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Small Claims Court
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Guide to Small Claims Court
Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court
Book / $21.99
eBook / $17.99

Guide to Small Claims Court (CA)
Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court in California
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eBook / $17.99

Represent Yourself in Court
Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case
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eBook / $23.99


 

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Small Claims Court FAQ


Rules and strategies for bringing your dispute to small claims court.

»  Can any kind of case be resolved in small claims court?

Are there time limits in which a small claims court case must be filed?

How much can I sue for in small claims court?

Where should I file my small claims lawsuit?

What can I do to resolve my problem without going to small claims court?

Will I get paid if I win the lawsuit?

If I'm sued in small claims court but the other party is really at fault, can I countersue?

What should I do to prepare my small claims case?

What's the best way to present my small claims case to a judge?

Can I bring a lawyer to small claims court?

If I lose my case in small claims court, can I appeal?

Can any kind of case be resolved in small claims court?

No. Small claims courts primarily resolve small monetary disputes, and in a few states, evictions and restitution of property. No state allows you to use small claims court to file a divorce, guardianship, name change, or bankruptcy, or to ask for emergency relief (such as an injunction to stop someone from doing an illegal act). A few states also prohibit small claims suits based on libel, slander, false arrest, and a few other legal theories.

For more information, see What Types of Cases Can Be Resolved in Small Claims Court?

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