⚖ Can I sue?⏱ Deadline📝 Demand letter📚 Filing guide
🏛 Court finder🔍 Evidence list💵 Worth suing?📈 Case strength
🛡 Being sued🎤 Court script🏆 After you win📌 Limits table
⚖ Legal aid📋 Counterclaim
Can I sue in small claims court?
Three questions to find out if your case qualifies, how much you can claim, and your next step.
Country
Canada
United States
Province
Select province...
Ontario ($50,000)
British Columbia ($35,000)
Alberta ($50,000)
Quebec ($15,000)
Manitoba ($10,000)
Saskatchewan ($20,000)
Nova Scotia ($25,000)
New Brunswick ($20,000)
Newfoundland ($25,000)
PEI ($8,000)
State
Select state...
Alabama ($6,000)
Alaska ($10,000)
Arizona ($3,500)
Arkansas ($5,000)
California ($12,500)
Colorado ($7,500)
Connecticut ($5,000)
Delaware ($25,000)
Florida ($8,000)
Georgia ($15,000)
Hawaii ($5,000)
Idaho ($5,000)
Illinois ($10,000)
Indiana ($8,000)
Iowa ($6,500)
Kansas ($4,000)
Kentucky ($2,500)
Louisiana ($5,000)
Maine ($6,000)
Maryland ($5,000)
Massachusetts ($7,000)
Michigan ($7,000)
Minnesota ($15,000)
Mississippi ($3,500)
Missouri ($5,000)
Montana ($7,000)
Nebraska ($3,600)
Nevada ($10,000)
New Hampshire ($10,000)
New Jersey ($5,000)
New Mexico ($10,000)
New York ($10,000)
North Carolina ($10,000)
North Dakota ($15,000)
Ohio ($6,000)
Oklahoma ($10,000)
Oregon ($10,000)
Pennsylvania ($12,000)
Rhode Island ($2,500)
South Carolina ($7,500)
South Dakota ($12,000)
Tennessee ($25,000)
Texas ($20,000)
Utah ($11,000)
Vermont ($5,000)
Virginia ($5,000)
Washington ($10,000)
West Virginia ($10,000)
Wisconsin ($10,000)
Wyoming ($6,000)
Claim type
Select type...
Unpaid debt or loan
Contractor or renovation
Landlord-tenant or deposit
Car accident or damage
Defective product
Services not delivered
Unpaid wages
Consumer refund
Other money dispute
Amount claiming ($)
Statute of Limitations Calculator
Miss your filing deadline by one day and your case is dismissed permanently. Find out exactly how much time you have.
Incident date
Country
Canada
United States
Province
Select province...
Ontario (2 years)
British Columbia (2 years)
Alberta (2 years)
Quebec (3 years)
Manitoba (2 years)
Saskatchewan (2 years)
Nova Scotia (2 years)
New Brunswick (2 years)
Newfoundland (2 years)
PEI (2 years)
State
Select state...
Alabama (6 yr)
Alaska (3 yr)
Arizona (3 yr)
Arkansas (5 yr)
California (4 yr)
Colorado (3 yr)
Connecticut (6 yr)
Delaware (3 yr)
Florida (5 yr)
Georgia (6 yr)
Hawaii (6 yr)
Idaho (5 yr)
Illinois (5 yr)
Indiana (6 yr)
Iowa (5 yr)
Kansas (5 yr)
Kentucky (1 yr)
Louisiana (3 yr)
Maine (6 yr)
Maryland (3 yr)
Massachusetts (6 yr)
Michigan (6 yr)
Minnesota (6 yr)
Mississippi (3 yr)
Missouri (5 yr)
Montana (5 yr)
Nebraska (5 yr)
Nevada (6 yr)
New Hampshire (3 yr)
New Jersey (6 yr)
New Mexico (6 yr)
New York (3 yr)
North Carolina (3 yr)
North Dakota (6 yr)
Ohio (6 yr)
Oklahoma (5 yr)
Oregon (6 yr)
Pennsylvania (4 yr)
Rhode Island (10 yr)
South Carolina (3 yr)
South Dakota (6 yr)
Tennessee (1 yr)
Texas (4 yr)
Utah (6 yr)
Vermont (6 yr)
Virginia (5 yr)
Washington (6 yr)
West Virginia (10 yr)
Wisconsin (6 yr)
Wyoming (8 yr)
Demand Letter Generator
A professional demand letter settles about 30% of disputes without court. Required before filing in most jurisdictions.
💡 Send by registered mail with tracking . Keep your receipt. If no response by your deadline, go to the courthouse and file.
What happened
What you are asking for
Full refund of amount paid
Payment of amount owed
Partial refund
Repair or refund
Compensation for damages
Generate my demand letter
Your demand letter
Copy Print
Step-by-Step Filing Guide
Select your province or state for a complete guide with forms, fees, timelines, and exactly where to file.
Province
Select province...
Ontario
British Columbia
Alberta
Quebec
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
Newfoundland
PEI
State
Select state...
California
Texas
Florida
New York
Illinois
Pennsylvania
Georgia
Washington
Other state
Courthouse Finder
Find the exact courthouse -- address, phone, hours, claim limit, and direct link to file.
📌 Filing rule: File where the defendant lives, where the contract was signed, or where the incident happened.
Search city
Evidence Checklist
Judges decide on evidence, not emotions. Here is exactly what to bring, organized as numbered exhibits.
Case type
Select case type...
Contractor or renovation
Landlord-tenant or deposit
Car accident or damage
Defective product
Unpaid debt or loan
Services not delivered
Unpaid wages
Consumer refund
Is It Worth Suing?
The real question is not whether you can win -- it is whether winning is worth the time and money.
Amount claiming ($)
Country
Canada
United States
How likely is defendant to pay if you win?
Very likely
Unsure
Unlikely
How strong is your evidence?
Strong (contracts, receipts)
Moderate (some docs)
Weak (mostly verbal)
Case Strength Meter
Answer 8 questions honestly. Your score tells you whether to file with confidence or build more evidence first.
I Have Been Sued
Being sued is stressful. Most guides only help plaintiffs. Here is exactly what to do -- your rights, your options, how to protect yourself.
🛠 Do not ignore it. A default judgment is enforceable against your wages, bank account, and property. You have real rights here.
Court Day Script
Most people lose not because their case was weak -- but because they did not know what to say. A word-for-word framework for your hearing.
Your role
I filed the claim (plaintiff)
I was sued (defendant)
Case type
Select...
Contractor or renovation
Deposit or landlord
Unpaid debt
Car accident
Defective product
Services not delivered
Unpaid wages
Amount ($)
Generate my court script
Your court script
Copy Print
✓ Practice 3 times out loud. Arrive 20 minutes early with 3 copies of every document. Address the judge as Your Honour.
After You Win -- Collecting Your Judgment
The court does not collect for you. Here are your 5 tools to actually get paid.
Limits by Province and State
Updated for 2025-2026. Always verify with your local court before filing.
Legal Aid and Lawyers
Knowing when to get help, and where to find it free or cheap, can make all the difference.
Counterclaim Guide
If the person suing you owes YOU money, file a counterclaim and have both cases heard together. This often changes the entire dynamic.
LegalClaimsCourt.com • Canada and US Small Claims Court Guide • Free, no signup required