenue in Ventura . The telephone number is (805) 662-6691. The other is located at 3855-F Alamo Street in Simi Valley . The telephone number is (805) 582-8078.

If you have questions regarding the prosecution or the defense of a small claims suit, you may contact the Small Claims Advisor located in the District Attorney's Office, Hall of Justice, Room 314, 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura. You may also contact the advisor by telephone at (805) 654-5054. The hours for this service are 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. This service is provided at no charge.

How to File in Small Claims Court

The maximum amount a natural person may seek in small claims court is $7,500. A plaintiff who is not a natural person (i.e., a business) is limited to $5,000. You are limited, however, to filing two cases per calendar year over $2,500. No attorneys are permitted, unless they are bringing suit on their own claim. If your claim is against a business, you will need the full name(s) of the owner(s). You may obtain this information by contacting city business licenses or fictitious business names at the County Clerk and Recorder's Office. If these records indicate the business is incorporated, you need to contact the secretary of state via their Web site, http://www.ss.ca.gov to verify corporate status and obtain the name and address of a corporate officer or agent for service.

The filing fee in small claims court is $30, if the claim is equal to or less than $1,500. If the claim is equal to or less than $5,000, the fee is $50, and the filing fee is $75 if the claim is over $5,000. In cases where the plaintiff has filed more than 12 other small claims cases in the state in the previous 12 months, the fee is $100.  The clerk will assign a trial date approximately 45 days from the date of filing.

You will then need to arrange for notice to be served on the defendant. This can be done by certified mail through the small claims court clerk's office for $10, by the sheriff's office for $30, or it may be served by any individual 18 years of age or older who is not involved in the case. A declaration regarding proof of service must be filed with the clerk's office prior to the trial.

Once you have filed your case, the clerk can issue subpoenas to you to order witnesses or the production of documents for court. On the date set for your hearing, be sure to arrive on time and bring with you everything necessary to prove your claim, including any witnesses, documents, or photographs. After the hearing, you will usually be notified by mail of the judge's decision in your case. This can take a few days or a few weeks.

If you are the plaintiff, you may not appeal the judge's decision, unless the defendant filed a claim against you, and you lost on that claim. You must file the appeal within 30 days of the mailing date of the notice of entry of judgment. The appeal is filed with the small claims clerk; however, the appeal (trial de novo) is heard in superior court. At the trial de novo, an attorney may represent either party. There is no appeal for either party from the judgment entered on the appeal. The case is then returned to the jurisdiction of the small claims court.


What is venue?

When you are filling out your form to file an action in small claims court, you will be asked to give the reason why you are filing in Ventura County . Venue means the location where the trial will be heard. You can file in this county if any of the following are true:

•  The defendant is located in this county
•  Property damage occurred in this county (for example, an automobile  accident) 
•  The contract upon which this suit is based was entered into in this county
•  On a retail installment account, you may file:

•  where the contract was signed by the buyer
•  where the buyer resided at the time the contract was signed
•  where buyer resides at the time claim is filed
•  where goods (purchased on this contract) are affixed to real property

•  On a motor vehicle sales contract, you may file:

•  where the contract or purchase order was signed
•  where buyer resided at the time of the signing
•  where buyer resides at the time claim is filed
•  where the motor vehicle is permanently garaged