Yes! You can use AI to fill out Judicial Council of California Form SC-105, Request for Court Order and Answer (Small Claims)
Form SC-105 is an optional Judicial Council of California small claims form used to request a court order in an existing small claims case and to provide a formal written answer from the other parties. The requesting party explains what order is sought and the facts supporting it, and certifies the information under penalty of perjury. The responding party can agree, oppose, or ask for a hearing, and must serve copies on the other parties. Using this form helps ensure the court and all parties receive clear notice and a documented record of the request and response.
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Form specifications
| Form name: | Judicial Council of California Form SC-105, Request for Court Order and Answer (Small Claims) |
| Number of pages: | 2 |
| Filled form examples: | Form SC-105 Examples |
| Language: | English |
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Follow these steps to fill out your SC-105 form online using Instafill.ai:
- 1 Enter the court information (Superior Court county and address), case number, and case name.
- 2 Complete the Request section (Items 1–6): identify the requesting party and role (plaintiff/defendant/other), list all other parties with addresses, and describe the specific order requested and the reasons/facts supporting it; attach MC-031 if more space is needed.
- 3 If the request is made before trial and after the claim was served, complete the service statement in Item 3 indicating how and when you mailed or delivered copies to all listed parties (or confirm the exception applies).
- 4 Sign and date the declaration under penalty of perjury (Item 6), then file page 1 with the small claims clerk (and keep copies for your records).
- 5 If you are responding, complete the Answer section (Items 7–10): identify yourself and role, state whether you agree or disagree with the requested order and explain, and indicate if you want a hearing.
- 6 For an Answer, mail the completed form to the court promptly and mail copies to each plaintiff and defendant listed on page 1; record the mailing date in Item 9, then sign and date the declaration in Item 10.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Form SC-105
SC-105 is used in a California small claims case to ask the court to make an order either before trial or after the judge has decided the case. The court will notify all parties of its decision by mail, at trial, or at a hearing, depending on when the request is filed.
Any party in the small claims case (plaintiff or defendant) can file SC-105 if they need the court to make an order related to the case. If you are unsure whether this is the right form for the order you want, contact your county’s Small Claims Advisor.
You can file SC-105 either before the trial or after the judge has decided the case. The service and response steps differ depending on whether the request is filed before or after the decision.
You must fill in the court name and address, the case number, the case name, your name and address, and whether you are a plaintiff or defendant. You also must list all other plaintiffs and defendants with their addresses, state exactly what order you want, and explain the facts supporting your request.
Item 2 must include the names and addresses of all other plaintiffs and defendants in the case. If you need more space, attach form MC-031 or a plain sheet labeled “SC-105, Item 2.”
If you file the request before trial and after the claim was served, you must mail or personally deliver a copy to everyone listed in Item 2 and complete Item 3’s service date line. If the plaintiff’s claim has not been served, you do not have to serve this request on the other parties.
If the request is made after the judge’s decision, the clerk will mail a copy of the form to the other parties. The court will give the other parties at least 10 days to file an answer.
Item 3 should clearly state the exact order you want the court to make, and Item 4 should explain the reasons with facts from your case. If you need more room, attach MC-031 or a plain sheet labeled “SC-105, Item 3” or “SC-105, Item 4.”
Yes—if you have supporting information, you can attach it to the form and refer to it in your explanation. Make sure anything you attach is truthful and relevant, because you are signing under penalty of perjury.
It means you are swearing that the information you provided (and any attachments) is true and correct under California law. Providing false information can have serious legal consequences.
Read page 1 to understand what order is being requested, then complete Items 7–10 on page 2 (the Answer). Mail the completed Answer to the court right away and mail a copy to each plaintiff and defendant listed in Items 1 and 2 on page 1.
You can agree with the requested order, disagree with it (and explain why), and/or ask the court to hold a hearing to decide the issue. If you need more space for your explanation, attach MC-031 or a plain sheet labeled “SC-105, Item 8.”
If you do nothing, the court may make the requested order without hearing from you. To protect your position, submit the Answer promptly and send copies to all listed parties.
The court will notify all plaintiffs and defendants of its decision by mail, or it may make the decision at a hearing or at the trial. The timing depends on when the request was filed and whether the court schedules a hearing.
You can contact your county’s Small Claims Advisor for free assistance. You can also visit selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/small-claims-advisor for guidance.
Compliance SC-105
Validation Checks by Instafill.ai
1
Court County and Address Completeness
Validates that the court name section includes the County of filing and a usable street address for the Superior Court location. This is important because the filing location determines jurisdiction and routing to the correct clerk’s office. If missing or incomplete, the submission should be flagged as invalid and returned for correction because the court cannot reliably file or process the request.
