Lawsuits to collect debts are usually filed in state courts—and may be filed in small claims courts, depending on the amount of the debt and the small claims court’s jurisdictional limits (the maximum amount of a claim that can be filed in the court).
In Massachusetts, lawsuits to collect debts are typically filed in state courts, with the option to file in small claims courts if the amount of the debt falls within the court's jurisdictional limits. As of my knowledge cutoff in 2023, the jurisdictional limit for small claims courts in Massachusetts is $7,000. This means that if the debt is $7,000 or less, the creditor may choose to file the lawsuit in a small claims court, which is designed to be a simpler and faster process than the regular civil court system. For debts exceeding this amount, the lawsuit would need to be filed in the appropriate division of the Massachusetts Trial Court, such as the District Court or the Superior Court, depending on the amount of the debt and the specific circumstances of the case.