Judicial Council of California Form SC-120, Defendant’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court (Small Claims) Completed Form Examples and Samples
Explore detailed examples and filled-out samples of the Judicial Council of California Form SC-120, Defendant’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court. Our guide provides clear templates to help you correctly file your counterclaim in a California small claims case.
SC-120 Defendant’s Claim Example: Tenant's Counterclaim for Security Deposit
How this form was filled:
This is an example of a filled-out Form SC-120 where a tenant (the original Defendant) is filing a claim against their landlord (the original Plaintiff). The landlord sued for unpaid rent, and the tenant is now counterclaiming for the return of their security deposit, which they allege was wrongfully withheld.
Information used to fill out the document:
- Name of Court: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
- Court Address: Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Case Number: 26SC01234
- Original Plaintiff: Maria Garcia
- Original Defendant: Alex Chen
- Hearing Date (from SC-100): April 10, 2026
- Defendant's Claim Amount: $3,000.00
- Reason for Defendant's Claim: Landlord (plaintiff) failed to return my $3,000.00 security deposit within 21 days after I moved out on January 31, 2026. The property was left in good condition, and no itemized list of deductions was provided as required by CA Civil Code § 1950.5.
- Date Claim Arose: February 22, 2026
- Date Form Signed: March 15, 2026
- Defendant's Name (Signee): Alex Chen
What this filled form sample shows:
- Clearly identifies the original plaintiff and defendant in the correct boxes, which is a common point of confusion.
- Provides a specific dollar amount for the defendant's claim.
- Includes a concise and legally relevant reason for the counterclaim, referencing the applicable California Civil Code section.
- Correctly fills in the case number and court information from the original claim (Form SC-100).
- Demonstrates how a defendant can bring their own related claim into the same small claims case.
Form specifications and details:
| Form Name: | Form SC-120, Defendant’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court |
| Form Type: | Small Claims |
| Jurisdiction: | Judicial Council of California |
| Use Case: | A tenant, originally sued by their landlord, files a counterclaim for the return of their security deposit. |
Created: February 03, 2026 04:53 PM
