SC-500

Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to  
Small Claims Court (COVID-19 Rental Debt)

Clerk stamps date here when form is filed.

THIS IS AN ACTION TO RECOVER COVID-19 RENTAL DEBT 
AS DEFINED UNDER CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE,  
§ 1179.02. ACCESS TO RECORDS IN THIS CASE IS LIMITED 
UNDER CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, § 1161.2.5.

Notice to the person being sued:
• You are the defendant if your name is listed in  2 of this form or on form

                 The person suing you is the plaintiff, listed in 1 .

• You and the plaintiff must go to court on the trial date listed below. If you do 
not go to court, you may lose the case. If you lose, the court can order that 
your wages, money, or property be taken to pay this claim. (Note: This 
small claims case cannot result in your eviction.) Bring witnesses, 
receipts, and any other evidence you need to prove your case.

• Read this form and all pages attached to understand the claim against you 

and to protect your rights, and read  
                                      for more information, at 

Fill in court name and street address:

Superior Court of California, County of

Aviso al Demandado:
• Usted es el Demandado si su nombre figura en  2 de la página 2 de este
formulario, o en el formulario SC-500A. La persona que lo demanda es  
el Demandante, la que figura en 1 de la página 2. 

Case Number:

Case Name:

Court fills in case number when form is filed.

• Usted y el Demandante tienen que presentarse en la corte en la fecha del   
juicio indicada a continuación. Si no se presenta, puede perder el caso. Si  
pierde el caso, la corte podría ordenar que le quiten de su sueldo, dinero u 
otros bienes para pagar este reclamo. (Nota: Este caso de reclamos menores no puede resultar en un desalojo.)  
Lleve testigos, recibos y cualquier otra prueba que necesite para probar su caso.

• Lea este formulario y todas las páginas adjuntas para entender la demanda en su contra y para proteger sus derechos, y 
lea SC-500-INFO, La deuda de alquiler del COVID-19 en la corte de reclamos menores para más información, en 
www.courts.ca.gov/forms. 

Order to Go to Court

The people in      and      must go to court: (Clerk fills out section below.)

2

1

Date

Time

Department Name and address of court, if different from above

Trial 
Date

1.

2.

3.
Date:

Clerk, by

, Deputy

Instructions for the person suing:
• You are the plaintiff. The person you are suing is the defendant.
• Before you fill out this form, read forms                         and                          to know your rights. Get the forms at any 

courthouse or county law library, or go to 

• Fill out pages 2, 3, and 4 of this form. Make copies of all the pages of this form and any attachments—one for each 
party named in this case and an extra copy for yourself. Take or mail the original and the copies to the court clerk’s 
office and pay the filing fee. The clerk will write the date of your trial in the box above. Your court may allow 
electronic filing. Check your local court website for information: 

• You must have someone at least 18—not you or anyone else listed in this case—give each defendant a court-stamped 

copy of all pages of this form and any pages this form tells you to attach. See forms                        

• Go to court on your trial date listed above. Bring witnesses, receipts, and any evidence you need to prove your case.
Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER 
to Go to Small Claims Court 
(COVID-19 Rental Debt)

Judicial Council of California,   
New November 1, 2021, Mandatory Form 
Code of Civil Procedure, §§ 116.110 et seq., 
116.223, 1161.2.5, 1179.02

SC-500, Page 1 of 6

Plaintiff (list names):

Case Number:

1 The plaintiff (the person, business, or public entity that is suing) is:

Phone: 

If more than one plaintiff, list next plaintiff here:
Name:

Phone: 

Name:

Street address:

Street

Mailing address (if different): 

Street

Email address (if available):

Street address: 

Street

Mailing address (if different): 

Email address (if available):

Street

Name:

Street address: 

Street

Mailing address (if different):

Street

Name:

Street address: 

Street

Mailing address (if different): 

Street

City

City

City

City

City

City

City

City

Phone: 

Phone: 

State

Zip

State

Zip

State

Zip

State

Zip

State

Zip

State

Zip

State

Zip

State

Zip

Check here if more than two plaintiffs and attach form 
Check here if either plaintiff listed above is doing business under a fictitious name and attach form  

2 The defendant (the person being sued) is:

If more than one defendant, list next defendant here:

