What is the difference between small claims court and civil court?
Small Claims Court and Civil Court are both forms of legal proceedings designed to resolve disputes. However, the two courts are very different. Small Claims Court is designed for individual citizens to resolve their disputes without being required to hire an attorney or going through long court proceedings. These courts are presided over by judges or commissioners and provide a more informal setting. Small Claims Court also has a much lower filing fee than Civil Court. The amount a person can collect in Small Claims Court is limited to a certain amount per claim. In Idaho, the limit is $6,000. Civil Court is a formal legal process, which is often necessary to resolve disputes between businesses, organizations, and individuals. Cases are heard by a judge who will determine the outcome of the dispute. In Civil Court, the amount for which a person can collect damages is not limited and can be much higher than what is available in Small Claims Court. Also, attorneys are allowed in Civil Court, which means the cases can be more complicated and costly. Because of the differences between the two courts, it is important to research whether a Small Claims or Civil Court is the best option before filing a claim. There are also different laws that apply to each court, so it is important to understand the laws in your particular jurisdiction.
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