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 Maine, small claims courts are a division of the District Court system designed to handle disputes involving limited dollar amounts without the need for attorney representation. The jurisdictional limit for small claims in Maine is $6,000, which means that the court can adjudicate civil cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed this threshold. Common types of cases heard in Maine's small claims courts include debt recovery and landlord-tenant disputes. The process is designed to be simple and accessible, allowing individuals to represent themselves (pro se). While attorneys are not prohibited from representing parties in Maine's small claims courts, the informal nature and the intent for self-representation often mean that parties handle their cases without legal counsel.