What is the difference between small claims court and civil court?

Small Claims Court and Civil Court are both types of court that handle different types of cases. Small Claims Court is designed to resolve smaller disputes without the need for lengthy legal proceedings. It is available in many states, including New York, and typically deals with claims of up to $5,000. These cases usually involve contract disputes, damage to personal property, or failure to pay for goods or services. Civil Court, on the other hand, is used to settle more complex and serious disputes that involve large sums of money, such as those relating to business, real estate, and family law. Civil cases can be extremely complicated, and often involve lawyers and other legal professionals. The damages that can be awarded in Civil Court are much larger than in Small Claims Court and the proceedings tend to take longer. Therefore, it is important to understand the differences between Small Claims Court and Civil Court when looking to resolve a dispute. Small Claims Court is better suited for smaller disputes that involve a smaller amount of money, while Civil Court is better suited for more complicated cases that involve larger amounts of money.

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