Form SC-220 at a glance
What it is: SC-220 is the Request to Make Payments, for permission to pay a small claims judgment in payments.
Where and when to file: File your completed forms with the small claims court clerk.
If the court ordered you to pay money, you can ask the court for permission to make payments.
Fill out one form for each plaintiff or defendant (judgment creditor) you want to make payments to.
What to bring and attach to Form SC-220
Fill out form EJ-165, Financial Statement.
A filled-in Form SC-220 example: a debtor asks to pay a judgment in monthly payments
How to fill out Form SC-220, box by box
Fill in the court name and street address
Fill in the court name and street address, after Superior Court of California, County of.
Fill in your case number and case name
Fill in your case number and case name: Case Number, Case Name.
My name is
Enter your name after My name is, then your Mailing address, Email (optional) and Phone.
The court made the decision (judgment) that
Enter the date the court made the decision (judgment) after On (date), the total amount after I owe (total amount): $, and the name of the party you must pay after To (name of party you must pay).
For the party you must pay, enter the Mailing address, Email (optional) and Phone.
I am asking for permission to make payments, instead of paying the full amount all at once, because (explain)
After because (explain), explain why you are asking for permission to make payments, instead of paying the full amount all at once.
If your answer will not fit in the space, check this box and attach your answer on a separate sheet of paper. Write “SC-220, Item 3” at the top.
I ask the court to allow me to make payments on the following terms: Payments of $
Under I ask the court to allow me to make payments on the following terms, check and complete all that apply.
For a., fill in Payments of $, the day of each (month, week, other), the Starting (date), until (date of final payment), and the amount of final payment: $.
Other payment schedule
For b., Other payment schedule, specify it.
The total amount of payments is $, which includes interest on the unpaid balance of the judgment
For c., enter The total amount of payments, which includes interest on the unpaid balance of the judgment. The actual amount of that interest may be different if the payments are made late or early. (Attach a page that shows how you calculated the interest and write “SC-220, Item 4c” at the top.)
If you are asking for interest or disagreeing with a request for interest, you need to explain your interest calculation. To calculate interest, show the unpaid principal balance, the dates and number of days you want the court to allow interest on that amount, and the total interest for that period.
The total amount of payments is the same as the judgment
For d., the total amount of payments is the same as the judgment. If all payments are made in full and on time, no interest will be owed on the judgment, and the judgment will be paid in full.
Other (specify)
For e., Other, specify.
Sign here
Sign here. By signing, you declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the information is true and correct.
Warning! If any payment is not made in full and on time, the judgment creditor may notify the court to cancel the payment plan and the entire unpaid balance will become due and collectible.
Enter the Date, and Type or print your name.
More rules for Form SC-220
Collection may be postponed if an appeal or a request to vacate (cancel) or correct the judgment is filed.
The court will mail all other plaintiffs and defendants in the case copies of your Request to Make Payments and Financial Statement, and a blank form SC-221, Response to Request to Make Payments. The other parties will have 10 days to file a Response. Then, the court will mail all plaintiffs and defendants in the case a decision on the Request to Make Payments or a notice to go to a hearing.
If the court agrees, the party who is owed money (judgment creditor) cannot take any other steps to collect the money as long as the payments are made on time.
When the court allows payments, the court often does not order any interest, as long as all payments are made in full and on time. Unless the judgment creditor asks for interest to be included in the order allowing payments, the judgment creditor may lose any claims for interest. But if the judgment debtor does not make full payments on time, interest can be ordered on the missed payment or the entire unpaid principal.
If the court ordered someone to pay you money
If the court ordered someone to pay you money, and that person has filed a Request to Make Payments
If the court ordered someone to pay you money, and that person has filed a Request to Make Payments, and if, after reading the Request, you agree with the Request, you do not need to do anything.
If you do not agree with the Request or you want to be paid interest, fill out and file form SC-221, Response to Request to Make Payments, within 10 days after the court clerk mailed the Request to you. (This date is on the Clerk's Certificate of Mailing.) If you do not do this, the court may allow the person who owes you money to make payments. And, you may lose your rights to collect interest on the judgment.
Have your Response served on all other plaintiffs and defendants in your case. (See form SC-112A, Proof of Service By Mail.) File your Response and Proof of Service with the small claims court clerk.
Common questions about Form SC-220
Is there a deadline?
Unless the court orders otherwise, small claims judgments are due immediately. If the judgment is not paid in full within 30 days, the judgment creditor (party to whom the money is owed) can take legal steps to collect any unpaid amount.
Where do I file it?
File your completed forms with the small claims court clerk.
Where to get help with Form SC-220
For free help, contact your county's small claims advisor: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/small-claims-advisor
Sources
[1] Form SC-220 (Rev. January 1, 2024), Request to Make Payments (Small Claims), Judicial Council of California (the Official source link on this page).
