Guides
The part nobody explains
You do not need a lawyer's permission to sue someone. You need to know which court, which forms, and how long you have. That is all these pages are.
- Filing a case
How to sue someone in California
The whole process, from deciding what to ask for to getting the papers served, without hiring anyone.
Read the guide - Eviction defense
How to answer an eviction in California
Ten court days, one form, and the defenses most tenants never know they have.
Read the guide - Choosing a court
Small claims or civil court
The trade you are making: speed and simplicity against how much a judge is allowed to award you.
Read the guide - Costs
Filing fees and fee waivers
What the clerk charges, and the form that makes the charge go away if you qualify.
Read the guide - Deadlines
How long you have to sue in California
Every claim has an expiration date. Here are the ones that catch people.
Read the guide - Car accident
What a demand letter after a car accident actually is
The one document that moves an adjuster from stalling to making an offer, and what has to be inside it.
Read the guide - Car accident
How much is my California car accident claim worth
The pieces an adjuster adds up, what pushes a case past do-it-yourself, and the two rules that can wipe out value entirely.
Read the guide - Collecting a judgment
How to garnish wages on a California judgment
The writ, the sheriff, and the paycheck: what a creditor can actually take, and how long it takes to start.
Read the guide - Collecting a judgment
How to levy a bank account in California
A levy is a snapshot, not a subscription. What is in the account that day is what you get.
Read the guide - Collecting a judgment
How to renew a California judgment before it expires
Ten years from entry, and not one day more. Renewal is a form, a fee, and a deadline that cannot be excused.
Read the guide
Filing in your county
Courthouse addresses, filing windows, and local fees for every California county we have a verified address for.
Find your countyfile my case is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and this page is not legal advice. Deadlines and fees change; confirm yours before you file.