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 Dakota, small claims courts are a division of the circuit courts and are designed to handle minor civil disputes quickly and economically. The jurisdictional limit for small claims in South Dakota is $12,000, meaning that the amount in dispute must not exceed this figure. Parties in small claims court typically represent themselves without an attorney, as the process is designed to be simple enough for non-lawyers to navigate. However, unlike some states such as California, South Dakota does not prohibit attorneys from representing parties in small claims court. Common types of cases heard in South Dakota's small claims courts include recovery of debts, property damage, and landlord-tenant disputes. The judges presiding over these cases are circuit court judges or magistrate judges, rather than Justices of the Peace, as the title varies by state.