SC-101

Attorney Fee Dispute 
(After Arbitration)

Case Number:

(cid:254) This form is attached to Form SC-100, item 7. It tells the court that you are suing about a disagreement for $5,000 or 

less in attorney fees and that you have tried to solve the disagreement through arbitration. Read page 2 of this form 
before you fill out this form. It explains your rights and some small claims terms. 

1 How much money is in dispute?  $ 

2 You are (check one):

Attorney

Client

3 What did the arbitrator decide? (Check one):

The  

attorney

client

has to pay the other party this amount:  $

Neither party has to pay the other party anything.

4 Write the date your Notice of Award was mailed here:

(Look at the bottom of the Notice.) 

5 Why are you filing in small claims court now? (Check what you are asking the judge to do):

I want the court to confirm the award.
I want the court to correct the award because (check only one and explain below):

It contains an error in calculation or a mistake in describing someone or something in the award. 
The arbitrator considered legal issues not allowed in this kind of hearing and the award can be                 
corrected so it is fair.
It doesn’t follow the rules for proper wording, information, or signature. (State Bar Rule 37.2 et seq.)

c.

I want the court to vacate (cancel) the award because (check only one and explain below):

It was obtained by fraud, corruption, or other unfair means.
The arbitrator was corrupt.
The arbitrator did something wrong that substantially hurt my case.
The arbitrator considered legal issues not allowed in this kind of hearing and the award cannot be             
corrected so it is fair.
The arbitrator unfairly refused to postpone my case or refused to consider important evidence that could 
help settle the dispute or conducted the hearing in another way that is not allowed.
The arbitrator knew of reasons why he or she could have been disqualified but did not disclose this           
information or did not disqualify himself or herself after I asked the arbitrator to do so at the proper time.

d.

Check here if you are asking for a new arbitration hearing.
I want a trial in small claims court to decide the fee dispute. (You can check this option only if you did not  
agree in writing to a binding award and you file this form within 30 days after the Notice of the Award.)

6 Did you (or your attorney) go to the arbitration hearing? 

                                                                                                                                     (If no, explain below):

Yes

No

7 Attach a copy of the Arbitration Agreement and the Notice of Award (the arbitrator’s decision).                               

If you do not attach them,  explain why here:

3.
Explain:

Explain:

a.

b.

a.
b.

1.
2.

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

6.

Date:

Type or print your name  

Sign your name 

Judicial Council of California,   
Revised July 1, 2007, Mandatory Form  
Code of Civil Procedure, §§ 116.220(a)(4),  
1280 et seq;  
Business and Professions Code, § 6200 et seq.

Attorney Fee Dispute (After Arbitration) 
(Attachment to Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court)

SC-101, Page 1 of 2

Your name:

Case Number:

What is arbitration?
Arbitration is when a neutral person (an arbitrator) hears 
evidence from each side and then makes a decision 
(award) in your case. It is less formal than a trial in court.

Do I have to use arbitration for this dispute?
In most cases, yes. The only exceptions are:

• Parties who did not sign an agreement to arbitrate 

fee disputes and

• Clients who do not want to use arbitration. The 

attorney must use arbitration if the client asks for it.

What is nonbinding arbitration?
Nonbinding arbitration allows you or the other side to ask 
for a trial if either of you does not like the arbitrator’s 
decision. You have 30 days after the notice is mailed to   
ask for a trial.

What is binding arbitration?
Binding arbitration means you and the other side gave up 
your right to a trial and must accept the arbitrator’s 
decision. Your arbitration is binding if:
• Both sides agreed to binding arbitration in writing 

(after they disagreed about fees or costs) or 

• 30 days or more have gone by since the nonbinding 

decision was mailed.

What if I agree with the award?
If your award is nonbinding and the other party does not  
file papers asking for a trial, the award becomes binding in  
30 days. 

If the award is binding and it says the other party owes 
you money, send a letter asking to be paid within a 
reasonable time. If you don’t get paid, ask the court to 
“confirm” the award. This allows you to ask the court to 
order payment from the other party’s paycheck, bank 
accounts or property. You must do this within 4 years 
after the notice of award. (See page 1, item 5a.)

What if I am not happy with the award?
You can ask the court to correct the award if it contains 
an obvious mistake in calculating a number or describing 
a person, thing, or property. (See page 1, item 5b.) 

You can ask the court to vacate (cancel) the award if 
certain kinds of misconduct or mistakes happened in the 
arbitration. (See page 1, item 5c.)
You can reject the award and ask for a trial if you and  
the other party did not agree in writing to binding 
arbitration. (See page 1, item 5d.)

How long do I have to ask for a trial?
You have up to 30 days after the date the Notice of 
Award was mailed to you. Look for the date on the 
bottom of the notice. If you do not ask for a trial within 
30 days, the award will become binding.

How long do I have to ask the court to vacate or  
correct the award?
In most cases you have up to 100 days after the date the 
Notice of Award was mailed to you. But if the other side 
asks the court to confirm, correct, or vacate the award, 
you must ask the court to correct or vacate the award  
before the court’s deadline to answer the other side’s 
request. Your Small Claims Advisor can give you more 
information on court deadlines.

Which court do I use for a trial or to confirm,  
correct, or vacate the award?
If a lawsuit has already been filed about the fee 
disagreement, file your papers in the same court and use 
same case number as in that lawsuit. (Before filing, you 
must serve all parties named in the claim.)

If no lawsuit has been filed about the fee disagreement, file 
in the court of the county where the arbitration was held 
and ask for a trial or ask the court to confirm, correct, or 
vacate the award. 
• If the amount in disagreement is $5,000 or less, file    

in small claims court. Use Forms SC-100 and   
SC-101.

• If the amount in disagreement is more than $5,000, 

file in superior court. See Form ADR-105.

What if an attorney doesn't pay the award?
If an attorney doesn't pay the award, the State Bar can 
help you. If you don’t receive the award in 100 days 
after receiving the Notice of the Award, or if the award 
becomes a final judgment, contact the State Bar at:

Mandatory Fee Arbitration 
180 Howard Street, 6th Floor 
San Francisco, CA 94105-1639 
415-538-2020

More Information
California has special laws for arbitration of disputes 
over attorney fees. For more information, see:
• State Bar of California Web site: 
• Form ADR-105, Information Regarding Rights 

After Attorney-Client Fee Arbitration

• Cal. Business & Professions Code, §§ 6200–6206

Revised July 1, 2007

Attorney Fee Dispute (After Arbitration) 
(Attachment to Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court)

SC-101, Page 2 of 2