How to Win Your Case in Small Claims Court - Tips on

Small Claims Court is normally the legal place to visit if you are owed money and have been unable to collect it. As long as the amount due falls under the legal limit, that is. The limit you can sue for in Small Claims Court varies from state to state. It runs as low as $2,000 in the state of Virginia, all the way up to $25,000 in certain parts of Tennessee. To help you succeed in the collection of your money, here are some tips on how to win your case in Small Claims Court:

Typical Small Claims Court Cases
Even if the money you are owed falls within your state's dollar limit, you may not be allowed to have your case tried in court. Typical Small Claims Court cases include unpaid debts or loans, failure to honor a service contract or warranty, unreturned security deposits, property damage, doctor and/or hospital bills for personal injury caused by someone else, bad checks received, et cetera. Check your state's specific Small Claims Court laws to see if your case can be tried there.

Prepare Your Case
Once you have properly filed your case, paid the fees, and have a date and time set up to appear in court, your next step is to prepare your case. A tip on how to win your case in Small Claims Court is to be sure to gather together all of the documents you have that are applicable to your case. For example, if you're suing for an unpaid loan, you'll need the original, written loan agreement. If the agreement was verbal in nature only, you'll need a copy of the check, a receipt for a cash payment, witnesses that can attest the loan was actually made, records of any payments that were made, et cetera.

No matter whether you're the Plaintiff (the person who is suing) or the Defendant (the person who is being sued), going to Small Claims Court prepared is vital in determining the outcome of your case.

Since lawyers or paralegals aren't present in this type of court, you're solely responsible for providing adequate proof that will support your claim. However, you can call upon the services of an attorney or paralegal to help you prepare your case before you appear in court.