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California Small Claims Limit Calculator
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Current California Limits (2026)
Individual Plaintiff$12,500
Maximum per claim for individuals suing anyone
Business Plaintiff$6,500
Maximum per claim for any business entity
How Limits Have Changed
2005
$7,500
Individuals
2011
$10,000
Inflation adjustment
2026
$12,500
Current limit
Important Rules to Know
Multiple Claims: Businesses can file unlimited claims, but each is capped at $6,500
Can't Split: You cannot split a $20,000 debt into two $10,000 claims against the same defendant
Waive Excess: You can waive the amount over the limit to file in small claims (but can't collect it later)
Per Claim: Limit applies per claim, not per year - you can file multiple unrelated claims
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