What's the small-claims jurisdictional cap in my state?

Caps vary widely. Utah: $15,000 (effective 2024). California: $12,500 (individuals) / $6,250 (entities). Texas: $20,000 (Justice Court). New York: $10,000 (NYC) / $5,000 (other). Florida: $8,000. If your damages exceed the cap, you can either waive the excess and stay in small-claims, or file in district / superior court (more procedure, but no cap).

Do I need a lawyer for small-claims?

No — small-claims is the one civil court designed for pro-se litigants. Most states actually limit or forbid attorneys at the trial. The trade-off: streamlined rules, limited discovery, capped damages. If your case is over the cap or involves complex legal issues (federal question, class action, equitable relief), regular court is the right venue.

What if the defendant doesn't show up?

You typically win by default. The court enters a default judgment for the amount pleaded, plus costs. Then collection begins — wage garnishment, bank levy, judgment lien. Make sure the defendant was properly served (the most common defense to a default is 'I was never served') and bring proof of service to the trial.

How do I sue under FDCPA in small-claims court?

FDCPA (15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq.) is enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction, including state small-claims. Statutory damages up to $1,000 per § 1692k, plus actual damages, plus mandatory fee-shifting. Note: most pro-se FDCPA plaintiffs file in federal court for the higher cap and the discovery tools — but small-claims is faster and cheaper if your damages fit the cap.

How do I sue under FCRA in small-claims court?

Same answer — FCRA (15 U.S.C. §§ 1681n, 1681o) is enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction. Willful violations: $100 - $1,000 statutory + actual + punitive + fees. Negligent: actual + fees. The hardest part is the dispute trail — you need to have disputed with the CRA first under § 1681i and given the furnisher the chance to investigate under § 1681s-2(b) before suing the furnisher.

What if I lose? Can I appeal?

Most states allow a de novo appeal from small-claims to district / superior court — meaning the case starts over from scratch. Filing fee is usually higher and a posting bond may be required. The clock to appeal is short — commonly 10 - 30 days. Consult your state's small-claims rule for the exact deadline before the appeal window closes.

Debt collection overview

Small-claims complaint

Sue them yourself.

Small-claims court is built for pro-se litigants. Caps usually run $5,000 - $15,000 (Utah is $15,000), the rules are streamlined, and most states limit or forbid attorneys at trial. The wizard builds a court-ready, verified complaint covering breach of contract, money owed, security-deposit return, FDCPA / FCRA damages, property damage, and unjust enrichment — free.

1You
2Defendant
3Court + amount
4Claims + facts
5Relief
6Review

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Earlier in the timeline

FDCPA validation letter — free

Before filing suit, force the collector to validate the alleged debt under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g. Many cases die at the wall when the collector can't produce clean records.

Open validation wizard

Trial-prep kit

Case Pass — $149

Trial-prep packet (exhibit list, evidence binder, witness outline, opening + closing notes), follow-up motions, and unlimited correspondence — for one small-claims matter, 12 months.

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