Check here if more than two defendants and attach form  
                                                                                       and write defendant's name here: 
Check here if any defendant is on active military duty 

New November 1, 2021

Plaintiff’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court 
 (COVID-19 Rental Debt)

SC-500, Page 2 of 6

Plaintiff (list names):

Case Number:

3 The plaintiff claims the defendant owes $  

for COVID-19 rental debt

(unpaid rent or other financial obligations of a tenant that came due in the period from March 1, 2020, to 
September 30, 2021). (Code Civ. Proc., § 1179.02.)  (Explain amount below.)

a. Rent.  List all rent you claim defendant owes that came due in the period from March 1, 2020, to September 30, 

2021. For each month you claim rent is due, include each amount due and the date it came due.

b. Other amounts of COVID-19 rental debt. List all unpaid financial obligations under the lease or rental 

agreement (other than rent) that you claim defendant owes and that came due during the period in (a) above. For 
each month you claim other financial obligations are due, include each amount, the date it came due, and what it 
was for (for example, parking fees or utilities included as part of the rental agreement).

Check here if you need more space. Attach one sheet of paper or form                and write “SC-500, Item 3” at  
the top.

4 Amounts paid or offsets.  

List any amounts you received from defendant, rental assistance programs, and other third parties that you have 
already credited, and any other amounts you have offset or credited, for rent or other financial obligations due 
between March 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021, that you are not claiming in item 3 above. Include each amount, 
when it was paid or credited, and what it was for.

Check here if you need more space. Attach one sheet of paper or form                and write “SC-500, Item 4” at  
the top.

5 You must ask the defendant (in person, in writing, or by phone) to pay you before you 

sue. Have you done this? 
No

Yes

If no, explain why not:

New November 1, 2021

Plaintiff’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court 
 (COVID-19 Rental Debt)

SC-500, Page 3 of 6

Plaintiff (list names):

Case Number:

6 Why are you filing your claim at this courthouse?  
This courthouse covers the area (check one that applies):
a.    Where the defendant lives or does business.
b.    Where the rental agreement, lease, or contract (written or spoken) was made, signed, performed, or broken 
by the defendant or where the defendant lived or did business when the defendant made the contract.
Other (specify):

c.

7 List the zip code of the place checked in      above (if you know it):

6

8 Have you filed more than 12 other small claims within the last 12 months in California? 

Yes

No

 If yes, the filing fee for this case will be higher.

9 Plaintiff must make a good-faith effort to help defendant obtain rental assistance before 

filing this case. Check all that apply below. You must also attach documentation of those 
efforts or, if you do not have documentation, describe your effort below.
Plaintiff made a good-faith effort to help defendant obtain rental assistance before filing this case, as required under 
Code of Civil Procedure section 871.10(a), by:
a.   
b.   
c.

Investigating whether governmental rental assistance is available to the tenant;
Seeking governmental rental assistance for the tenant; or 
Cooperating with the tenant's efforts to obtain rental assistance from any governmental entity or other 
third party.

Check here if documentation is attached.    If not attached, describe your efforts below.

10

I understand that the court cannot issue a judgment for me if I have received rental 
assistance for the amounts I am claiming from defendant. (Both statements must be true.)

a.    I have not received rental assistance or other financial compensation from any other source corresponding to any 

of the amount claimed in item 3 above; and

b.    I do not have any application pending for rental assistance or other financial compensation from any other 

source corresponding to any of the amount claimed in item 3 above.

11 I understand that by filing a claim in small claims court, I have no right to appeal this 

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the information above and on any 
attachments to this form is true and correct.
Date: 

 Plaintiff types or prints name here         

 Plaintiff signs here

claim. 

Date: 

Second plaintiff types or prints name here 

Second plaintiff signs here

Requests for Accommodations  
Assistive listening systems, computer-assisted real-time captioning, or sign language interpreter  
services are available if you ask at least five days before the trial. For these and other accommodations, 
contact the clerk’s office for          

             (Civ. Code, § 54.8.)

