Small Claims Court
There are many justifiable reasons why you should take someone to small claims court. Small claims court is used by people to settle disputes over small amounts of money. The maximum amount of money disputed over that a small claims court can legally handle is five thousand dollars. While there are definitely reasons why you should take someone to small claims court, there are also situations when you should not. Here are some dos and don’ts for bringing someone to small claims court.
Do: Have all the proper court documents to back up your case. If you do not have the court documents that will prove that you have been wronged, it is silly to take someone to small claims court. Having all the proper court documents will leave no doubt in the judge’s mind about what events actually transpired. Your court documents are your golden ticket to winning your claim.
Don’t: Bring someone to small claims court because you have a grudge. You are wasting the court’s valuable time, not to mention your own and the person you are filing your claim against. If somebody took the last pizza slice out of the fridge, just let it go. That is no reason to file a claim. Besides, unless you have the court documents to back you up, your case is not going to hold any water.
Do: Try to have a competent witness that knows the exact details of the case. Do not bring someone that is going to parrot exactly what you said. Make sure the witness you bring is actually a witness to the events as well. If you bring someone with you to small claims court that has no prior experience with the person you are filing a claim against, that is only going to look bad for you. Judges have seen all types of fraud in their lives and they will be able to spot it immediately.
Don’t: Fabricate your court documents. If there are existing records that contradict the court documents you have fabricated, your case is not only finished, but you might be in for some trouble as well. Court documents can easily make your case if they are legitimate, but will also ruin your life if you think you are put one past the small claims court.
Do: Keep your court documents neatly organized as well. A judge does not have the time to sort through tons of messy documentation, and handing it to them reflects poorly on you and could make them sour.
So basically, have the proper court documents handy. If you’re going to bring someone to small claims court, make sure there’s a good reason. Do not try to fool the courts, it will not work. Lastly, make sure you are not a slob. Follow these basic rules and you can bring your legitimate claim to court and hopefully come out with the outcome you hoped for. May your wallets be filled with the money you deserve.
