Is there a deadline for filing a claim in small claims court?
Yes, filing a claim in small claims court in California has a deadline. Generally, you must file your claim within two years from the date the cause of action accrues. A cause of action is the event or specific incident that gave you a legal right to sue. In other words, you must file your claim within two years from when the event that you are suing for occurred. For example, if someone did not pay you for a service you provided, the two-year time frame begins the day you performed your service and the person failed to pay. If the person damaged your property, the time frame starts when the damage occurred. It is important to remember that the deadline is a strict one, and submitting your claim after the two-year time frame may result in your case being thrown out by the court. If your situation requires a longer filing time frame, you may need to check with a legal representative to ensure you are taking the necessary steps to file a successful claim.
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