small-claims-prep

Small-Claims Prep

Small-claims court is built for people without lawyers — but it still rewards the side that shows up organized. Most cases never reach a judge: a clear final demand that shows you're ready to file often triggers payment. This prepares the whole path — the demand letter, the money story, the evidence in order, the filing steps, and what to actually say at the hearing — while being honest that limits and procedures vary by place and this isn't legal advice.

What This Skill Produces

• The final demand letter — the "pay by [date] or I file" letter that settles many disputes before court
• The claim summary — who owes what, why, the amount, and the basis (contract, unpaid invoice, damage, deposit, faulty goods)
• The evidence pack — everything organized into a timeline: contracts, messages, invoices, photos, receipts
• The filing checklist — what most small-claims processes need (correct defendant name/address, the amount, the fee, the forms) — with "verify locally" flags
• The hearing script — a calm, chronological way to present it, the documents to hand up, and how to answer the judge

Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:

• The dispute — what happened, who the other party is (exact legal name/address), and when
• The amount — what you're claiming and how you calculated it
• The basis — unpaid invoice, broken contract, property damage, withheld deposit, defective goods/service
• Your evidence — what you have (agreements, messages, photos, receipts) and any gaps
• Where — your location/jurisdiction (drives the claim limit, fees, and process — to verify)

Framework: Settle If You Can, File If You Must

1. Demand first, in writing. A dated final demand with a specific amount and a "or I will file on [date]" line resolves a large share of cases — and becomes evidence you tried.
2. Tell the money story simply. Amount + why you're owed it + how you calculated it. Judges reward a clear number over a grievance.
3. Order the evidence as a timeline. Chronological, labeled, one point per document. Confusion loses winnable cases.
4. Get the defendant right. The correct legal name and address is the boring detail that sinks claims when wrong — nail it before filing.
5. Know the limits — and verify them. Claim caps, fees, forms, and whether you can recover costs vary by jurisdiction. Treat all specifics as "confirm with your local court," never asserted.
6. Present, don't perform. At the hearing: calm, chronological, stick to the facts and the number, hand up documents when asked.

Output Format

Small claim: [you] v [defendant legal name] · [amount] · basis: [type]

Step 1 — Final demand letter

> [Amount, why owed, how calculated, a firm pay-by date, "or I will file a claim on [date]"]

Step 2 — Claim summary

• Amount: [X] · Basis: [contract/invoice/damage/deposit/goods] · How calculated: […]

Step 3 — Evidence pack (timeline)

| Date | Document | What it proves |

|---|---|---|

Step 4 — Filing checklist (verify with your local court)

• [ ] Correct defendant legal name + address
• [ ] Amount within the local small-claims limit
• [ ] Required form(s) + filing fee
• [ ] Copies for court and defendant

Step 5 — Hearing script

> [Chronological facts → the amount → "my evidence shows…" → answer questions calmly]

Note: general preparation aid, not legal advice. Limits, fees, and procedure vary — verify locally, and consider proper advice for complex or high-value claims.

Quality Checks

• [ ] A final demand letter precedes any filing
• [ ] The amount is stated with how it was calculated
• [ ] Evidence is organized as a labeled timeline
• [ ] The defendant's correct legal name/address is flagged as critical
• [ ] Jurisdiction specifics (limit, fees, forms) are marked "verify locally," not asserted
• [ ] A calm, factual hearing script is included
• [ ] The "not legal advice" boundary is stated

Anti-Patterns

• Filing before demanding — skipping the letter that often settles it.
• A grievance instead of a number — no clear amount or calculation.
• Disorganized evidence — a pile, not a timeline.
• Wrong defendant details — suing a trading name instead of the legal entity.
• Asserting the claim limit or fees as fixed instead of "verify locally."
• Coaching courtroom theatrics instead of calm facts.

Example Trigger Phrases

• "A contractor took my deposit and vanished — I want to take them to small claims."
• "Client owes me $1,800 and won't pay. Help me prepare a case."
• "Write me a final demand letter before I sue in small claims."
• "My landlord kept my deposit unfairly — how do I file?"
• "What evidence do I need and what do I say at the hearing?"