What small claims court is for
Small claims court handles money disputes up to a set dollar limit — unpaid debts, security deposits, property damage, or a deal gone wrong. It is built for people without lawyers: filing fees are low, the rules are simplified, and many states do not even allow attorneys at the hearing. If your claim is worth more than the limit, you can usually still file but must waive the amount over the cap, or take the case to a regular civil court instead.