# Small claims court, start to finish > Small claims is a simpler court for smaller amounts, and most people go without a lawyer. Send a demand letter first. Check your state’s limit, file in the right court with the other side’s correct legal name, and pay the filing fee. Have them served, bring organized proof and copies, and tell a short, clear story. If you win and they don’t pay, ask the court about collection. - URL: https://explained.page/small-claims-court - Language: en - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - Watch the 1-minute animated guide: https://explained.page/watch?start=small-claims-court ## Step by step 1. **Owed money? Small claims court can help.** It’s a simpler court for smaller amounts. Most people go without a lawyer. Here’s how it works, start to finish. 2. **Send a demand letter first.** Explain what happened, how much you’re owed, and a deadline to pay. Many disputes end here, and judges like to see you tried. 3. **Check your state’s limit.** Each state sets the most you can ask for, from a few thousand dollars to around $20,000 or more. Some states don’t allow lawyers in small claims at all. 4. **File in the right court.** Usually where the other person lives or where the problem happened. Use their correct legal name. There’s a filing fee, often under $100, and you may get it back if you win. 5. **Have them served.** The other side must officially get the papers, by certified mail, a sheriff or a process server, depending on your court. The court explains your options. 6. **Bring your proof, organized.** Bring copies for the judge and the other side. Keep your story short: what was agreed, what went wrong, and what it cost you. 7. **Winning isn’t the same as getting paid.** If they don’t pay after you win, the court can explain ways to collect, like wage garnishment or a bank levy. 8. **Look it up the right way.** Search with your town or state in the words. Pick the official site: it usually ends in .gov. Skip ads and sites that charge for free forms. ## Checklist - Send a demand letter - Check your state’s limit - File in the right court - Have the other side served - Bring organized proof and copies - Ask how to collect if you win ## Try a demand letter first Explain what happened, how much you’re owed and a deadline to pay. Many disputes end here, and judges like to see that you tried. ## Check the limit Each state sets the most you can ask for, from a few thousand dollars to around $20,000 or more. Some states don’t allow lawyers in small claims. ## File Usually in the county where the other person lives or where the problem happened. Use their correct legal name; for a business, look it up with your state. Expect a filing fee, often under $100, which you may get back if you win. ## Serve the other side They must officially receive the papers, by certified mail, a sheriff or a process server, depending on your court. ## Prepare Bring the contract, receipts, estimates, photos, texts and emails, and any witnesses, with copies for the judge and the other side. Keep your story short and clear. ## After you win If they don’t pay, the court can explain collection options, like wage garnishment or a bank levy. ## Common questions ### Do I need a lawyer for small claims court? Usually not. It’s designed for people to represent themselves, and some states don’t allow lawyers at all. Source page: https://explained.page/small-claims-court/questions/do-i-need-a-lawyer-for-small-claims-court ### Can I sue a business in small claims? Yes. Use the business’s correct legal name and serve its registered agent or owner as your court requires. Source page: https://explained.page/small-claims-court/questions/can-i-sue-a-business-in-small-claims ### How much can I sue for in small claims court? It depends on your state, from a few thousand dollars to around $20,000 or more. Check your state court’s website. Source page: https://explained.page/small-claims-court/questions/how-much-can-i-sue-for-in-small-claims-court ### How much does it cost to file in small claims? Filing fees vary by state and amount, often under $100, plus a fee to serve the papers. If you win, you can usually ask to be repaid these costs. Source page: https://explained.page/small-claims-court/questions/how-much-does-it-cost-to-file-in-small-claims ### How do I write a demand letter? Keep it short: what happened, the amount you’re owed and why, and a deadline to pay. Send it in a way you can prove, and keep a copy. Source page: https://explained.page/small-claims-court/questions/how-do-i-write-a-demand-letter ### What happens if the other person doesn’t show up? You may win by default, as long as they were properly served. Bring proof of service to court. Source page: https://explained.page/small-claims-court/questions/what-happens-if-the-other-person-doesnt-show-up ### Can I appeal a small claims decision? It depends on your state. In some, the person who sued can’t appeal but the person sued can; in others, both can. Deadlines are short. Source page: https://explained.page/small-claims-court/questions/can-i-appeal-a-small-claims-decision ### How do I collect after winning in small claims? Ask the court about your options: a payment plan, wage garnishment, a bank levy or a lien. Many courts have self-help guides for collecting. Source page: https://explained.page/small-claims-court/questions/how-do-i-collect-after-winning-in-small-claims ## Official sources - [National Center for State Courts](https://www.ncsc.org/) - [USA.gov: small claims court](https://www.usa.gov/) - [Legal Services Corporation: free legal aid](https://www.lsc.gov/) To find your local office, search for: - "[your county] small claims court forms" - "[your state] small claims limit" --- General information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ by state. From explained.page (www.explained.page). Life’s stuff, explained simply.