Conclusion: Going to small claims court may be worth it for $500, but it will determine how you weigh your costs versus benefits. At a minimum, it is worth it to send a demand letter.
If the judgment debtor owns real property, you may record an Abstract of Judgment with the County Recorder which will act as a lien against all real property owned by the judgment debtor in the county in which the lien is recorded. Complete an Abstract of Judgment (EJ-001)PDF and submit to the court to be issued.
To ask the judge to set aside a default judgment or an order for support, you will need to fill out and file forms with the court. You'll need to explain why the judge should set aside the support judgment or order under Family Code section 3691.
The timeline for small claims cases depends on several factors, including the filing process, serving the defendant, and scheduling a hearing. Generally, small claims cases in California take about two to six months from start to resolution.
An individual, which includes a sole proprietorship, may file a claim up to a maximum of $12,500. Only the actual party to the claim may file. You must represent yourself at the small claims hearing. Attorneys or others are not permitted to represent a party in small claims court.
The Process of a Civil Lawsuit As the plaintiff, you are required to file civil complaint (with accompanying civil cover sheet and summons) with the Superior Court of San Diego, and then serve the defendants, the person(s) that you are suing.
If the judgment debtor owns real property, you may record an Abstract of Judgment with the County Recorder which will act as a lien against all real property owned by the judgment debtor in the county in which the lien is recorded. Complete an Abstract of Judgment (EJ-001)PDF and submit to the court to be issued.
The person assigning the judgment (the seller) to you (the buyer) must sign the form in the presence of a notary. The form must be signed and stamped by the notary. Once this is done, the form becomes the original that the court needs.
To create a lien, you need to record an abstract of judgment with the county recorder's office in the county where the property is located. You may use either Abstract of Judgment—Restitution (form CR-111/JV-791) or Abstract of Judgment—Civil and Small Claims (form EJ-001).