Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 116.310

(a) No formal pleading, other than the claim described in Section 116.320 or 116.360, is necessary to initiate a small claims action. (b) The pretrial discovery procedures described in Section 2019.010 are not permitted in small claims actions. (Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 182, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2005. Operative July 1, 2005, by Sec. 64 of Ch. 182.)