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 Nebraska, small claims courts are a division of the county courts and are designed to handle minor civil disputes quickly and without the need for attorneys. The jurisdictional limit for small claims in Nebraska is $3,900, meaning that the amount in dispute must not exceed this figure. Parties in small claims court typically represent themselves, known as 'pro se' representation, although they have the right to be represented by an attorney if they choose. The types of cases often heard in Nebraska's small claims courts include those seeking to recover debts, property disputes, and landlord-tenant issues. The process is designed to be simple and informal, with the goal of providing a speedy resolution to disputes. Judges preside over these cases, and there is no use of the title 'Justice of the Peace' in Nebraska's small claims courts.