2
Case Number Format and Presence
Ensures the Case Number field is present and matches the county’s expected small-claims case number pattern (e.g., allowed characters, length, and separators). The case number is the primary key used to associate the request/answer with the correct case file. If the case number is missing or malformed, the system should reject the filing or route it to manual review to prevent misfiling into the wrong case.
3
Case Name Completeness and Consistency
Checks that the Case Name is provided and appears consistent with the party roles indicated (e.g., includes at least one plaintiff and one defendant name or a recognizable “X v. Y” style). This helps clerks and parties confirm the request belongs to the intended matter. If the case name is blank or clearly inconsistent, the form should be returned for correction or held for manual verification.
4
Requesting Party (Item 1) Identity Required Fields
Validates that Item 1 includes the requester’s full name and a complete mailing address (street, city, state, ZIP). This is necessary for service, notices, and ensuring the court can contact the requester. If any required identity/address components are missing, the submission should fail validation because the court and other parties may be unable to provide notice.
5
Requester Role Selection and 'Other' Explanation Rule
Ensures exactly one role is selected in Item 1 (plaintiff, defendant, or other) and, if 'Other' is selected, an explanation is provided. Role clarity is important because small claims procedures and permissions can differ by party type. If multiple roles are selected or 'Other' lacks an explanation, the form should be rejected or routed to manual review due to ambiguity.
6
Notice List (Item 2) Presence and Minimum Party Coverage
Checks that Item 2 lists names and addresses for all other plaintiffs and defendants (at minimum, at least one other party unless the case truly has only one party, which should be rare and flagged). Proper notice is a due process requirement and is central to whether the court can act on the request. If the notice list is empty or missing addresses, validation should fail because service cannot be confirmed.
7
Attachment Indicator Consistency for Items 2/3/4
Validates that when the “need more space” box is checked for Item 2, 3, or 4, an attachment is actually included and correctly labeled (e.g., “SC-105, Item 2/3/4”). This prevents missing content that the filer intended to provide and ensures the court can locate the continuation. If the box is checked but no attachment is present (or mislabeled), the submission should be marked incomplete.
8
Pre-Trial Service Declaration (Item 3 Service Date) Conditional Requirement
If the request is made before trial and after the claim was served, validates that the filer completed the service method (mailed or delivered in person) and provided a service date. This is important because the court may rely on proof of notice before issuing an order. If the condition applies but the service declaration is missing or incomplete, the request should be rejected or set for manual review.
9
Service Date Format and Logical Validity (Items 3 and 9)
Ensures any service date entered (Item 3 on page 1 and Item 9 on page 2) is a valid date in an acceptable format (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY) and is not in the future relative to the filing date. Accurate service dates are critical for calculating response windows and ensuring due process. If the date is invalid or illogical, the system should block submission or require correction.
10
Requested Order (Item 3) Non-Empty and Specificity Check
Validates that Item 3 contains a clear, specific requested order (not blank and not only vague text like “see attached” without an attachment). The court must understand exactly what relief is being requested to evaluate and rule on it. If Item 3 is empty or unintelligible, the request should fail validation as it cannot be adjudicated.
11
Factual Basis (Item 4) Non-Empty and Adequacy Check
Ensures Item 4 includes factual reasons supporting the requested order (not blank and not purely conclusory statements without facts). Courts require a factual basis to determine whether an order is warranted and to provide fair notice to other parties. If Item 4 is missing or clearly insufficient (e.g., only “because I want it”), the form should be flagged for correction or manual review.
12
Perjury Declaration Completion (Request Side Item 6)
Checks that the requester completed the declaration by providing a date, typed/printed name, and signature. The declaration under penalty of perjury is required to treat the statements as sworn and to deter false submissions. If any of these elements are missing, the request should be rejected as unsigned/undated and therefore not properly verified.
13
Answer Filer (Item 7) Identity and Role Validation
Validates that the answering party provided name and complete mailing address and selected exactly one role (plaintiff or defendant). This ensures the court can identify who is responding and send notices to the correct address. If identity/address is incomplete or both roles are selected, the answer should be rejected or routed to manual review.
14
Answer Position Selection Logic (Item 8) and Explanation Requirement
Ensures at least one option is selected in Item 8 (agree, do not agree, and/or request hearing) and enforces that if the filer checks “I agree” and the form prompts “Explain below,” an explanation is provided. This is important because the court needs to know the respondent’s position and any conditions or clarifications. If no option is selected or required explanation is missing, the answer should be treated as incomplete.
15
Answer Service Certification (Item 9) Required and Party Coverage
Validates that the answering party certifies mailing a copy to everyone listed in Items 1 and 2 and provides a valid mailing date. Service of the answer ensures all parties receive notice and can respond appropriately. If Item 9 is missing, lacks a date, or conflicts with the party list (e.g., no parties listed to serve), the answer should fail validation or be escalated for review.
