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 Florida, small claims courts are part of the state's court system designed to handle disputes involving relatively small amounts of money, typically where the amount in controversy does not exceed $8,000. These courts are intended to be user-friendly, allowing individuals to represent themselves (pro se) without the need for an attorney, although parties are not prohibited from retaining one if they choose. Small claims cases often involve matters such as debt recovery, landlord-tenant disputes, and other minor civil issues. The proceedings are usually less formal than in other courts, with the goal of providing a quicker and less expensive resolution to disputes. In Florida, the judges presiding over small claims cases are county court judges rather than Justices of the Peace, and the courts are not referred to as JP courts.