LegalCostCalculator
Updated May 2026 California

California Legal Costs (2026)

Complete breakdown of common legal fees in California — from forming a business to filing in court. All data sourced from official California government websites.

$70
LLC Filing Fee
$435
Divorce Filing Fee
$12,500
Small Claims Limit
$15
Max Notary Fee
LegalCostCalculator Editorial Team Data sourced from official government websites  ·  Last reviewed:

LLC Formation Costs in California

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$70
Filing Fee
$820
Annual Report
None
Publication
$870+
Est. Year-1 Total

Watch out: California charges $800/year minimum franchise tax regardless of income. This makes CA one of the most expensive states to maintain an LLC.

Pro tip: World's 5th largest economy — unbeatable market access if you operate here.

Small Claims Court in California

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$12,500
Max Claim
$30–$100
Filing Fee
4 yrs
Written Contract SOL
Small Claims Court
Court Name

Tip: California allows up to 2 small claims filings over $2,500 per year per person.

Divorce Filing Costs in California

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$435
Filing Fee
None
Children Surcharge
$40
Sheriff Service
Required
Parenting Class

California superior courts typically charge around $435 to open a divorce case. Some counties add small local surcharges on top of the base fee.

Notary Fees in California

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$15
Acknowledgment
$15
Jurat
N/A
RON Fee
Yes
Fee Cap

$15 per notarized signature. Travel fees allowed if reasonable and agreed to in advance. RON law pending.

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