Small claims, in plain words
The words a court uses, glossed the way a clerk would explain them. Nothing here is advice about your situation.
20 terms.
- Small claims court
The part of a state's court that hears money disputes up to a set dollar limit, with simple rules.
- Claimant
The person or business bringing the claim, the one asking to be paid.
- Defendant
The person, business, or agency a claim is brought against.
- Self-represented
Speaking for yourself in court, which is the normal way small claims works.
- Claim
The form that starts the case: who you are, who owes you, how much, and why.
- Filing fee
What the court charges to open the case, usually set by the size of the claim.
- Fee waiver
Permission from the court not to pay the filing fee, granted on financial hardship.
- Demand letter
A dated letter asking for the money before you file, and saying what happens if it is not paid.
- Statute of limitations
The deadline for bringing a claim, counted in years from the day the clock started.
- Anchor date
The day a time window is counted from, which is not always the day the trouble started.
- Service
Delivering the claim papers to the other side in a way the court accepts.
- Proof of service
The signed form saying who delivered the papers, to whom, when, where, and how.
- Venue
Which court, out of the ones that could hear the case, is the right one to file in.
- Hearing
The short session where both sides tell the judge what happened and hand over their evidence.
- Evidence
The documents, photos, messages, and receipts that show what happened and what it cost.
- Exhibit
One piece of evidence, labelled so everyone in the room can turn to the same page.
- Judgment
The court's written decision, including how much, if anything, is to be paid.
- Default judgment
A decision in your favour because the other side was served and did not turn up.
- Collection
The separate steps you take to turn an unpaid judgment into actual money.
- Appeal
Asking a higher court to look at the decision again, within a short deadline.
Common questions
- What does small claims court mean in small claims court?
- The part of a state's court that hears money disputes up to a set dollar limit, with simple rules. Small claims is a division of a state court set up for people to use without help. The forms are short, the hearing is usually under half an hour, and the judge asks the questions rather than waiting for you to.
- What does claimant mean in small claims court?
- The person or business bringing the claim, the one asking to be paid. The claimant starts the case by filling in the claim form and paying the filing fee. Most court forms use the word plaintiff for the same role.
- What does defendant mean in small claims court?
- The person, business, or agency a claim is brought against. You have to name the defendant the way the court can find them: a person by their full name, a business by the name it is registered under, plus any name it trades under.
- What does self-represented mean in small claims court?
- Speaking for yourself in court, which is the normal way small claims works. Small claims is designed for people who represent themselves. In most states the other side cannot bring a professional to argue for them either, which is part of what keeps the hearing short.
- What does claim mean in small claims court?
- The form that starts the case: who you are, who owes you, how much, and why. The claim form is short on purpose. It asks for the amount, a plain description of what happened, and the dates. You sign it, hand it in, and pay the filing fee.
Verified on 2026-09-06, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-06, sources:
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.