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 Wyoming, small claims courts are a division of the Circuit Court system and are designed to handle disputes involving relatively small amounts of money in a less formal setting than other court proceedings. The jurisdictional limit for small claims in Wyoming is $6,000, meaning that the amount in dispute must not exceed this figure. Parties in Wyoming small claims courts generally represent themselves without an attorney, which is in line with the court's intention to provide a simpler and more accessible means for individuals to resolve their disputes. Common types of cases heard in Wyoming small claims courts include those seeking to recover debts, property disputes, and landlord-tenant matters. While the process is designed to be straightforward, parties are still expected to follow the court's rules and procedures, and the decisions made by the judge are legally binding.