SC-150 is the Judicial Council of California form a plaintiff or defendant in a small claims case uses to ask the court to postpone a trial. You give the current trial date, the approximate date you want instead, and your reason, and you say whether the claim has been served. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The official PDF and its instructions are published by the California courts at courts.ca.gov.
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What is SC-150?
Form SC-150, Request to Postpone Trial (Small Claims), is a Judicial Council of California form on which a person in a small claims case asks the court to move the trial to a later date. It is marked as an Optional Form.
On the form you identify yourself and say whether you are the plaintiff or the defendant. You then give the court name and address, the date your trial is now scheduled, the approximate date you want it postponed to, and the reason for the request. If the trial is within the next 10 days, you also explain why you did not ask sooner. Item 6 asks whether the claim has been served by a method allowed by law, and you sign a declaration under penalty of perjury.
The form cites Code of Civil Procedure, § 116.570, and California Rules of Court, rule 3.2107. Its instructions page is not part of the form and does not need to be copied, served or filed.
You do not have to use SC-150. The instructions say you may write a letter that explains why you want to change your court date and includes the other information the form asks for. Item 6 refers you to form SC-104B, What Is "Proof of Service"?, for the ways a claim can be served. Service of your request is shown on form SC-104, Proof of Service, or form SC-112A, Proof of Service by Mail.
Who needs to file SC-150?
Two groups can use form SC-150, according to its instructions:
- Plaintiffs: anyone who filed a small claims case and wants to postpone or reschedule the trial for any good reason. The form names one such reason: the plaintiff has not served all of the defendants.
- Defendants: anyone who was sued in a small claims case and wants to postpone or reschedule the trial for any good reason.
On the form you check whether you are the plaintiff or the defendant. Item 6a is only for a defendant who has not filed a claim in the case.
Use of the form is not required. You may write a letter with the same information instead. The instructions do not address who may sign or file for someone else. For free help, they point you to your county's small claims advisor and to selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/small-claims-advisor.
When to file SC-150
Submit the request when you know you need a different trial date. The form prints no fixed deadline, but item 5 applies if your trial is scheduled within the next 10 days. In that case you must explain why you did not ask for a postponement sooner.
The instructions say a fee may apply, depending on when (or if) the claim was served. Ask the small claims court clerk for the current amount. If you cannot afford a required fee, the instructions refer you to form FW-001-INFO, Information Sheet on Waiver of Superior Court Fees and Costs.
If you do not hear from the court after filing, the instructions say to go to court on the scheduled trial date.
Documents you need
- Completed Proof of Service, either form SC-104 or form SC-112A (Proof of Service by Mail), showing that all other parties were served with a copy of your request; file it with the request.
- Attached sheet of paper, only if there is not enough space in item 4, labeled "SC-150, Item 4" at the top.
- Attached sheet of paper, only if there is not enough space in item 5, labeled "SC-150, Item 5" at the top.
- Attached sheet of paper, only if there is not enough space in item 6, labeled "SC-150, Item 6" at the top.
How to fill out SC-150
Enter your contact details
In item 1, write your name, mailing address and phone number. Check whether you are the plaintiff or the defendant in this case.
Fill in the court and case boxes
Write the court name and street address under Superior Court of California, County of. Then enter the case number and case name.
Give the current trial date
In item 2, enter the date your trial is now scheduled.
State the date you want
In item 3, write the approximate date to which you ask the court to postpone your trial.
Explain your reason
In item 4, explain why you are asking for the postponement. If you need more room, check the box, attach a sheet and write "SC-150, Item 4" at the top.
Answer item 5 if the trial is near
If your trial is scheduled within the next 10 days, explain why you did not ask sooner. Use an attached sheet marked "SC-150, Item 5" if needed.
Say whether the claim was served
In item 6, check every answer that applies: 6a if you are a defendant who has not filed a claim; 6b for parties served, with name, county where they live and date served; 6c for parties not served; 6d if the clerk mailed your claim and you do not know if the signed receipt arrived.
List names under 6b, 6c or 6d
Enter each party's name on the numbered lines for the option you checked. For 6b, add the county where the party lives and the date served.
Date and sign the declaration
Enter the date, type or print your name, and sign where indicated. The declaration is made under penalty of perjury under California law.
Review, download and prepare to serve
Check every item and any attached sheets, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Have the other parties served and file with the clerk as described under How to submit.
How to submit SC-150
You file the request in person or by whatever method your court allows, with the small claims court clerk. The instructions name the clerk and the steps below, and the form lists no other channel.
- Serve the other parties. Have all other parties in your case served with a copy of your request. You may serve by mail or in person. Use form SC-104, Proof of Service, or form SC-112A, Proof of Service by Mail.
- File with the clerk. File your request and the completed Proof of Service with the small claims court clerk. The court name and street address are written in the box on page 1 of the form.
- Pay or waive the fee. A fee may apply, depending on when (or if) the claim was served. Ask the clerk for the amount. If you cannot pay, see form FW-001-INFO.
The court mails a notice with the new hearing date to all plaintiffs and defendants if it postpones the trial. If it does not, the trial stays on the current date and the court notifies the person who filed the request. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing the request without having all other parties in the case served with a copy, by mail or in person.
- Filing the request without the completed Proof of Service (form SC-104 or SC-112A).
- Leaving item 5 blank when the trial is within the next 10 days, instead of explaining why you did not ask sooner.
- Putting an overflow answer on an attached sheet without writing "SC-150, Item 4", "Item 5" or "Item 6" at the top, or without checking the box.
- Checking item 6a (defendant who has not filed a claim) when you are the plaintiff, or leaving the plaintiff/defendant box unchecked.
- Skipping the signature, date or printed name under the declaration made under penalty of perjury.
- Assuming the trial is postponed because you filed; if you do not hear from the court, go to court on the scheduled trial date.
- Omitting the case number, case name, or the court name and street address.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SC-150 form?
SC-150 is the Judicial Council of California's Request to Postpone Trial (Small Claims). A plaintiff or defendant uses it to ask the small claims court to move the trial to a later date, giving the current date, the date wanted and the reason.
Do I have to use form SC-150 to postpone a small claims trial?
No. The instructions say you may write a letter instead. The letter should explain why you want to change your court date and include the other information the form requests, such as the case details and whether the claim was served.
Who can file a request to postpone a small claims trial in California?
Plaintiffs and defendants can. The instructions say anyone who filed a small claims case, or anyone sued in one, may ask to postpone or reschedule the trial for any good reason, including a plaintiff not having served all defendants.
Where do I file form SC-150 and what else do I need?
File it with the small claims court clerk, together with the completed Proof of Service (form SC-104 or SC-112A). First have all other parties served with a copy of your request, by mail or in person.
What if my trial is in less than 10 days?
Complete item 5. If your trial is scheduled within the next 10 days, the form asks you to explain why you did not ask for a postponement sooner. Use an attached sheet marked "SC-150, Item 5" if you need more space.
Is there a fee to postpone a small claims trial?
A fee may apply, depending on when (or if) the claim was served. Ask the small claims court clerk for the current amount. If you cannot afford it, see form FW-001-INFO, Information Sheet on Waiver of Superior Court Fees and Costs.
How will I know if the court postponed my trial?
If the court postpones the trial, it mails a notice with the new hearing date to all plaintiffs and defendants. If it does not, the trial stays on the current date and the court notifies the person who filed. If you hear nothing, go to court.
Can I fill out SC-150 online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the fillable PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the request with the court; you serve and file it through the court's channels.
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