San Francisco — Small Claims Request for Certified Mail

Source: https://sf.courts.ca.gov/system/files/forms-and-filings/sfscl-004-small-claims-request-certified-mail-1-13-26_1.pdf

SFSCL-004 REQUEST FOR CERTIFIED MAIL

ATTORNEY OR PARTY WITHOUT ATTORNEY STATE BAR: NAME: FIRM NAME: STREET ADDRESS: CITY AND ZIP CODE: E-MAIL ADDRESS: ATTORNEY FOR (NAME):

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO SMALL CLAIMS DIVISION 400 MCALLISTER ST., RM. 103 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102-4512 PLAINTIFF/PETITIONER:

DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT:

REQUEST FOR CERTIFIED MAIL CASE NUMBER:
CSM - (SMALL CLAIMS)

I am the ☐ Plaintiff ☐ Defendant in the above titled action and hereby request that my claim be served via certified mail addressed as follows:

Party Name:

Agent for Service (if applicable):

Party or Agent for Service Address:

City, State, and Zip Code:

Note: The Clerk will make an attempt to serve your claim by Certified Mail, with Return Receipt Requested and Restricted Delivery (requiring the signature of the addressee only), at a cost of $15.00 per party served. Please be advised that the Fee Waiver DOES NOT exempt payment of the Certified Mail fee. This method of service is NOT guaranteed, and

NO refunds will be issued if service is unsuccessful.

The Court will NOT provide notification regarding whether the claim has been served. To
verify service status, you may contact the Small Claims Office or visit the Court’s website at
https://www.sfsuperiorcourt.org.

Date Signature

Printed Name

Rev. 1/13/2026 Page 1 of 3

SFSCL-004 How to Properly Address the Request for Certified Mail To effect service upon the defendant, the return receipt mail must name and identify the proper person to be served. The proper person to be served varies with the legal entity of the defendant. The four categories of legal entities appearing below, (i.e., individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations), include the vast majority of parties to small claims actions. Before completing this form, examine the appropriate section below to determine to whom the mail should be addressed.

1. Defendant is an INDIVIDUAL: The return receipt mail must be addressed to that individual and the receipt signed by that individual and no other.

Example (Home Address) (Work Address) Name: John Doe Name: John Doe Street: 500 Washington Street Title: In care of City & Zip: San Francisco, CA 94131 Company: Plastics Manufacturing Inc. Street: 750 10 th Street City & Zip: Oakland, CA 94610

2. Defendant is a SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP: John Doe IND & DBA John’s Towing Service. The mail must be addressed to the proprietor (owner) and the receipt must be signed by the proprietor and no other person.

Example Name: John Doe Title: Owner & Individual Company: John’s Towing Service Street: 600 Brannan Street City & Zip: San Francisco, CA 94103

3. Defendant is a PARTNERSHIP: AZY Cleaners, a partnership consisting of John Doe & Mary Doe and each individually. To serve the partnership and each partner as individuals, a separate letter must be addressed to each partner.

Example Name: John Doe Name: Mary Doe Title: Partner & Individual Title: Partner & Individual Company: AZY Cleaners Company: AZY Cleaners Street: 500 Geary Blvd. Street: 500 Geary Blvd. City & Zip: San Francisco CA 94118 City & Zip: San Francisco CA 94118

In the above example, if only one of the partners signs the return receipt, the partnership and thethethe partnerpartnerpartner whowhowho signedsignedsigned thethethe receiptreceiptreceipt wouldwouldwould bebebe deemeddeemeddeemed served.served.served. The other partner as an individual would not have been deemed served. To serve only the partnership and not the partners as individuals; the return receipt mail must be addressed to one of the partners, the general manager (not the same as manager), or the designated agent for service of process.

Rev. 1/13/26 Page 2 of 3

SFSCL-004 How to Properly Address the Request for Certified Mail The mail must name the person and their title, and the return receipt must be signed by that person and no other.

Note: Most partnerships have neither a general manager nor an agent for service of process other than the partners themselves.

4. Defendant is a CORPORATION: Jones Oil Co., Inc. The return receipt mail must be addressed to, and the receipt signed by one of the following: president; vice-president; general manager (not the same as manager); secretary or assistant secretary; treasurer or assistant treasurer; or a person authorized by the corporation to receive service of process.

Note: The return receipt mail must contain the name and title of the person, and the receipt must be signed by the person it is addressed to and no other.

Example Name: Mary Jones Name: John Doe Name: C.T. Corporation Title: President Title: Authorized agent for Title: Authorized agent for Company: Jones Oil Co., Inc. receipt of process for receipt of process for Street: 100 Windfall Way Company: Jones Oil Co., Inc. Company: Jones Oil Co., Inc. City & Zip: SF, CA 94118 Street: 600 Montgomery St. Street: 700 So. Flower St., City & Zip: LA, CA 90017 Suite 1010 City & Zip: LA, CA 90017

Note: In the second and third examples the mail is sent to the agent’s address not the address of the defendant. In the third example, if a corporation has authorized a second corporation for receiving service of process, the person at the agent corporation may sign the receipt.

Rev. 1/13/26 Page 3 of 3