From owed to collected
Complete toolkit — demand to judgment to money

They owe you money. Court is cheaper than you think.
Here's the whole path, start to collected.

Small claims court was built for regular people: filing fees of $15–$100, no lawyer needed (some states don't even allow them), and judges who see cases like yours every day. Answer 7 quick questions and get your final demand letter, your state's filing walkthrough, the evidence organizer and hearing script, and — the part nobody teaches — the judgment collection playbook. Ready in 2 minutes.

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Demand letter free · Complete toolkit $39 one-time · No account needed

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Step 1The final demand letter that settles most cases before filing.
Step 2File & serve correctly — the walkthrough for your state.
Step 3Win the hearing, then actually collect the judgment.

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💡 Tip: print or save each finished document as a PDF before starting a new one — your kit is reusable. Change the details and generate again as many times as you need.

Part 1 — The Final Demand Before Filing

Send certified mail — this letter settles most cases

Unlock the complete toolkit

The demand letter starts it. Parts 2–4 are the map from courthouse steps to money in hand.

  • Part 2: your state's filing walkthrough — forms, fees, venue, naming the defendant right, and serving them so it sticks
  • Part 3: the evidence organizer & 60-second hearing script judges respond to
  • Part 4: judgment collection — the two collection letters plus garnishment, bank levy, liens & debtor's exams explained
  • Your state's dollar limit and the over-limit strategy
  • The counterclaim, appeal, and no-show rules that surprise people
  • The 3 mistakes that make winners walk away with nothing
  • Print / save as PDF, unlimited edits, lifetime access on this device
$39

One-time. Less than most filing fees — and a fraction of one hour with a lawyer.

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Part 2 — File & Serve: Your State Walkthrough

Use if the demand letter doesn't produce payment in 14 days

🔒 Unlock to see your full filing walkthrough.

Part 3 — Evidence Organizer & Hearing Script

Start building the file today — even before you file

🔒 Unlock to see your evidence plan and hearing script.

Part 4 — Collect the Judgment (the part nobody teaches)

The two collection letters + the enforcement tools

🔒 Unlock to see your collection letters and enforcement guide.

How small claims court actually works

Small claims is the one courtroom designed for people without lawyers: simplified forms, low filing fees ($15–$100 in most states, usually recoverable if you win), relaxed evidence rules, and hearings measured in minutes, not days. Some states don't allow attorneys at all — California, Michigan, and Nebraska among them — which levels the field completely. The realistic path:

  1. Demand first. A dated, certified-mail final demand resolves a large share of disputes without filing — and some states effectively require it (California's claim form asks you to attest you demanded payment; Massachusetts consumer claims require a 30-day demand letter). Either way, the judge will ask "did you try to resolve this?" — your letter is the yes.
  2. File and serve correctly. Sue the exact legal name (look up businesses on your Secretary of State's site), file in the right county (usually the defendant's), and serve them by an approved method with proof. Most losses-before-the-hearing are really service and naming mistakes.
  3. Win with paper. Judges decide these cases on documents: the contract or agreement, the invoices or receipts, the photos, and your demand letter with its green certified-mail card. Three organized sets — judge, opponent, you — and a 60-second story.
  4. Then collect. Courts don't collect judgments for you — their own forms say so. Winning gets you a judgment; wage garnishment, bank levies, property liens, and debtor's examinations turn it into money. That's Part 4, and it's why this kit exists.

How much can I sue for?

Every state caps small claims — from $2,500 (Kentucky) to $25,000 (Tennessee and Delaware). Check yours free with our small claims limits tool. Owed more than the cap? You can usually waive the excess and still use small claims — often smarter than paying a lawyer to chase the difference.

Do I need a lawyer?

No — small claims is built for self-representation, several states restrict attorneys anyway, and at typical claim sizes a lawyer would cost more than the dispute. For claims well above your state's limit, or if you get sued back for serious money, that's when paid legal advice earns its fee.

The honest math: a $39 kit + ~$50 filing fee + ~$50 service beats writing off $3,000. And because filing fees are usually added to your judgment, the defendant often ends up paying them.

Small Claims Court Kit provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice, and is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney. Court procedures, fees, forms, limits, and deadlines vary by state and county and change over time — verify current rules with your local court before filing. Facts verified against official court sources as of July 2026.

Built by John R. Detty — 22 years as a U.S. Navy Legalman, retired. Two decades in Navy legal offices taught me one thing: the right paper, sent the right way, gets results. Not a lawyer, and this isn't legal advice — just paperwork that means business.