In each county, individual assistance shall be made available to advise small claims litigants and potential litigants without charge as provided in Section 116.940 and by rules adopted by the Judicial Council.
§ 116.260.Individual assistance for small claims litigants
Title 1. Organization and Jurisdiction · Chapter 5.5. Small Claims Court · Article 2. Small Claims Court · Enacted 1990 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 116.260 requires every county to make free, individual assistance available to small claims litigants and potential litigants, through the advisory services and Judicial Council rules described elsewhere in the chapter.
Full Text of § 116.260
Plain-English Summary
Because small claims litigants cannot be represented by an attorney in most cases, Section 116.260 requires each county to fill that gap with free individual assistance for people who have, or may have, a small claims case. That assistance operates through the small claims advisor services referenced in § 116.940 and through rules the Judicial Council adopts.
This is one of the structural features that makes the no-attorney rule in § 116.530 workable in practice — self-represented litigants are not left entirely without guidance; they have access to a county-provided advisor instead of a lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is free help available for people using small claims court in California?
Yes. Section 116.260 requires every county to make individual assistance available, without charge, to small claims litigants and potential litigants.
Who provides that assistance?
Section 116.260 points to the small claims advisory services described in § 116.940 and to rules adopted by the Judicial Council as the source of that assistance.
Amendment History
Added Stats 1990 ch 1305 § 3 (SB 2627).
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
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