The Small Claims Court Process

Filing your claim

The process begins when you file a complaint at your local courthouse or online. You will need the defendant's full legal name and current address. The court will assign a case number and schedule a hearing date, typically 30–70 days after filing. The court will serve the defendant with a summons and copy of your complaint.

Service of process

The defendant must be properly notified of the lawsuit. Most courts handle service by certified mail or through the sheriff's office. If service fails — for example, if the defendant has moved — you may need to find a new address and request re-service. The case cannot proceed until the defendant has been properly served.

The hearing

Small claims hearings are informal compared to regular court. The judge or magistrate will hear from both sides, review evidence, and ask questions. Most hearings last 15–30 minutes. The judge may issue a decision immediately or mail it to both parties within a few days.

After the judgment

If you win, you receive a judgment — a court order stating the defendant owes you money. The judgment does not automatically result in payment. If the defendant does not pay voluntarily, you must take additional steps to collect, such as wage garnishment or bank levy.

Appeals

Either party can appeal a small claims judgment to a higher court within a specified time (usually 30 days). Appeals are more formal and expensive, and the losing party in the original case often does not appeal unless the amount is significant.