 

 

 

 

New November 1, 2021

Plaintiff’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court 
 (COVID-19 Rental Debt)

SC-500, Page 4 of 6

SC-500

Information for the defendant (the person being sued)

"Small claims court" is a special court where generally only 
claims for $10,000 or less are decided. This limitation has been 
lifted for cases for recovery of COVID-19 rental debt.* The process 
is quick and cheap. The rules are simple and informal. You are the 
defendant—the person being sued. The person who is suing you 
is the plaintiff.

Do I need a lawyer? You may talk to a lawyer before or after 
the case. But you may not have a lawyer represent you in court 
(unless this is an appeal from a small claims case).

 

 

How do I get ready for court? Read form 
 
                 You don’t have to 
file any papers before your trial, unless you think this is the wrong 
court for your case. But bring to your trial any witnesses, receipts, 
and evidence that support your case. And read “Be Prepared for 
Your Trial” at 

 

Where can I get the court forms I need? Go to any 
courthouse or your county law library, or get forms at  

 

 

 

 

,

What if I need an accommodation? If you have a 
disability or are hearing impaired, fill out form  
                                          Give the form to your court clerk or the 
ADA/Access Coordinator.
What if I don’t speak English well? Ask the court clerk 
as soon as possible for a court-provided interpreter. You may use 
form  
or a local court form 
to request an interpreter. If a court interpreter is unavailable for 
your trial, it may be necessary to reschedule your trial. You cannot 
bring your own interpreter for the trial unless the interpreter has 
been approved by the court as a certified, registered, or 
provisionally qualified interpreter. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule 
2.893, and form 
What happens at the trial? The judge will listen to both 
sides. The judge may make a decision at your trial or mail the 
decision to you later.
What if I lose the case? If you lose, you may appeal. You’ll 
have to pay a fee. (Plaintiffs cannot appeal their own claims.)
• If you were at the trial, file form                                            You 
must file within 30 days after the clerk hands or mails you the 
judge's decision (judgment) on form               or form  

• If you were not at the trial, fill out and file form  

                                                                        to ask the judge to 
cancel the judgment (decision). If the judge does not give you a 
new trial, you have 10 days to appeal the decision. File form  

For more information on appeals, see  

• Prove this is the wrong court. Send a letter to the court 
before your trial explaining why you think this is the wrong court. 
Ask the court to dismiss the claim. You must serve (give) a copy 
of your letter (by mail or in person) to all parties. (Your letter to 
the court must say you have done so.)

• Go to the trial and try to win your case. Bring 

witnesses, receipts, and any evidence you need to prove your 
case. To have the court order a witness to go to the trial, fill out 
form    
have it served on the witness.

                               and 

 

 

 

• Sue the person who is suing you. If you have a claim 
against the plaintiff, and the claim is for $10,000 or less, you 
may file Defendant's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims 
Court (form             ) and bring the claim in this action. If your 
claim is for more than allowed in small claims court, you may still 
file it in small claims court if you give up the amount over the 
small claims value amount, or you may file a claim for the full 
value of the claim in the appropriate court. If your claim is for 
more than allowed in small claims court and relates to the same 
contract, transaction, matter, or event that is the subject of the 
plaintiff's claim, you may file your claim in the appropriate court 
and file a motion to transfer the plaintiff's claim to that court to 
resolve both matters together. You can see a description of the 
amounts allowed in the paragraph above, titled “Small Claims 
Court.”

• Agree with the plaintiff's claim and pay the 

money. Or, if you can’t pay the money now, go to your trial 
and say you want to make payments.

• Let the case "default." If you don’t settle and do not go to 
the trial (default), the judge may give the plaintiff what he or she 
is asking for plus court costs. If this happens, the plaintiff can 
legally take your money, wages, and property to pay the 
judgment. (But not your rental unit; this is not an eviction case.)

What if I need more time? 
You can change the trial date if:
• You cannot go to court on the scheduled date (you will have to 

pay a fee to postpone the trial), or

• You did not get served (receive this order to go to court) at least 

15 days before the trial (or 20 days if you live outside the 
county).

Ask the Small Claims Clerk about the rules and fees for 
postponing a trial. Or fill out form               (or write a letter) and 
mail it to the court and to all other people listed on your court 
papers before the deadline. Enclose a check for your court fees, 
unless a fee waiver was granted. 

? Need help? 

Your county’s Small Claims Advisor can help for free.

