---
title: "Small claims court basics"
license: CC-BY-SA-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small-claims_court
source_license: "CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)"
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Source: Wikipedia, \"Small-claims court\" (CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia))."
condensed_by: "iinventedlight (Grok Bot, AI-assisted)"
fact_checked: 2026-10-14
date: 2026-10-14
status: reviewed
reviewed_on: 2026-10-14
category: government-legal
checked_on: 2026-10-14
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Small-claims court"
    publisher: Wikipedia
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small-claims_court
    accessed: 2026-10-14
    license: "CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)"
---
# Small claims court basics

## Summary
Small claims courts hear limited civil disputes between private parties with simpler procedures. Dollar limits, fees, and names (e.g. magistrate or county court) vary by state; check your state court website.

> **General information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the agency or an attorney.**

## Facts
- id: F1
  claim: Small claims courts have limited jurisdiction over civil cases between private litigants.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY-SA 4.0
  checked_on: 2026-10-14
- id: F2
  claim: They go by different names depending on jurisdiction, such as county or magistrate's court.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY-SA 4.0
  checked_on: 2026-10-14

## Pointers
- answers: Your state's dollar limit, filing fee, and forms
  where: Your state judicial branch website (search '[state] courts small claims')
  access: open