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

Small claims court and civil court are two distinct types of court proceedings in North Carolina. The primary difference is the type of legal disputes each court hears. Small claims court hears claims that involve disputes over money amounts that are typically up to $5,000. Civil court, on the other hand, hears disputes that involve claims for more than $5,000 and can range up to millions of dollars. Another difference between small claims court and civil court, is the proceedings. In small claims court, the proceedings are more informal and the technical rules of evidence are relaxed. Parties in a small claims case do not need an attorney. Instead, they can present their case themselves and argue their claims without an attorney present. In civil court, matters are much more formal and proceed according to specific rules. Most cases require lawyers to appear and present the case and legal evidence can be used in that court. In North Carolina, small claims court is designed to provide individuals with a less expensive way of resolving small money disputes. It is often faster than civil court proceedings, since there are fewer participants. While civil court is the more traditional way of handling cases with larger monetary amounts, the small claims court remains an effective way for individuals to resolve smaller disputes.

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

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