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 South Carolina, small claims courts are part of the Magistrate Court system and are designed to handle minor civil disputes quickly and without the need for formal legal representation. The jurisdictional limit for small claims in South Carolina is $7,500, meaning that the court can hear cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed this figure. Common types of cases include those involving debts, property damage, and landlord-tenant disputes. While parties are allowed to represent themselves in small claims court (pro se), they also have the option to hire an attorney if they choose to do so. The process is designed to be accessible to non-lawyers, with simplified procedures and less stringent rules of evidence than in higher courts. Judges presiding over these cases are Magistrates, not Justices of the Peace, and the proceedings are typically less formal than in higher courts.