Small claims courts are a low-cost, quick alternative to civil courts to settle civil disagreements. The rules of small claims court are simpler and the process is quicker and less expensive than regular civil court.  Examples of when you may want to sue in small claims court include: (1) Your landlord did not return your security deposit; (2) An auto repair shop did not fix your car properly; (3) You loaned money to a friend who refuses to pay you back; (4) You purchased a new HDTV that had a manufacturing defect, and the store will not return it; or someone hit you, broke your nose, and (5) You want them to pay for your medical bills.

What our Clients Say...
“I had the opportunity to use A People’s Choice again, Wow doesn’t say enough for the way the staff was able to get me in and out and all my answers answered. Very Professional, Organized and Friendly. I highly recommend!”
Debbie E.
“This company is excellent! They helped me get through all of my paperwork, submitted it to the court, and now everything is complete. Everything was clear and almost too easy. I saved thousands of dollars!”
Seth M.
“How much is peace of mind worth to you? This company of hardworking, caring individuals will help you get the job done in the quickest, most efficient way. Conveniently located. Check it out. Thank you!”
Diana K.
“I was in need of some serious help and didn’t know what to do. I had contacted a lawyer and he wanted to charge me $1800.00. A People’s Choice got my paper work started and at a much lower cost. I am very grateful for the company’s services.
April R.
“Lightning fast response, I had my very simple document on the same day as my order for the very fair and reasonable price compared to my attorney who quoted me 3 weeks and $2500. I will definitely use these folks again and highly recommend them!”
L. Carnes
“I was very happy with the service received. They were extremely responsive by phone and email and completed the document in less than 24 hours! All questions were answered promptly. I would highly recommend this service to anyone needing a legal document prepared!”
M.D.
“A People’s Choice – Saved me time, money & hardship. The people are professional and a pleasure to work with, I totally recommend them to everyone! I will used them for all my legal documents in the future. Thank you!”
C. Lazalde
“A People’s Choice prepares legal documents so you can represent yourself and still look like you know what you’re doing. I utilized their services recently and found them to be professional as well as extremely helpful. I couldn’t be happier.”
Evan J.
“A People’s Choice is awesome! They made the legal documentation process painless. I highly recommend A People’s Choice. The name says it all.”
Eric J.
“I needed help understanding and filling out legal documents but I didn’t have enough money to pay for an attorney. I would highly recommend A People’s Choice for your legal documents as you will get outstanding service at an affordable price. “
Sharon B.
“I am glad I chose A People’s Choice. They were very friendly and helped me with my documents in a very efficient way in very little time. Give them a try and you will be writing a positive review just as I did.”
D. Buelna
“My wife and I needed to have some papers filed in court but found that traditional lawyers were quite expensive. They did a very professional job completing our paperwork and I might say, at a very reasonable price.”
D. Hileman
“We love A People’s Choice. It’s legally run and professional. Everyone has to have a recommendation and license. Highly recommended.”
Christy C.
“A People’s Choice is a great option to get legal documents prepared inexpensively. They offer a very professional, low cost service for all sorts of legal paperwork. You won’t be disappointed and will save lots of money as compared to using an expensive attorney!”
Kathryn R.
“Made the process so easy for me. Also VERY prompt replies through email. So glad I used their services.”
Kristina C.
“Great service. Highly professional and efficient creating legal documents. I am completely satisfied and highly recommend them to others. People who are looking for professional legal services look no further, try A People’s Choice.”
Radtech N.
“A People’s Choice is a business that delivers what they promise. I was treated like a VIP by their staff and Sandy was the best. As for their services, they promptly delivered all of the official documents and fillings on my behalf and their price is more than reasonable.
Juan B.
“A People’s Choice is extremely customer orientated and friendly. Their service was fast and reliable. in the future, should I need their services again, I will not hesitate to call them. All e-mails were answered with either a phone call or e-mail sometimes even late at night”
Tar
“The service provided by A People’s Choice was very professional and comprehensive. We have used A People’s Choice on a previous occasion and were completely satisfied. We would highly recommend A People’s Choice to anyone!”
R. Betancourt
“I can’t say enough about the level of service and professionalism I received working with A People’s Choice. Emails were always responded to quickly and thoughtfully. I ended up saving a lot of money by going with A People’s Choice over an attorney.”
M. Rice
“Extremely satisfied with the performance of A People’s Choice. The communication was excellent and all was handled in a timely efficient manner.”
Pam T.
“I highly recommend A People’s Choice. The customer service and professionalism are exceptional. This service is only a fraction of the cost, more responsive, and better suited to quickly completing complicated court forms. “
Linda F.
“Very professional, excellent follow up and easy to work with. I will recommend them often! The staff rocks!”
Gene A.
“I have worked with A People’s Choice since September 2013. They are very knowledgeable and experienced. Their work is done professionally and timely. They showed a real concern for my situation. I recommend you give them the opportunity.”
D. Echeverra
“I Recently used A PEOPLE’S CHOICE !!!! This service is absolutely AMAZING !!!! At first I was so confused , but after their process was explained to me , everything worked exactly the way they Said it would & they are there to help with the process. every step of the way , as promised. I would recommend this service 100% based on them being so efficient, professional, and always available to address any concerns that you may have . I appreciate the work that they did for me . THANKS !!!!“
R. Ivey
“This team is efficient, professional, ethical and easy to work with. Any of my questions were responded to immediately. They did everything they could to help me. I highly recommend their services.”
Leigh A.
“I recently required the help of A People’s Choice, Inc. and found them to be entirely professional. Everything was done in short order yet all was explained to my satisfaction. They were friendly and courteous. I am happy and impressed.”
C. Zyobel

Get help filing a California Small Claims Lawsuit!

