California · Official court form
Fill out Defendant’s Claim SC‑120 yourself
SC-120 · Revised July 1, 2025 · Judicial Council of California
Defendant’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court. If you were sued in small claims court, this is the form to sue the plaintiff back in the same case. You type every answer. We put your words, exactly as you typed them, into the official form and make a PDF on your device.
We are not connected with the California courts. You decide whether to file a claim and what to write. The PDF is the Judicial Council’s form SC-120, Revised July 1, 2025, with its text unchanged.
Before you start, read the court’s pages What do these papers mean? and Sue the other side back.
Your SC-120 is ready. What to do next
This is a free tool. We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice. You fill in and sign the form yourself.
- Check and sign
Open the PDF and read pages 2 and 3. If something is wrong, fix it here and download again. Sign page 3 by hand. You sign under penalty of perjury, so everything must be true.
- Make copies
The form says: make copies of all pages (1 copy for each party named in the case and an extra copy for yourself), plus any pages the form tells you to attach.
- File it and pay the fee
Take or mail the original and the copies to the small claims clerk. If you mail them, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Some courts allow online filing. The fee is $30 (claims up to $1,500), $50 (over $1,500 up to $5,000), $75 (over $5,000), or $100 if you filed more than 12 small claims in the past 12 months. If you can’t pay, ask for a fee waiver. The clerk will write the trial date on page 1. File your Defendant’s Claim.
- Have each plaintiff served
Someone at least 18 who is not you or anyone else in the case must give each plaintiff a court-stamped copy of all 3 pages and any attachments. There are special rules for public entities, associations and some businesses (SC-104C). The server fills out and signs SC-104, Proof of Service, and you file it before the hearing. Serve your Defendant’s Claim.
- Go to court on the trial date
Both claims are heard at the same time. Bring witnesses, receipts, and any evidence you need. Free help: your county’s small claims advisor. Prepare for trial.
Deadlines and fees to know
| File and serve your Defendant’s Claim | Usually at least 5 days before the trial |
| If you were served with the Plaintiff’s Claim 10 days or less before the trial | Serve at least 1 day before the trial |
| Deadline on a weekend or court holiday | Count back to a day the court is open |
| Filing fee | $30 (claims up to $1,500), $50 (over $1,500 up to $5,000), $75 (over $5,000), or $100 if you filed more than 12 small claims in the past 12 months |
Sources: File your Defendant’s Claim, Serve your Defendant’s Claim (California Courts Self-Help Guide), SC-100-INFO and page 1 of form SC-120. Check with your court.