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 South Carolina, lawsuits to collect debts are typically filed in state courts, and the court in which a lawsuit is filed depends on the amount of the debt. For smaller debts, creditors may file a claim in small claims court, which is a division of the Magistrate Court system in South Carolina. The jurisdictional limit for small claims courts in South Carolina is $7,500, meaning that any claim above this amount must be filed in a higher court, such as the Court of Common Pleas. It's important for debtors to respond to such lawsuits within the timeframe specified by the court to avoid a default judgment. An attorney can provide guidance on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit and represent the debtor's interests in court.