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The small-claims court in Contra Costa County handles money disputes up to $12,500, with simplified procedures, and no attorneys at the hearing.
Here you will find the claim limit that applies in Contra Costa County, what filing costs, where the case is heard, how the defendant is served, the deadlines, and the order of steps. Squabble can take the preparation and filing off your hands.
Small claims are split between several hub courthouses across Contra Costa County. The court assigns a case by ZIP code, following the defendant or the events.
Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.
Unsure where to file? The court publishes a locator that turns a ZIP code into a courthouse, and Squabble handles that step for you. Coverage is updated periodically, so verify before filing.
About 1,172,607 people live in Contra Costa County. 3 courthouses serve Contra Costa County, Superior Court of California - County of Contra Costa: Wakefield Taylor Courthouse among them.
You can open a small claims case here online, without travelling to the courthouse to hand the papers in.
Remote appearance is available for some small claims hearings, depending on the court and the kind of case. Many California courts let parties attend by video or phone unless the court orders otherwise; the court's own small-claims page says which applies.
Have copies of your evidence for the bench and for the other party. Some courts take documents electronically before the hearing as well.
Small claims cases in Contra Costa County, California are heard by the Superior Court of California, which serves a county population of 1,172,607 and communities including Concord, Richmond, Antioch, Danville, Lafayette, Brentwood and Pleasant Hill, along with ZIP codes such as 94520, 94523, 94526 and 94530. The claim limit in small claims is $12,500. The Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa: Wakefield Taylor Courthouse is located at 725 Court St in Martinez, 94553, and its civil line is (925) 608-1000. That courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is closed Saturday and Sunday. The court also operates locations in Pittsburg at 1000 Center Drive and in Richmond at 100 37th Street, the latter open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Electronic filing is available. Court information is posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/. Contra Costa County lies near Alameda County, Solano County and San Mateo County.
More than one location takes small claims here. The court matches a case to a location by address.
These 30 places sit inside Contra Costa County:
Alamo, Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Canyon, Clayton, Concord, Crockett, Danville, Diablo, Discovery Bay, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Hercules, Knightsen, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Port Costa, Richmond, Rodeo, San Pablo, San Ramon, Walnut Creek.
With about 1,172,607 residents, Contra Costa County ranks 9th by population among the 58 counties of California. Superior Court of California - County of Contra Costa: Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, in Martinez, is about 13 miles from the Alameda County courthouse in Hayward and 8 miles from the Solano County courthouse in Fairfield.
Neighbouring counties and the courts that serve them:
The small claims track exists for routine money disputes: fewer formalities, no attorneys at the hearing, and a cap on what can be claimed.
Maximum claim
You can generally file where the dispute happened or where the other party lives.
A single argument stays a single case; it cannot be carved up to fit the limit.
The court decides who pays whom and how much. Anything beyond money goes to a higher court.
No attorney appears for either party at the hearing. Advice can be taken beforehand or afterwards.
Under-18s are represented by a guardian the court appoints.
Over the limit? You can lower your claim to fit and stay in small claims, or file the full amount in regular civil court. Lowering usually means giving up the excess, so weigh it carefully.
Contra Costa County has 3 courthouses listed on this page. Contra Costa County is under the same limits as nearby Alameda County and Solano County.
If someone owes you money, up to $12,500, small claims is built for it. These are the disputes residents bring most often.
Contra Costa County takes in Alamo, Antioch and Bethel Island and the rest of the county. Contra Costa County has about 1,172,607 residents.
It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.
Set out the claim on the court's form, identify the correct courthouse, and pay the fee.
Formal notice reaches the other party, who then has a window to respond or resolve it.
A short hearing, held in the courtroom or remotely where that is offered. A decision follows on the day or shortly afterwards.
Superior Court of California - County of Contra Costa: Wakefield Taylor Courthouse lists (925) 608-1000 as its number. This is the route a Contra Costa County case takes, whether it starts in 94505 or anywhere else among the county ZIP codes.
Filing is only half of it. The defendant has to receive formal notice, a step called service of process, and in most cases you cannot hand over the papers yourself. In California, courts typically use delivery arranged by the court, email service where the court allows it, the sheriff or constable, certified mail or personal delivery by an approved server.
Courts accept service by a sheriff or constable, a professional server, the clerk via certified mail, or an adult who is not party to the case. Permitted methods and charges change by county.
Each court sets how far before the hearing the defendant must be served. The clerk confirms your deadline when the hearing date is set. Service must occur within CA or invalidated. Service 15 days before hearing (same county), 20 days (outside county). Proof of service filed within 5 days of hearing.
Service is proved on paper. The server completes and signs a form, and it is filed before the matter is heard.
Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.
Addresses in Contra Costa County include places such as Alamo, Antioch and Bethel Island. Alameda County and Solano County are the counties nearest to Contra Costa County.
You have a limited window to file, measured from when the dispute arose. File after it closes and your claim can be barred.
| Kind of claim | Time limit to file |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 4 years |
| Oral contract | 2 years |
| Property damage | 3 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
They do not change from one Contra Costa County ZIP code to another, 94505 included. Contra Costa County, population about 1,172,607, is covered by the table above.
Money owed under a contract in California generally accrues interest at 10% per year before judgment (Cal. Civ. Code §3289).
A running total including interest can be worked out with the Squabble interest calculator.
Contra Costa County is under the same state rate as nearby Alameda County and Solano County. It is the same rate across all 52 Contra Costa County ZIP codes.
Verify the figure is inside the limit and that you are still within the deadline for this claim type.
Get the defendant's legal name right, set out the events, and break down how the figure is reached.
File at the Contra Costa County hub courthouse for your dispute's ZIP code, or e-file, and pay the $30–$75 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).
Arrange service once your hearing date is set and file the proof of service with the court.
Put the evidence in order, with exhibits marked, so the account is easy to follow.
Appear in person or, where available, remotely, present your case, and receive the court's decision.
Go through the events with Eleanor. The documents are prepared, Triple-Checked™ for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and filed for you.
Start for FREE →You will meet a claim form, a proof of service, and possibly a fee waiver. What each is called depends on the court, and Squabble matches them to your courthouse.
Contra Costa County has a population of about 1,172,607. A Contra Costa County filing goes to one of 3 courthouses, Superior Court of California - County of Contra Costa: Wakefield Taylor Courthouse among them.
These hearings are informal and do not take long. Neither side has a lawyer and the judge leads the questioning.
Contra Costa County hearings are held at one of its 3 listed courthouses, depending on where the case is filed. Alamo, Antioch and Bethel Island are among the Contra Costa County places a hearing can draw parties from.
A judgment says what is owed. Getting hold of the money is the next stage, and the enforcement options open to you depend on the state.
Where state law allows it, a portion of the debtor's earnings can be redirected to pay what the court ordered.
With a bank levy, the court reaches funds held in the debtor's account directly.
Recording the judgment locally can place a lien against real property in the debtor's name.
You can also ask the court to order the debtor to appear and disclose income and assets under oath. An unpaid judgment generally keeps accruing interest at the rate state law sets until it's satisfied.
A Contra Costa County judgment comes from one of its 3 listed courthouses. Alamo, Antioch and Bethel Island are among the Contra Costa County places a judgment debtor may live in.
Last reviewed August 2026. Court fees, limits, and procedures change. Verify current details with the court before filing.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares your demand letter and court-ready documents, Triple-Checks them for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your Contra Costa County case for you.
