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 New York, small claims courts are part of the civil court system designed to resolve disputes involving relatively small amounts of money, typically without the representation of attorneys. The jurisdictional limit for small claims in New York is up to $5,000 in Town and Village Courts and up to $10,000 in City Courts. These courts are intended to be user-friendly, allowing individuals to represent themselves (pro se) in a less formal setting than other court proceedings. Small claims cases often involve issues such as debt recovery, property damage, or landlord-tenant disputes. In New York, the judges presiding over these cases are not referred to as Justices of the Peace, and the courts are not called JP courts. The process is designed to be accessible, with simplified rules of evidence and procedure to facilitate the swift resolution of disputes.