Step-by-step guides to filing, serving, presenting, and collecting on small claims cases in every state.
Massachusetts small claims entry fees are tiered from $40 to $150 based on the amount of the claim, including the statutory surcharge added at filing. Plaintiffs who cannot afford the fee can apply for waiver through an Affidavit of Indigency.
Massachusetts small claims provides a simplified procedure for money disputes up to $7,000 in District Court or Boston Municipal Court. This article walks through eligibility, court selection, completing the Statement of Small Claim, paying the fee, and how service of the claim works.
Massachusetts small claims sits inside the District Court and Boston Municipal Court for money disputes up to $7,000, with carve-outs for motor vehicle property damage and municipal tax cases. This reference covers vocabulary, the dollar cap, hearing procedure, and appeal rights.
Arizona’s small claims division handles money disputes up to $5,000 in justice court precincts. The forum gives up jury trials and appeals in exchange for speed.
How small claims works in Washington district courts, dollar limits, the $35 filing fee, who can appear, and how the informal hearing turns into an enforceable judgment.
Virginia’s small claims division of general district court is a money-only forum capped at $5,000. Parties represent themselves, the rules of evidence step aside, and a defendant can remove to general district court at any time before the judge rules.
What small claims is in New Jersey, who can use it, where cases are filed, and how a $5,000-or-less dispute moves from complaint to judgment to collection.
Michigan’s small claims division handles money disputes up to $7,000 through a simplified district court procedure: filing by affidavit, no attorneys at the hearing, and a 7-day window to demand a new hearing if a magistrate decided the case.
An orientation to North Carolina’s small claim track: the $10,000 magistrate court, 30-day trial schedule, and the right to appeal to district court for a trial de novo.
Georgia’s magistrate courts hear civil claims up to $15,000 without juries. This reference covers filing, service, default judgments, and appeals.
Ohio’s small claims divisions sit inside each municipal and county court, with a jurisdictional limit of $6,000 raised in 2025. This reference covers what fits, where to file, how a case proceeds, and what happens after judgment.
An Illinois state-level hub on small claims: the $10,000 limit, venue and counties, filing fees and waivers, service of process, and the hearing.