A fee of fifteen dollars ($15) shall be charged and collected from the plaintiff for each defendant to whom the court clerk mails a copy of the claim under Section 116.340. This fee shall be distributed to the court in which it was collected.
§ 116.232.Fee for each defendant to whom copy of claim is mailed
Title 1. Organization and Jurisdiction · Chapter 5.5. Small Claims Court · Article 2. Small Claims Court · Last amended 2013 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 116.232 charges the plaintiff a $15 fee for each defendant the court clerk mails a copy of the claim to under § 116.340, with that fee distributed to the court that collected it.
Full Text of § 116.232
Plain-English Summary
When the clerk, rather than the plaintiff, handles mailing a copy of the claim and hearing order to a defendant under § 116.340, Section 116.232 charges the plaintiff $15 for each defendant served that way. A case with multiple defendants means multiple $15 charges, one per defendant mailed.
Unlike some of the other small claims fees, this one is not split among several funds — it is distributed to the court in which it was collected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to have the small claims clerk mail my claim to the defendant?
Section 116.232 sets a $15 fee for each defendant the clerk mails a copy of the claim to, as authorized under § 116.340.
Do I pay this fee once per case or once per defendant?
Once per defendant. Section 116.232 charges $15 for each defendant to whom the court clerk mails a copy of the claim.
Amendment History
Added Stats 2005 ch 75 § 20 (AB 145), effective July 19, 2005, operative January 1, 2006. Amended Stats 2013 ch 31 § 1 (SB 75), effective June 27, 2013.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: small claims fee to mail claim to defendantcost per defendant small claims california