Situation pack · collecting a debt or damages
Small Claims Pack
Demand letter → court guide → deadline check
Most money disputes small enough for small claims court — an unreturned deposit, an unpaid invoice, a repair that was never done — follow the same path. You write to the other side demanding payment by a date; if they ignore it, you file in small claims court, where the amount you can sue for and the time you have to sue are both set by state law.
This pack runs that path in order. Choose your state and the demand letter step opens the template for it; the court guide for the same state shows the claim limit, where to file and what to bring; the deadline step points you to the limitation periods and the notice rules that decide whether you still have a case. Your name and the other party’s details are saved in your browser to prefill the letter.
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Every step below switches to the page for this state. Remembered on this device.
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The steps, in order
Pick a state above to get state-specific links; until then, links go to the general page.
Send a demand letter
What: State what is owed, why, and the date by which you expect payment, and say that you will file in small claims court if it is not paid. Send it in a way you can prove — certified mail, or email with a read receipt — and keep a copy.
When: As soon as an informal request has failed. Some courts expect to see that you asked in writing before filing, and the letter itself often gets the money without a hearing.
Read the small claims guide for your state
What: The guide shows the maximum you can claim, the court that hears the case, the filing fee, and how to serve the defendant — each item with its source. If your claim exceeds the cap, you can usually waive the excess or file in a different court.
When: After the letter’s payment date passes without payment. Filing details are the same whether you sue a person or a business, but service rules differ.
Check the deadline before you file
What: Every claim has a statute of limitations that depends on the state and the kind of claim (written contract, oral agreement, property damage). The state guide shows the periods we found, cited; for landlord-tenant notices, the calculator computes the date.
When: Before filing, and ideally before sending the letter, so the letter’s payment date leaves room to file if it is ignored. A claim filed a day late is dismissed regardless of merit.
Why the letter comes first
A clear letter with an amount, a reason and a date resolves a large share of disputes without a courtroom, and it costs nothing. If it does not, the letter becomes your first exhibit: it shows the judge that you gave the other side a fair chance to pay. Keep the tone factual and the demand specific; the generator structures it that way.
Limits and deadlines are state rules, not ours
The claim cap, the filing fee and the limitation period are set by each state’s legislature and change from time to time. This pack does not repeat numbers; every step opens the page for your state, where each figure carries the statute or court page it was taken from. Read the citation before you rely on it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer for small claims?
Small claims courts are designed for people without lawyers, and some states restrict attorneys in those courts. The state guide notes what we found on that point.
What if the other party is in a different state?
You generally file where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Pick that state in the selector so the guide and the letter match the court you will use.
Is this legal advice?
No. The pack organizes free templates and state rules with their citations. For a claim near the limit or close to a deadline, check with the court clerk or a local attorney.