Do I have options? Yes. If you are being sued, you can:
• Settle your case before the trial. If you and the  

plaintiff agree on how to settle the case before the trial, the 
plaintiff must file form  
or a 
written and signed settlement agreement with the clerk. Ask the 
Small Claims Advisor for help.

 

 

 

Or go to 

*Limits do not apply in an action to recover COVID-19 rental debt, which is unpaid rent or other financial obligations of a tenant that are due between 
March 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021. (See Code Civ. Proc., §§ 116.223 & 1179.02.) Read 

New November 1, 2021

Plaintiff’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court 
 (COVID-19 Rental Debt)

SC-500, Page 5 of 6

SC-500

Información para el demandado (la persona demandada)

La “Corte de reclamos menores” es una corte especial donde 
generalmente se deciden casos por $10,000 o menos. Se suspendió 
este límite para acciones para reclamar una deuda de alquiler del 
COVID-19.* El proceso es rápido y económico. Las reglas son 
sencillas e informales. Usted es el Demandado—la persona que se 
está demandando. La persona que lo está demandando es el 
Demandante. 
¿Necesito un abogado? Puede hablar con un abogado antes o 
después del caso. Pero no puede tener a un abogado que lo 
represente ante la corte (a menos que se trate de una apelación de un 
caso de reclamos menores). 
¿Cómo me preparo para ir a la corte? Lea el formulario SC-500-
INFO, La deuda de alquiler del COVID-19 en la corte de reclamos 
menores. No tiene que presentar ningún documento antes del juicio, a 
menos que piense que ésta es la corte equivocada para su caso. Pero 
lleve al juicio los testigos, recibos y pruebas que apoyan su caso. Y 
lea “Esté preparado para su juicio” en www.courts.ca.gov/
reclamosmenores/preparese. 
¿Dónde puedo obtener los formularios de la corte que necesito? 
Vaya a cualquier edificio de la corte, la biblioteca legal de su condado, 
o imprima los formularios en www.courts.ca.gov/smallclaims/forms 
(página está en inglés). 
¿Qué hago si necesito una modificación? Si tiene una 
discapacidad o tiene impedimentos de audición, puede llenar el 
formulario MC-410, Solicitud de modificaciones para discapacidad. 
Entregue el formulario al secretario de la corte o al Coordinador de 
Acceso/ADA de su corte.
¿Qué pasa si no hablo bien inglés? Solicite un intérprete al 
secretario de la corte lo más pronto posible. Puede usar el formulario 
INT-300 o un formulario de su corte local. Si no está disponible un 
intérprete de la corte para su juicio, es posible que se tenga que 
cambiar la fecha de su juicio. No puede llevar su propio intérprete 
para el juicio a menos que el intérprete haya sido aprobado por la 
corte como un intérprete certificado, registrado, o provisionalmente 
calificado. (Vea la regla 2.893 de las Reglas de la Corte de California, 
y el formulario INT-140.)

¿Qué pasa en el juicio? El juez escuchará a ambas partes. El juez 
puede tomar su decisión durante la audiencia o enviársela por correo 
después.
¿Qué pasa si pierdo el caso? Si pierde, puede apelar. Tendrá que 
pagar una cuota. (El Demandante no puede apelar su propio reclamo.)
• Si estuvo presente en el juicio, llene el formulario SC-140, Aviso de 
apelación (Notice of Appeal). Tiene que presentarlo dentro de 30 
días después de que el secretario le entregue o envíe la decisión 
(fallo) del juez en el formulario SC-200 o SC-130, Aviso de 
publicación del fallo (Notice of Entry of Judgment). 

• Si no estuvo en el juicio, llene y presente el formulario SC-135, 

Aviso de petición para anular el fallo y Declaración para pedirle al 
juez que anule el fallo (decisión). Si la corte no le otorga un nuevo 
juicio, tiene 10 días para apelar la decisión. Presente el formulario 
SC-140.

Para obtener más información sobre las apelaciones, vea  
www.courts.ca.gov/reclamosmenores/apelaciones.
¿Tengo otras opciones? Sí. Si lo están demandando, puede:
• Resolver su caso antes del juicio. Si usted y el Demandante se 
ponen de acuerdo en cómo resolver el caso antes del juicio, el 
Demandante tiene que presentar el formulario CIV-110 Solicitud de 
desestimación (Request for Dismissal) o un acuerdo de resolución 
escrito y firmado al secretario de la corte. Pídale al Asesor de 
Reclamos Menores que lo ayude.

