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 New York, small claims courts are venues where individuals can sue for money only, without the representation of an attorney, for amounts up to $5,000 in town and village courts, and up to $10,000 in city courts. These courts are designed to be user-friendly so that individuals can represent themselves in a less formal setting than other courtrooms. The types of disputes commonly handled in small claims courts include those involving unpaid debts, property damage, and landlord-tenant issues. In New York City, the small claims court limit is $10,000, while outside of the city, the limit varies but does not exceed $5,000. Judges preside over these cases, and while they are not referred to as Justices of the Peace in New York, they serve a similar role in adjudicating small claims matters. It's important to note that while attorneys are not prohibited from representing parties in small claims court in New York, many people choose to represent themselves due to the straightforward nature of the proceedings and the relatively small amounts of money involved.