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 Massachusetts, small claims courts are a division of the District Court system designed to provide an informal and simplified procedure for individuals to resolve civil disputes involving small amounts of money. The jurisdictional limit for small claims in Massachusetts is $7,000, which means that the court can handle cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed this figure. This limit does not apply to property damage caused by a motor vehicle accident. Attorneys are allowed to represent parties in small claims court in Massachusetts, unlike some other states where attorney representation may be restricted. The types of cases typically heard in small claims courts include those related to debt recovery, landlord-tenant disputes, and contract disputes. Judges preside over these proceedings, and the process is designed to be accessible to individuals representing themselves (pro se), although parties may choose to have an attorney.