Form SC-109 at a glance
What it is: SC-109 Authorization to Appear (Small Claims) is used to tell the court you are authorized to appear for a plaintiff or defendant in a small claims case.
Who signs: Type or print your name, and sign your name.
You may also use this form to ask the court for permission to help a plaintiff or defendant who cannot properly present their claim or defense.
A filled-in Form SC-109 example: appearing for a plaintiff on active duty
How to fill out Form SC-109, box by box
Fill in court name and street address
Fill in court name and street address: Superior Court of California, County of.
Fill in your case number and case name: Case Number and Case Name.
Your name, address, and position
Your name, address, and position: fill in Name, Address, and Job title or relationship to the plaintiff or defendant you want to appear for or assist.
Who are you appearing for?
Who are you appearing for? Fill in the name after A plaintiff in this case (name) or after A defendant in this case (name).
I am authorized to appear for a
Check one. If you are asking to appear in court to assist a plaintiff or defendant who cannot properly present their claim or defense without assistance, skip this item and complete 4 instead.
Corporation: check this box if you are an employee, officer, or director of that corporation and representing the corporation in small claims court is not the only duty of your job.
Partnership: check this box if you are an employee, officer, director, or partner of that partnership and representing the partnership in small claims court is not the only duty of your job.
Other business (not a corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship): check this box if you are an employee, officer, or director of that business and representing the business in small claims court is not the only duty of your job.
Government agency or other public entity: check this box if you are an employee, officer, or director of that agency or entity and representing the agency or entity in small claims court is not the only duty of your job.
Sole proprietorship: check this box only if all of the following apply. You are an employee of that business. You are qualified to testify about business records made in the regular course of business at or near the time of the event. The content of the business records is the only issue in this case. Representing the business in small claims court is not the only duty of your job.
Owner of rental property in California who employs me as a property agent: check this box if this claim is about the rental property you manage and representing the owner in small claims court is not the only duty of your job.
Association created to manage a common interest development: check this box if you are an agent, management company representative, or bookkeeper for that association and representing the association in small claims court is not the only duty of your job.
Plaintiff on active duty, jail, owner of real property, spouse or registered domestic partner
Plaintiff who is assigned to active duty in the U.S. armed forces in a location more than 100 miles from the court where the action is proceeding, or is otherwise unable to personally appear due to the performance of military duty, and check one.
I am not being paid to appear, and I have not appeared in small claims court for other people more than 4 times in this calendar year.
I am employed by the United States or the State of California, and I am not being paid to appear, other than compensation I receive from the United States or the State of California.
Plaintiff or defendant who is in a county jail, a Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facility, or a county juvenile facility now, and you are not being paid to appear and have not appeared in small claims court for other people more than 4 times in this calendar year.
Defendant who is an owner of real property and is not a resident of California, and you are not being paid to appear and have not appeared in small claims court for other people more than 4 times in this calendar year.
Spouse or registered domestic partner: you and your spouse or registered domestic partner are both listed on this claim and agree that either can appear for the other, and you ask the court to decide that you may appear on behalf of your spouse or registered domestic partner.
I ask the court to allow me to appear to assist
I ask the court to allow me to appear to assist a plaintiff or defendant who cannot properly present their claim or defense without my assistance because: explain why the person needs assistance, keeping in mind that this form is not confidential.
I declare under penalty of perjury
5 I declare under penalty of perjury under California state law that the information on this form is true and correct.
Fill in Date, type or print your name, and sign your name.
More rules for Form SC-109
Request for Accommodations: assistive listening systems, computer-assisted real-time captioning, or sign language interpreter services are available if you ask at least five days before the trial.
Contact the clerk's office or go to courts.ca.gov/forms for Disability Accommodation Request (form MC-410).
For your protection and privacy, please press the Clear button after you have printed the form.
Common questions about Form SC-109
Who signs it?
Type or print your name, and sign your name.
Is there a deadline?
File it at or before the trial.
Where do I file it?
After you fill out this form, file it with the small claims clerk.
When is this form not the right one?
If you are a lawyer, you can appear only as authorized by Code of Civil Procedure section 116.530.
Sources
[1] Form SC-109 (Rev. January 1, 2026), Authorization to Appear (Small Claims), Judicial Council of California (the Official source link on this page).
