CaliforniaCivil cases: filing fees.
What it does
Existing law requires a filing fee of $50 in a small claims case where the demand is more than $1,500 but less than or equal to $5,000, and a filing fee of $75 if the amount of the demand in a small claims case is more than $5,000.
More detail
This bill would instead require a filing fee of $50 for small claims cases with a demand of more than $1,500 but less than or equal to $6,250, and a filing fee of $75 for cases if the amount of the demand is more than $6,250.
Existing law requires a uniform filing fee of $205 for the first paper in a case where the amount demanded, excluding attorney's fees and costs, is $10,000 or less. Existing law requires the first paper to state whether the amount demanded exceeds or does not exceed $10,000. Existing law also requires a $205 filing fee for a petition for a writ or a notice of appeal to the appellative division of the superior court if the amount demanded in a limited civil case, excluding attorney's fees and costs, is $10,000 or less.
This bill would revise these provisions to apply to cases where the amount demanded, excluding attorney's fees and costs, is $12,500 or less.
Existing law requires, if a plaintiff or petitioner files an amended complaint or other initial pleading that increases the amount demanded to an amount that exceeds $10,000 but does not exceed $25,000, a fee equal to the difference between the original filing fee and the filing fee for the new amount demanded to be charged to make up the difference between the filing fees. Existing law also requires, if a party files a cross-complaint, amended cross-complaint, or amendment to a cross-complaint demanding an amount that exceeds $10,000 but does not exceed $25,000, a fee equal to the difference between the original filing fee and the filing fee for the new amount to be charged to make up the difference between the filing fees.
This bill would revise these provisions to apply to cases where the revised amount demanded exceeds $12,500 but does not exceed $35,000.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 16Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 98, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Jul 16Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Jul 15Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11:15 a.m.To Governor
- Jul 2In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.Minor
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd AB2781 JUD. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 2Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 5190.).Passed Senate
- Jun 30Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jun 29From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jun 17From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 16
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- May 13Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- May 5In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 4Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 4917.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2781 Judiciary Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 23Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 22).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Apr 8From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 16Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Mar 12From printer. May be heard in committee April 11.
- Mar 11Read first time. To print.Introduced