• Probar que es la corte equivocada. Envíe una carta a la corte 

•

antes del juicio explicando por qué cree que es la corte 
equivocada. Pídale a la corte que despida el reclamo.Tiene que 
entregar (dar) una copia de su carta (por correo o en persona) a 
todas las partes. (Su carta a la corte tiene que decir que hizo la 
entrega.) 
Ir al juicio y tratar de ganar el caso. Lleve testigos, recibos y 
cualquier prueba que necesite para probar su caso. Si desea que 
la corte emita una orden de comparecencia para que los testigos 
vayan al juicio, llene el formulario SC-107, Citatorio de reclamos 
menores (Small Claims Subpoena) y entrégueselo legalmente al 
testigo.

• Demandar a la persona que lo demandó. Si tiene un reclamo 
contra el Demandante, y el reclamo se puede presentar en la 
corte de reclamos menores, tal como se describe en este 
formulario, puede presentar el formulario SC-120, Reclamo del 
demandado (Defendant’s Claim) y presentarlo en este mismo 
caso. Si su reclamo excede el límite permitido en la corte de 
reclamos menores, puede igualmente presentarlo en la corte de 
reclamos menores si está dispuesto a limitar su reclamo al 
máximo permitido, o puede presentar un reclamo por el monto 
total en la corte apropiada. Si su reclamo excede el límite 
permitido en la corte de reclamos menores y está relacionado con 
el mismo contrato, transacción, asunto o acontecimiento que el 
reclamo del Demandante, puede presentar su reclamo en la corte 
apropiada y presentar una moción para transferir el reclamo del 
Demandante a dicha corte, para poder resolver los dos reclamos 
juntos. Puede ver una descripción de los montos permitidos en el 
párrafo anterior titulado “Corte de reclamos menores”.

• Aceptar el reclamo del Demandante y pagar el dinero. O, si no 
puede pagar en ese momento, vaya al juicio y diga que quiere 
hacer los pagos a plazos. 

• No ir al juicio y aceptar el fallo por falta de comparecencia. Si 
no llega a un acuerdo con el Demandante y no va al juicio (fallo 
por falta de comparecencia), el juez le puede otorgar al 
Demandante lo que está reclamando más los costos de la corte. 
En ese caso, el Demandante legalmente puede tomar su dinero, 
su sueldo o sus bienes para cobrar el fallo. (Pero no su hogar 
alquilado; esto no es un caso de desalojo.)

¿Qué hago si necesito más tiempo? Puede cambiar la fecha del 
juicio si:
•   No puede ir a la corte en la fecha programada (tendrá que pagar 

una cuota para aplazar el juicio), o    

•   No le entregaron los documentos legalmente (no recibió la orden 
para ir a la corte) por lo menos 15 días antes del juicio (o 20 días 
si vive fuera del condado).

Pregúntele al secretario de reclamos menores sobre las reglas y  las 
cuotas para aplazar un juicio. O llene el formulario SC-150 (o escriba 
una carta) y envíelo antes del plazo a la corte y a todas las otras 
personas que figuran en sus papeles de la corte. Adjunte un cheque 
para pagar los costos de la corte, a menos que le hayan dado una 
exención. 

? ¿Necesita ayuda? El Asesor de Reclamos Menores de su 

condado le puede ayudar sin cargo.

O visite www.courts.ca.gov/reclamosmenores/asesores.

*Los límites no se aplican a las acciones para reclamar una deuda de alquiler del COVID-19, que se define como alquiler u otras obligaciones financieras impagas de un inquilino que vencieron entre el 1 de marzo de 
2020 y el 30 de septiembre de 2021. (Vea el Código de Procedimiento Civil, secciones 116.223 y 1179.02.) Lea el formulario SC-500-INFO, La deuda de alquiler del COVID-19 en la corte de reclamos menores.

New November 1, 2021

Reclamo del Demandante y ORDEN Para Ir a la Corte de 
Reclamos Menores (COVID-19 Rental Debt)

SC-500, Page 6 of 6