小额法庭

Small claims court is the right place for that. In our jurisdiction, you can sue for up to ten thousand dollars. You will need to fill out a claim form and pay a filing fee. How much is the deposit you are trying to recover?

Okay. The filing fee for a claim of two thousand dollars is seventy-five dollars. You will need the defendant full name and address for service. Do you have photos of the apartment condition when you moved out and a copy of your lease?

Great, that is strong evidence. Fill out this form with the details of your claim. Once filed, the court will set a hearing date, usually within thirty to seventy days. The defendant will be served and given time to respond.

No, small claims court is designed for people to represent themselves. In fact, in some states, lawyers are not even allowed in small claims court. Just bring your evidence organized and be ready to explain your case clearly to the judge.

Check in with me at the front desk first. Then take a seat in the gallery and wait for your case to be called. When you hear your name, approach the plaintiff table. The judge will ask you to state your case first since you are the one who filed.

Each side usually gets about ten to fifteen minutes. Keep it focused — state what happened, show your evidence, and explain what you are asking for. The judge may ask you questions. Then the defendant gets their turn to respond.

If the defendant does not appear, the judge will likely rule in your favor by default. You still need to present your case briefly, but a default judgment is usually straightforward. The defendant can request to have the judgment set aside within thirty days if they had a valid reason for missing court.

The court does not collect money for you. If the defendant does not pay voluntarily, you can file for a wage garnishment or a bank levy. You can also place a lien on their property. We have information sheets at the front desk on collection methods.