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RECOMMENDED
Covers all 50 states + DC · Free case check, no signup
Handle your own small-claims case, step by step.
CivilCase is a self-help tool, not a law firm. State-specific guides and plain-English steps help you prepare your own demand letter, file your small-claims case, and collect once you win, without hiring a lawyer.
THE BASICS
Small claims, explained.
The court built for people without lawyers. Lower stakes, simpler rules, and you represent yourself.
01.
No lawyer needed
Small-claims court is designed for self-represented people. In many states lawyers are not even allowed.
02.
Dollar limits apply
Each state caps what you can sue for, usually $2,500 to $25,000. Your guide shows your state's limit.
03.
Start with a letter
A demand letter settles many disputes before a filing fee is ever paid. It is the cheapest first move.
04.
Then you file
If it is ignored, you file in the right county, pay a small fee, and present your facts to a judge.
BROWSE BY SITUATION
What kind of dispute do you have?
Every category has its own statute, evidence list, and damages math. Pick yours for a plain-English guide and the forms your state requires.
Landlord & deposits
Unreturned deposits, illegal lockouts, repairs, habitability.
Contractors
Vanishing deposits, unfinished jobs, defective or damaging work.
Auto repair & dealers
Bad repairs, dealer fraud, undisclosed damage, lemon issues.
Unpaid wages
Final paychecks, unpaid overtime, off-the-books work.
Refunds & bad goods
Defective products, refused returns, online-seller disputes.
Roommates & loans
Unpaid shares, personal loans gone bad, neighbor damage.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Three ways to move forward.
However your dispute started, pick the step that fits: send a demand letter, check your case for free, or skip ahead and file. You stay in control the whole way.
What you actually get.
Two deliverables do most of the work: a demand letter that makes the first move, and a filing kit for when it’s ignored. Both built from your facts and your state’s rules.
I.
THE DEMAND LETTER
A formal demand, in their mailbox.
CivilCase turns your facts into a state-specific demand letter that names the law you're owed under and sets a deadline to pay. You read and approve it, then it goes out USPS Certified with tracking and a signature on delivery.
PRICE
From $29
TURNAROUND
Sent once you approve it
WHAT’S INCLUDED
State-specific citations
Certified mail + tracking
Editable before it sends
Settlement-ready wording
II.
THE COURT FILING KIT
A filing guide built for your county.
If the letter is ignored, CivilCase researches your court and builds a step-by-step filing guide for your case: which forms to file and where to get them, the fees, and what to say on court day.
PRICE
From $79
TURNAROUND
Ready in minutes
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Your court, forms & fees
Service-of-process rules
Court-day prep guide
HOW IT WORKS
From your facts to filed.
You answer plain-language questions. We turn them into the letter and forms. You read, decide, and stay in charge the whole way.
STEP 01
Tell us what happened
Plain-language intake. We ask the questions, you stay in your seat.
~8 min
STEP 02
We build your documents
Your demand letter and any forms, drafted around your facts and your state's rules.
STEP 03
Send it certified
USPS Certified with tracking and a signature on delivery.
2-4 days
STEP 04
Escalate if ignored
County-specific filing forms and a court-day guide, ready when you need them.
14+ days
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions, answered.
The things people ask before they start.
Do I need a lawyer?
No. Small-claims court is built for self-represented people, and in many states lawyers are not allowed. CivilCase gives you the letter, forms, and procedure to do it yourself.
Is this legal advice?
No. CivilCase is a self-help tool, not a law firm. We give you general legal information and documents built from your facts, but we do not represent you or advise on your specific case.
How much does it cost?
A demand letter starts at $29 and a filing kit at $79. You can check your case strength for free first, with no signup or card.
Which states do you cover?
All 50 states and DC. Your guide and forms are specific to your state's rules, dollar limits, and courts.
How long does it take?
We send your letter USPS Certified once you've reviewed and approved it. Many disputes settle after the letter; if not, your filing kit is ready when you need it.
WHY CIVILCASE
Built for people who represent themselves.
Most people with a winnable claim never pursue it, because hiring a lawyer costs more than the dispute is worth. CivilCase is the other option. It’s a self-help tool, not a law firm: it doesn’t represent you and can’t give legal advice about your specific case.
What it does is turn the forms and procedure into plain-English steps, built around the facts you enter and the rules in your state. You read the document. You decide what to file. You stay in charge of your case.