Guides
Filing, hearing, and getting paid
The limit is only the first question. These guides explain demand letters, what to bring, what a judgment does not do by itself, and when a different court is the right place.
small-claims
What small claims court is
A plain-English explanation of small claims court in the United States, including the different court names states use and what a hearing is for.
Read the guide →How dollar limits work
How small-claims dollar limits are set, what they usually exclude, and why one state can have two different numbers.
Read the guide →Who can sue and be sued
Who may file a small claim, who may be named as a defendant, and when a business has to use a lawyer or is barred from the simplified docket.
Read the guide →A demand letter before you file
Why a written demand helps, when a statute requires one, and what to keep for the hearing.
Read the guide →What to bring to the hearing
The papers, photos, and witnesses that official court pages tell people to have ready for a small-claims hearing.
Read the guide →Collecting a judgment
What a small-claims judgment does and does not do, and the collection tools official court pages actually name.
Read the guide →Appeals and what you give up
How small-claims appeals differ by state, including courts where the plaintiff waives an appeal or where the decision is final.
Read the guide →When small claims is the wrong court
Disputes that official statutes exclude from small claims, including title to land, evictions in some states, defamation, injunctions, and claims over the limit.
Read the guide →