(a) The Judicial Council shall provide by rule for the practice and procedure and for the forms and their use in small claims actions. The rules and forms so adopted shall be consistent with this chapter.
§ 116.920.Rules and forms
Title 1. Organization and Jurisdiction · Chapter 5.5. Small Claims Court · Article 9. Administration · Last amended 1991 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 116.920 directs the Judicial Council to adopt rules and forms for small claims practice and procedure consistent with this chapter, and, in consultation with the Department of Consumer Affairs, to adopt rules covering litigant notice of advisor services, advisor qualifications and conduct, training standards for advisors and temporary judges, and uniform small claims procedures.
Full Text of § 116.920
(b) The Judicial Council, in consultation with the Department of Consumer Affairs, shall adopt rules to ensure that litigants receive adequate notice of the availability of assistance from small claims advisors, to prescribe other qualifications and the conduct of advisors, to prescribe training standards for advisors and for temporary judges hearing small claims matters, to prescribe, where appropriate, uniform rules and procedures regarding small claims actions and judgments, and to address other matters that are deemed necessary and appropriate.
Plain-English Summary
Section 116.920(a) puts the Judicial Council in charge of the practical machinery behind this entire chapter: the rules of practice and procedure, and the forms litigants use, must be consistent with what this chapter sets out, but the details are left to the Judicial Council rather than spelled out statute by statute.
Subdivision (b) adds a specific mandate, developed in consultation with the Department of Consumer Affairs: rules ensuring litigants know about the availability of small claims advisor assistance (the same assistance § 116.260 requires every county to provide), qualifications and conduct standards for those advisors, training standards for advisors and for temporary judges hearing small claims matters, and uniform procedures for small claims actions and judgments where appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who writes the actual rules and forms used in California small claims court?
Section 116.920(a) assigns that role to the Judicial Council, which must keep its rules and forms consistent with this chapter.
Does the Judicial Council set standards for small claims advisors and temporary judges?
Yes. Section 116.920(b) requires the Judicial Council, working with the Department of Consumer Affairs, to set qualification, conduct, and training standards for small claims advisors and for temporary judges hearing small claims matters.
Amendment History
Added Stats 1990 ch 1305 § 3 (SB 2627). Amended Stats 1991 ch 915 § 35 (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
Also known as: judicial council small claims forms californiasmall claims advisor training rules