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 Arkansas, small claims courts are part of the state's district courts and are designed to handle minor civil disputes quickly and without the need for attorneys, although parties may choose to be represented by an attorney if they wish. The jurisdictional limit for small claims in Arkansas is $5,000, meaning that the court can hear cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed this limit. Common types of cases heard in Arkansas small claims courts include those involving debt recovery, property damage, and landlord-tenant disputes. These courts are intended to be user-friendly, allowing individuals to represent themselves (pro se) in a less formal setting than other courts. The judges presiding over these cases are district court judges rather than Justices of the Peace.