(a) A judgment debtor who desires to make payment to the court in which the judgment was entered may file a request to make payment, which shall be made on a form approved or adopted by the Judicial Council.
§ 116.860.Judgment debtor’s request to make payment
Title 1. Organization and Jurisdiction · Chapter 5.5. Small Claims Court · Article 8. Satisfaction and Enforcement of Judgment · Last amended 2006 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 116.860 lets a judgment debtor pay a small claims judgment directly to the court on a Judicial Council form, with the clerk entering satisfaction once the judgment amount, accrued interest, costs, and a fee are paid, delaying entry 30 days for non-cash payment methods, and charging the debtor a $20 administrative fee.
Full Text of § 116.860
(b) Upon the filing of the request to make payment and the payment to the clerk of the amount of the judgment and any accrued interest and costs after judgment, plus any required fee authorized by this section, the clerk shall enter satisfaction of the judgment and shall remit payment to the judgment creditor as provided in this section.
(c) If partial payment of the judgment has been made to the judgment creditor, and the judgment debtor files the declaration and evidence of partial payment described in subdivision (d) of Section 116.850, the clerk shall enter satisfaction of the judgment upon receipt by the clerk of the balance owing on the judgment, including any accrued interest and costs after judgment, and the fee required by this section.
(d) If payment is made by means other than money order, certified or cashier’s check, or cash, entry of satisfaction of the judgment shall be delayed for 30 days.
(e) The clerk shall notify the judgment creditor, at his or her last known address, that the judgment debtor has satisfied the judgment by making payment to the court. The notification shall explain the procedures which the judgment creditor has to follow to receive payment.
(f) For purposes of this section, “costs after judgment” consist of only those costs itemized in a memorandum of costs filed by the judgment creditor or otherwise authorized by the court.
(g) Payments that remain unclaimed for three years shall go to the superior court pursuant to Section 68084.1 of the Government Code.
(h) A fee of twenty dollars ($20) shall be paid by the judgment debtor for the costs of administering this section.
Plain-English Summary
Section 116.860(a) gives a debtor who would rather not deal directly with the creditor an alternative: file a request to make payment to the court, on a Judicial Council form. Subdivision (b) requires the clerk, once that request and the full payment (judgment amount plus accrued interest and costs, plus the required fee) are received, to enter satisfaction of the judgment and remit payment to the creditor.
Subdivision (c) covers a debtor who already made partial payment directly to the creditor — that debtor can pay the court the remaining balance, plus accrued interest, costs, and the fee, and the clerk will enter satisfaction once that balance is received, provided the debtor has filed the declaration and payment evidence described in § 116.850(d). Subdivision (d) slows down entry of satisfaction by 30 days if payment to the court is made by a method other than money order, certified check, cashier’s check, or cash, giving the payment time to clear. Subdivision (e) requires the clerk to notify the creditor of the court payment and the procedure for collecting it, and subdivision (h) sets a $20 administrative fee for the debtor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay off my small claims judgment through the court instead of the other party directly?
Yes. Section 116.860(a) lets a judgment debtor file a request to pay the court, on a Judicial Council form, rather than paying the creditor directly.
Is there a fee to pay a small claims judgment through the court?
Yes. Section 116.860(h) sets a $20 administrative fee, in addition to the judgment amount, accrued interest, and costs.
Does paying by personal check delay when satisfaction is entered?
Yes. Section 116.860(d) delays entry of satisfaction 30 days if payment is made by any method other than money order, certified check, cashier’s check, or cash.
Amendment History
Added Stats 1990 ch 1305 § 3 (SB 2627). Amended Stats 1991 ch 915 § 32 (SB 771); Stats 2005 ch 75 § 25 (AB 145), effective July 19, 2005, operative January 1, 2006.
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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