Small claims courts are included in each state’s court system and are designed for the resolution of disputes involving a limited dollar amount—and for the parties to the dispute to represent themselves (pro se). Small claims courts are often referred to as the People’s Court, and some states such as California prohibit attorneys from representing parties in small claims court. The limit on the amount of money in dispute (the jurisdictional limit) varies from state to state within a range of $2,500 to $25,000—but is usually between $5,000 and $15,000. The disputes filed in small claims courts are often seeking to recover a debt or involving residential landlord-tenant disputes. Judges in small claims courts in some states are called Justices of the Peace, and the courts are sometimes referred to as JP courts.

In Alabama, small claims courts are part of the district court system and are designed to handle disputes involving relatively small amounts of money, typically where the amount in controversy does not exceed $6,000. These courts provide a simplified and less formal procedure for individuals to resolve their disputes without the need for an attorney, although parties are allowed to have legal representation if they choose. Small claims courts in Alabama are intended to be accessible to the general public, allowing individuals to represent themselves (pro se). Common types of cases heard in Alabama small claims courts include debt recovery, property damage, and landlord-tenant disputes. The judges presiding over these cases are district court judges rather than Justices of the Peace, as the office of Justice of the Peace does not exist in Alabama.