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Generally, evidence are presented physically at the hearing in small claims suits. However, if you have a virtual hearing, courts will often require you to submit your evidence to court and to the defendant before your hearing date. Learn how to prepare and submit your evidence to court with this article.
· 5 min read
You can’t be expected to know or read every law, so find people and organizations that can help you either in person or through written guides and videos that they’ve made.
The small claims process can be tough. If you need extra help, here are a few resources.
Knowing where to file can be tough. Although you may be tempted to choose the courthouse closest to you, your case may not be accepted there.
The cost to file in small claims court is low. You’ll pay between $30 and $75. You may have to pay more if anyone other than a friend acts as your server.
The court system needs a good reason to make another person give you money. These reasons are called causes of action.
Evidence is an essential component of any case. Knowing how to present it and practicing your presentation of it will make you feel both more comfortable and more confident.
You can never serve someone that you're suing. Instead, hire a professional server or have your friend help out. While there are other options, they are worse.
Small claims court enables people to get their day in court without the need for a lawyer, but only in cases where the damages are $10,000 or less.
If you file a small court case, you are required to serve the defendant the stamped paperwork. Learn what you get when you buy a professional service through Dispute to meet this requirement quickly and easily.
Landlords can seem like they always have it out for us. Luckily, the law is on your side; if you can show that your landlord didn’t care what the law told him he must do, then you could win as much as 3 times what he owes you without a lawyer.
Going to court may not be worth your time, and you may not even win. It’s sometimes worthwhile to make a deal for less than you’re owed to avoid court.
A demand letter is a short, one-to-two-page formal request for something that lets the recipient know that they’ll face legal action if they don’t comply.
Finding a registered agent isn't difficult so long as you know the legal name of the entity you intend on suing, but not everything is always as it appears. If you have trouble, consider hiring a professional process server or consulting an attorney.
In California, you will need to fill out the SC-100 form and pay the filing fee. To file, you’ll need to know how much the defendant owes you, have tried to resolve the dispute out of court, and know the courthouse where you are allowed to file.