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How to Sue in Small Claims Court by Professor Richard M. Alderman University of Houston Law Center |
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What Is Small Claims Court? Small claims court is the real "People's Court." Small claims court provides a place where you can go to get back money that someone owes you. In small claims court, trials are informal. Most people who appear in small claims court do not have a lawyer. The purpose of small claims court is to provide an informal, uncomplicated proceeding to resolve small disputes which do not involve enough money to warrant the expense of formal litigation. There is only one major restriction in small claims court, the amount involved cannot exceed $10,000.
If someone owes you money, and you cannot get them to pay you, do not
try to take the law into your own hands. Do not start a fight. If you
cannot resolve the problem any other way, you may settle your differences
by taking them to court.
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