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 Delaware, the Justice of the Peace Court handles small claims cases. This court is designed for individuals to represent themselves (pro se) in disputes involving a limited amount of money. As of the knowledge cutoff in 2023, the jurisdictional limit for small claims in Delaware is $15,000. This means that the court can hear cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed this limit. Common types of disputes that are filed in Delaware's small claims courts include debt recovery and residential landlord-tenant issues. While parties are generally expected to represent themselves in these courts, they are not prohibited from seeking legal advice or having an attorney represent them, unlike some other states such as California where attorney representation in small claims court is restricted.