What is small claims court?

Small claims court is a court that allows people to file lawsuits for minor, civil matters. Small claims court is designed to be more informal and less complex than other types of court. In Virginia, small claims court is limited to monetary claims up to $5,000. Anyone over the age of 18 can file a claim in small claims court, or an adult acting on behalf of an individual under the age of 18 can represent them in court. The claim must be filed in the county or city where either the defendant or the plaintiff lives. A hearing is held by a judge who will decide the outcome of the case. Small claims court is designed to quickly and inexpensively resolve minor disputes. It is often much less expensive than hiring a lawyer to file a claim in a different court. In Virginia, the filing fee for small claims court is only $37. Small claims court is not the place to go for criminal cases, divorces, or civil cases that involve more than $5,000. It is also not the place for disputes involving contracts that cannot be broken easily. There are also certain types of cases that cannot be heard in small claims court, such as evictions or claims against the government.

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What is small claims court?

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