For Plaintiffs
Ready to file a claim? Start with your situation, not the paperwork
Some of these cases carry a penalty most people don't know to ask for, a deadline that's already running, or a rule the other side is quietly counting on you not knowing. Find the situation that matches yours first.
File a Lawsuit
Why these claims work
What makes a California consumer claim winnable
A penalty often hides inside the claim
A late security deposit isn't just what's owed, California law can multiply it, and most people never ask.
The clock works against the other side too
Deadlines they missed, like a 21-day itemization window, are often the strongest part of your case, not your version of events.
Paperwork failures decide more cases than arguments
Missing photo documentation, an unreturned demand letter, a fee never explained, these often carry more weight than who's more convincing.
The strongest claims are the ones filed on time.
File a LawsuitPlaintiff pricing
What it costs to file a claim in California
Prepare
$0
Start free, see what your claim is worth
- Full guided intake
- Whether you likely have a claim
- What it could realistically be worth
File my claim
$199-$1,299
Prepared and ready to file
- Priced by how much you're claiming
- A complete, statute-backed complaint
- Correct venue and defendant identified
Add attorney review
+$1,000-$1,500
A second opinion before you file
- Licensed CA attorney reviews your claim
- Strategy call before you file
- Advisory only, priced by claim size
The court timeline
How a California claim moves through court
Filing is the first step, not the whole story. Here's what happens between filing and resolution.
The court opens your case
Your complaint, summons, and civil cover sheet go to the clerk, who assigns a case number.
The defendant gets notice
They must be formally served, whether through personal delivery, substituted service, or mail with a signed acknowledgment.
Now it's their turn
They get a set number of days to respond. Silence past that deadline can work in your favor.
Most claims settle
The rest move toward a case management conference and, eventually, a trial.
Your case moves the moment you file it.
File a LawsuitClaim strength
What makes a claim strong enough to file
Not everything unfair turns into a winnable claim, and not every winnable claim is worth what people assume. Strength comes down to a few things: whether your facts satisfy what the law requires, whether you're still inside the window to act, and what you can realistically recover once it's all said and done. Knowing where your situation lands on each of these changes how you approach filing.
Elements of the claim
Every legal claim has specific facts you have to show. Miss even one, and the whole case weakens.
Statute of limitations
It's a hard deadline for filing, generally measured from when the harm happened rather than from when you decided to act.
Damages
This is what you can recover, sometimes just what's owed, other times with statutory penalties added on top.
Serving the other side
How to serve the defendant correctly
Personal service
The papers are handed directly to the defendant. It's the most reliable option and usually the one to try first.
Substituted service
If personal service fails, the papers can be left with someone at the defendant's home or workplace. A copy still has to be mailed after that, and this step is required by law, not just good practice.
Proof of service
This gets filed with the court once service is done. Get it wrong, and it can stall or even void your whole case.
Get service right the first time and keep your claim on track.
File a LawsuitBrowse by case type
Find the page built for your exact claim
Each one has its own law behind it, its own deadline, and its own version of what a strong claim looks like.
Landlord keeping your deposit?
21 days to itemize, photos required since 2025, statutory damages up to 2x.
Recover my depositDebt CollectionDebt collector crossed the line?
Harassment, threats, or contact rules under the FDCPA and Rosenthal Act.
Check my rightsBusiness & ContractsClient won't pay your invoice?
Late fees, contract terms, and what a limited civil court can actually collect for you.
Recover what I'm owedWaiting-Time PenaltyFinal paycheck paid late?
California's waiting-time penalty can add up to 30 days of wages on top of what you're already owed.
Check my penaltyContractor DisputesContractor took your deposit?
The legal deposit cap, a four-year deadline, and a license bond claim if the job was abandoned.
Get my deposit backConstruction DefectsFound real defects in your new construction?
The Right to Repair Act's mandatory notice process, and the deadline that runs from completion, not discovery.
Check my claimPartnership DisputesBusiness partner took money or froze you out?
A demand for an accounting, damages for breach of fiduciary duty, or dissolution, and how to combine them.
Check my optionsReal Estate DisputesFound a defect your seller didn't disclose?
The difference between disclosed and concealed, and why an "as-is" clause doesn't erase this claim.
Check my evidenceMotel ChargebacksGuest reversed your room charge?
A guest checked out, then had their bank reverse the charge for the stay.
Recover my reversed chargeMotel Room DamageGuest damaged your motel room?
A guest damaged the room and checked out, leaving you with the repair cost.
Recover my repair costsPersonal LoansLent money that never came back?
You lent someone money, the repayment date passed, and nothing came back.
Get my money backHave questions? Get all your answers here
Browse real questions from other plaintiffs, organized by case type, before you decide anything.
SueEasy is a self-help legal technology product built by LegalForce RAPC Worldwide, P.C. Using SueEasy does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not provide legal advice. We are not a law firm and cannot represent you in court.