How It Works: Why I Built Small Claims Coach

Why I built this

For the last 10 years I've been a litigator. My cases are big business disputes, the kind where millions of dollars are on the line.

I've watched people spend tens of thousands of dollars on litigation. Sometimes hundreds of thousands.

And the calls keep coming. Someone is owed $3,000. $8,000. $20,000. A contractor walked off the job. A landlord kept a deposit. A customer never paid.

Most of the time, hiring a lawyer for that doesn't add up.

The legal fees can eat most of what's at stake, whatever the result. So most lawyers say no, and people are left to handle it on their own.

But here's what I've seen: people handle these cases themselves. In small claims court. In arbitration. Even on appeal of a small case. Being organized and prepared helps them present their case clearly.

Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer — but if your situation is complicated, does not fit our samples, or a deadline is close, you may want to call a lawyer.

So I built one. Small Claims Coach walks you through the whole process, from the moment you decide to sue to the end of your case, and coaches you on what you need at each step.

— a business litigator

Who it's for

What you get

Free, right now:

• The Small Claims Starter Kit (PDF): the basic timeline, checklists for before you file and for just got sued, and links to state guides
• Free state guides with court names and official links
• Plain-English guides to how small claims works

The Playbook: $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

• A filled-in sample of your state's claim form, with a box-by-box guide (made-up case). Every state and DC has one; for Mississippi, Oklahoma and Wyoming it's a sample layout we made, so you'd get the real form from the court clerk.
• Your state's Playbook section
• Full checklists and timelines
• Hearing outlines
• How to use AI to organize your case
• Which documents matter, and why
• New guides added over time: specific situations, dispute types, evidence, witnesses, questions to ask, and cross-examination

How it works

1. Pick your state. Open your free state guide from the state map.
2. Read the free steps. Which court, the dollar limit, where to file, and the basic steps. Then confirm the details with your local court.
3. Use the Playbook to prepare. Sample filings, checklists, a timeline, and a hearing outline.
4. File it yourself. You fill out the court's forms, serve the other side, and show up prepared. We coach; we don't represent you.

Every step, from deciding to sue to after the hearing

1. Decide if it's worth itIs there a real claim, a real amount, and someone you can collect from?
2. Do these 10 things before you sueTry to resolve it, put it in writing, gather proof, check your court.
3. Find your state and courtOfficial court names, self-help pages, and forms by state.
4. Learn how small claims worksFiling, serving, the hearing, and judgment in plain English.
5. Build your evidenceHow to save texts and screenshots so they're usable.
6. Prepare for the hearing and collectSample filings, timelines, hearing outlines, and checklists in the Playbook.
7. Got sued instead?First steps if you're on the other side.

Questions

Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer — but if your situation is complicated, does not fit our samples, or a deadline is close, you may want to call a lawyer.

Small Claims Coach uses public information to build the Playbook, which coaches you as you organize and present your own case. We are not your lawyer, there is no attorney-client relationship, and we don't want the details of your case.