Harassment Charges — Civil Legal Guide. Understanding harassment charges and your civil legal options, explained in plain language. Many workplace claims must start with an administrative charge — typically with the EEOC — before you can sue, and the deadline can be as short as 180 to 300 days from the incident. Keep a dated record of what happened, who was present, and any emails or messages. You generally need a right-to-sue letter before a discrimination or harassment case can proceed in court. Do you need a lawyer for harassment charges? In most cases, no — small claims court is designed for people representing themselves, and a demand letter can often resolve the matter before any filing. How much does it cost? A professional demand letter through PettyLawsuit is $29, and small claims filing fees (if you ever need them) typically run $30 to $200 and are often recoverable if you win. When you're ready, PettyLawsuit turns this into action: a professional demand letter sent by certified mail for $29, and — if it comes to that — the correct small claims forms for your state with step-by-step filing help. Most disputes settle once a formal demand letter arrives, so you may never see a courtroom.