State Guides

Home › State Guides

Each state sets its own small claims dollar limit, filing fees, forms and rules on where to file, so pick your state below. Every state guide links to that state's official court sources.

Every state guide is free. The Playbook adds the paperwork help.

Each free guide covers your state's court, dollar limit, fees, forms and basic steps. The Playbook adds a filled-in sample of your state's claim form (made-up case, every box explained) and your state's Playbook section, for every state and DC. For Mississippi, Oklahoma and Wyoming the sample is a layout we made, so get the real form from your court clerk.

Tap your state.

Alabama: open the guideAlaska: open the guideArizona: open the guideColorado: open the guideFlorida: open the guideGeorgia: open the guideIndiana: open the guideKansas: open the guideMaine: open the guideMassachusetts: open the guideMinnesota: open the guideNew Jersey: open the guideNorth Carolina: open the guideNorth Dakota: open the guideOklahoma: open the guidePennsylvania: open the guidePASouth Dakota: open the guideTexas: open the guideWyoming: open the guideConnecticut: open the guideMissouri: open the guideWest Virginia: open the guideIllinois: open the guideNew Mexico: open the guideArkansas: open the guideCalifornia: open the guideDelaware: open the guideHawaii: open the guideIowa: open the guideKentucky: open the guideMaryland: open the guideMichigan: open the guideMississippi: open the guideMontana: open the guideNew Hampshire: open the guideNew York: open the guideOhio: open the guideOregon: open the guideTennessee: open the guideUtah: open the guideVirginia: open the guideWashington: open the guideWisconsin: open the guideNebraska: open the guideSouth Carolina: open the guideIdaho: open the guideNevada: open the guideVermont: open the guideLouisiana: open the guideRhode Island: open the guideALAKAZCOFLGAINKSMEMNNCOKTXWYMOWVILNMARCAHIIAKYMIMSMTNYOHORTNUTVAWAWISCIDNVLAVermont: open the guideVTNew Hampshire: open the guideNHMassachusetts: open the guideMARhode Island: open the guideRIConnecticut: open the guideCTNew Jersey: open the guideNJDelaware: open the guideDEMaryland: open the guideMDDistrict of Columbia: open the guideDC
  • Guide is live
Alabama →Alaska →Arizona →Arkansas →California →Colorado →Connecticut →Delaware →District of Columbia →Florida →Georgia →Hawaii →Idaho →Illinois →Indiana →Iowa →Kansas →Kentucky →Louisiana →Maine →Maryland →Massachusetts →Michigan →Minnesota →Mississippi →Missouri →Montana →Nebraska →Nevada →New Hampshire →New Jersey →New Mexico →New York →North Carolina →North Dakota →Ohio →Oklahoma →Oregon →Pennsylvania →Rhode Island →South Carolina →South Dakota →Tennessee →Texas →Utah →Vermont →Virginia →Washington →West Virginia →Wisconsin →Wyoming →

Guides are live for all 50 states and DC. Tap your state to open its guide.

Find your county guide →

Choose your state:

Want the step-by-step Playbook?

A filled-in sample of your state's claim form, your state's Playbook section, and prep guides that work in any state: a document checklist, exhibit labels, a one-page timeline and a hearing-day outline. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

See the Playbook

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.

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice.