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 Utah, small claims courts are part of the state's judicial system and are intended to resolve minor civil disputes quickly and without the need for attorneys. The jurisdictional limit for small claims in Utah is $11,000, which means that the court can hear cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed this limit. Parties in Utah small claims courts typically represent themselves, known as 'pro se' representation. While attorneys are not prohibited from representing parties in Utah's small claims courts, the process is designed to be simple enough that legal representation is not necessary. The types of cases commonly heard in these courts include debt recovery, property damage, and landlord-tenant disputes. In Utah, the judges presiding over small claims cases are not referred to as Justices of the Peace, and the courts are not called JP courts.