  • or call 1-800-747-2780

  • Hidden

When to Sue in Small Claims Court

You can file a case and sue in small claims court for most legal disputes that would be allowed in the California Superior civil court.  Common legal disputes that can be settled in small claims court include personal injury, wrongful acts against you by someone else (tort), violations of a promise by someone (breach of contract), and breach of warranty.

Small claims courts have a strict limit to the amount you can ask the court to award.  In California, the limit is $5,000 when the plaintiff is a business entity and $10,000 when the plaintiff is a person.  In California an entity can only file two cases over $2,500 in a calendar year.  If a person files more than two claims over $2,500 in small claims courts, then any more claims in small claims court will be capped at $2,500, even if the damages exceed that amount.  Local government entities, such as school districts, are not held to this limitation. If your claim is over the amount the court allows, you may consider reducing the amount you sue for to allow the court to hear your request in the small claims court.

When You Cannot Sue in Small Claims Court

Some cases cannot be filed in small claims court. For example, small claims court will not hear family law matters, such as divorce, custody, or guardianship.  You cannot sue a federal entity in small claims court, nor can you sue someone in small claims court based on an area of law that is exclusively federal (e.g., you cannot sue someone for patent infringement in small claims court.)  California does not allow a judge to settle evictions in small claims court, although a landlord can file a claim and sue in small claims court to get a money judgment for past due rent and damages after a tenant moves.

How to Sue in Small Claims Court

Filing the Claim: To sue in small claims court and file a formal claim, you must complete a Claim of Plaintiff form. This document will name who you are suing, the basis of your claim, and how much you are asking to be awarded. Once you file your Claim with the court, the Court Clerk will set a hearing. The court usually sets these hearings within 20-70 days of filing.  The average wait is 30-40 days. Once you have a hearing date, you will then need to serve notice of your Claim on the party you are suing.

Serving the Other Party: Although the Court Clerk offers to help to serve the party by certified mail, it is not recommended to serve in this manner. Often the other party is expecting to recede a lawsuit and will not sign for the certified letter. This will result in non-service, and the court will have to continue your hearing. Personal service is the best way to serve the other party. You can arrange personal service with a registered process-server.

The Hearing: It is essential to prepare for your hearing adequately. In this regard, you should have all of your facts and evidence ready to present and give the judge. You will see there will be many other people who have their hearing on the same day. With this in mind, often the judge will limit the amount of time you will have to explain why you are claiming the other person owes you money. Many judges do not have patience when a claimant is not ready to present their side of the case.

If you have evidence to present, you will want to have copies of all exhibits marked and ready to give the judge. Sometimes it is essential to write bullet-points of what you want to say to the judge so that you do not ramble and are able to cover all the critical details. People are often nervous in court, and having a list to reference during your testimony can be quite helpful.

The Decision: It is not uncommon for a judge to take the matter “under submission.” This means that the judge will not announce the decision in open court but will mail the ruling and final decision to the parties at a later time.

Appeal: When you sue in small claims court, the plaintiff is “stuck” with the judge’s decision. The only person who can appeal the judge’s decision is the defendant. When considering whether you should sue in small claims court, you may want to consider if it is important to be able to appeal the decision of the court if you do not like the judge’s order.

To Sue or Not to Sue

Before filing a claim in small claims court, you should try to work out the dispute with the other party on your own.  If a friend owes you money, ask for it back.  If he/she cannot pay it immediately, try to work out a payment plan.  Settling a dispute outside of court is always the best option.  If you cannot work out the dispute on your own, then you may want to consider a third-party mediator to resolve the conflict.  This is a good option for friends and family members who wish to keep their relationship intact.

If all else fails, then, of course, you should file a claim and sue in small claims court.   Although you can hire a lawyer to help you with things like filing the smalls claim, gathering evidence, and preparing for the hearing, you cannot have a lawyer represent you before the court.  However, if you need help with the paperwork and the process, a legal document assistant is an excellent low-cost option for these tasks. If you have a simple legal dispute with a small sum of money at stake, small claims court is a good option for resolving your conflict.

Contact A People’s Choice to help you file your small claims action. You can reach a staff member at 800-747-2780.

Get help with your Legal documents today!

A People’s Choice can save you hundreds of dollars by preparing your legal documents instead of an expensive attorney!

GET STARTED!

Was this article helpful? We would love to know your thoughts! If you found this article helpful, please check the LIKE button below. Your feedback helps us plan topics for future articles.