Small Claims CourtMade Simple

The 5-minute guided process

If you have read through these FAQs and believe you have a valid claim, the next step is simpler than you might think. PettyLawsuit walks you through a guided process that takes about five minutes: you describe your dispute, upload any evidence you have (photos, receipts, screenshots of text messages), and our platform automatically generates the correct court forms and a professionally drafted demand letter for your specific state and jurisdiction. There is no legal jargon to decipher and no courthouse visits required to get started.

Most cases settle before court

Most disputes are resolved after the demand letter alone - in our experience, roughly 78% of cases settle before ever reaching a courtroom. That means the person or business that owes you money sees a formal, certified legal demand and decides it is easier to pay than to fight. For the cases that do proceed to a hearing, you will have all your documentation organized and court-ready, giving you the strongest possible position in front of a judge. The entire process from start to finish typically costs under $120, compared to thousands of dollars for hiring an attorney.

Small claims court is a streamlined division of the civil court system specifically designed for disputes involving relatively small amounts of money. The exact dollar limit varies by state - California caps claims at $12,500 for individuals, Texas allows up to $20,000, and New York limits claims to $10,000 - but the underlying principle is the same everywhere: provide ordinary citizens with a fast, affordable way to resolve financial disputes without hiring an attorney. Cases typically take 30 to 60 days from filing to hearing, and the entire process is designed to be accessible to people with no legal training.

The first step in any small claims case is sending a demand letter. This is a formal written notice to the person or company that owes you money, explaining what they owe, why they owe it, and what will happen if they do not pay. Many states actually require a demand letter before you can file a lawsuit, and in our experience, roughly 78% of disputes are resolved at this stage without ever needing to go to court. A well-written demand letter on professional letterhead, sent via certified mail with return receipt requested, demonstrates that you are serious about pursuing your claim and gives the other party a final opportunity to settle before facing a judge.

If the demand letter does not resolve your dispute, the next step is filing your claim with the appropriate court. This involves completing the correct court forms for your jurisdiction, paying a filing fee (typically between $30 and $75 depending on your state and claim amount), and formally serving the defendant with notice of the lawsuit. Service of process means delivering copies of your court paperwork to the defendant in a legally recognized way - usually through a process server, certified mail, or in some states by having the sheriff's office deliver the documents. Proper service is critical because if the defendant is not properly notified, the court cannot proceed with your case.

On the day of your hearing, you will present your case directly to a judge or magistrate. There is no jury in small claims court, and the rules of evidence are relaxed compared to higher courts. Bring all your documentation: the original contract or agreement, receipts, photographs, screenshots of text messages or emails, and any witness statements that support your claim. The judge will listen to both sides, ask questions, and usually render a decision either immediately or within a few days. If you win, the court will issue a judgment ordering the defendant to pay you the amount owed plus, in many cases, your filing fees and interest.