16
Perjury Declaration Completion (Answer Side Item 10)
Checks that the answering party completed the declaration with date, typed/printed name, and signature. This is required for the court to rely on the answer as a sworn statement and to maintain integrity of the process. If unsigned or undated, the answer should be rejected as not properly executed.
Common Mistakes in Completing SC-105
People often skip the “Superior Court of California, County of” line or write a city instead of the county, especially when copying information from other paperwork. This can delay filing, cause the clerk to reject the form, or route it to the wrong courthouse division. Use the exact county and courthouse street address for the small claims court handling your case, matching what appears on your existing small claims forms or the court’s website.
A very common error is leaving the case number blank, transposing digits, or writing a case name that doesn’t match the court’s caption (for example, using a nickname or only one party’s name). If the case number/caption is wrong, the clerk may not be able to associate the request/answer with the correct file, which can lead to delays or the request not being considered. Copy the case number and case name exactly as shown on the original small claims filing (e.g., SC-100) or the court notice.
Filers frequently check “plaintiff” when they are actually a defendant (or vice versa), or they check “Other” without explaining. This creates confusion about who is requesting relief and can affect service expectations and how the court interprets the request. Confirm your role from the case caption and check only the correct box; if “Other” applies, clearly explain your relationship (e.g., authorized agent, guardian ad litem) and ensure it is permitted in small claims.
People often list only the opposing side and forget co-plaintiffs, co-defendants, or additional named parties, or they provide outdated/partial mailing addresses. Because the form requires notice to “all other defendants and plaintiffs,” missing parties can result in improper notice and the court may deny or postpone the request. Use the case file/caption to identify every party and provide complete mailing addresses; attach MC-031 labeled “SC-105, Item 2” if you need more space.
When the request is made before trial and after the claim was served, filers frequently forget to check whether they “mailed” or “delivered in person,” or they omit the service date. Without a clear proof of giving notice, the court may refuse to act on the request or continue the matter. If service is required, select the correct method and write the exact date you mailed or personally delivered the copy to everyone listed in Item 2.
The exception about not serving the request if the plaintiff’s claim has not been served is commonly misread, leading some people to skip service when it is actually required, or to serve unnecessarily and then assume the court will handle it. Incorrect service can cause delays, denial of the request, or a hearing being continued. Verify whether the claim has been served and whether your request is before or after the judge’s decision; when in doubt, confirm with the Small Claims Advisor and follow the form’s timing rules.
Many requests say only “I want an order” or “I need more time” without specifying exactly what the court should order (and, if relevant, by what date or under what conditions). Vague requests make it hard for the judge to grant enforceable relief and can result in denial or a request for clarification. State the precise order you want (who must do what, by when, and any specific details), and attach MC-031 labeled “SC-105, Item 3” if you need more room.
People often write legal conclusions (“they’re lying,” “it’s unfair,” “I deserve it”) but omit the key facts, dates, and context that support the request. Without factual support, the court may find there is no basis to issue the order and deny it. Use Item 4 to give a clear, chronological explanation with specific facts (what happened, when, what you did to resolve it, and why the order is necessary), and attach MC-031 labeled “SC-105, Item 4” for additional detail.
When adding extra pages, filers frequently forget to label the attachment with the required item number (e.g., “SC-105, Item 4”) or they attach documents without explaining what they are. Unlabeled attachments can be overlooked or separated from the form, reducing the chance the judge reads them. If you need more space, use MC-031 (or a plain sheet) and write the correct header and item number at the top of each page, keeping the content organized and clearly tied to the form.
Respondents often return the form without checking any box in Item 8, or they check “I agree” but don’t explain what they agree to (especially if they agree only in part). If the court cannot tell your position, it may treat the request as unopposed or decide without your input. Check all applicable boxes (agree, disagree, request a hearing) and briefly explain your position and any conditions or facts supporting it; attach MC-031 labeled “SC-105, Item 8” if needed.
A frequent problem is mailing the answer only to the court (or only to the requesting party) and forgetting to mail copies to every plaintiff and defendant listed in Items 1 and 2, or leaving the Item 9 date blank. This can lead to the court disregarding the answer, delaying a decision, or setting a hearing due to notice issues. Mail a copy to every listed party and record the exact mailing date in Item 9, keeping proof of mailing for your records.
People sometimes type their name but forget to sign, forget the date, or have someone else sign without authority. Unsigned or undated declarations can cause the clerk to reject the filing or the judge to give it little or no weight because it is not a valid declaration under penalty of perjury. Always sign and date the form in the correct section (Request: Item 6; Answer: Item 10) and ensure the signer is the person making the statements.
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