The hearing and disposition of the small claims action shall be informal, the object being to dispense justice promptly, fairly, and inexpensively.
§ 116.510.Hearing and disposition of action
Title 1. Organization and Jurisdiction · Chapter 5.5. Small Claims Court · Article 5. Hearing · Last amended 1991 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 116.510 requires small claims hearings and the disposition of small claims actions to be informal, with the goal of dispensing justice promptly and inexpensively.
Full Text of § 116.510
Plain-English Summary
Section 116.510 sets the tone for everything Article 5 covers: the hearing and disposition of a small claims action must be informal. The stated object is to dispense justice promptly and inexpensively, not to replicate the procedural formality of a regular civil trial.
This one sentence explains why small claims hearings look and feel different from ordinary litigation — no formal rules of evidence in the traditional courtroom sense, no jury, and, as later sections make clear, usually no attorneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a small claims hearing supposed to be like in California?
Section 116.510 requires it to be informal, aimed at dispensing justice promptly and inexpensively rather than following the formality of a regular civil trial.
Does this section set specific hearing procedures?
No. It states the governing standard — informality in service of prompt, inexpensive justice — while the specific mechanics of evidence, participation, and judgment appear in the sections that follow it in Article 5 and Article 6.
Amendment History
Added Stats 1990 ch 1305 § 3 (SB 2627). Amended Stats 1991 ch 915 § 13 (SB 771).
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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