What to Bring to Small Claims Court

Bring the documents that prove the number

Every small claims case comes down to two questions: what was agreed, and what it cost you. So bring the paper that answers both. The contract, estimate, work order, lease or written agreement. Proof that you paid: canceled checks, bank or card statements, a payment app history, a signed receipt. Then bring what proves the loss: an itemized repair quote, an invoice for work someone else had to redo, a replacement receipt. Bring the conversation too. Text messages, emails, direct messages and voicemail transcripts are ordinary small claims evidence, and they often matter more than the contract because they show what the other side said before a lawsuit was on the table. Print them. Do not plan on scrolling a phone at the podium. Bring your own case file as well: your stamped copy of the claim you filed, and the proof of service showing the defendant was served. Clerks and judges refer to those constantly, and being the person who can produce them without a search is worth more than it sounds.

Copies, and how the court wants them

Assume nothing you hand up comes back. Plan on at least three copies of every document: one for the judge, one for the other side, and one you keep in front of you to speak from. Some courts want exhibits marked and filed before the hearing date, some want them handed over at the counter when you check in, and some take them at the podium. That rule is set locally, and getting it wrong can mean your evidence is not considered. That is exactly the kind of thing that varies court to court rather than nationally, so it is worth confirming for the specific courthouse you are filing in. Tell us where you would sue and we put your court's exhibit handling on your filing checklist along with the address, hours, and fee.

Witnesses have to actually appear

A signed letter from someone who saw the damage is usually not treated the same as that person standing there and answering questions. If a witness matters to your case, plan on bringing them, not their statement. The mechanic who inspected the car, the neighbor who watched the tree come down, the friend who was in the room when the money changed hands. If a witness will not come voluntarily, courts have a subpoena process, and there is usually a fee and a lead time attached to it. Both vary by state and county. The same is true for records you cannot get yourself, such as a company's internal file. If you need one, ask the clerk about the subpoena procedure well before your hearing date rather than the week of.

Photos, video, and anything on a screen

Print your photos. Courtrooms are not set up to pass a phone around, some do not allow phones out at all, and a judge is not going to squint at a cracked screen while a docket waits. Print them large enough to see, put a date and a one-line caption on each, and put them in the order the story happened. Video and audio are harder. Some courts have equipment for it, many do not, and some require you to arrange playback in advance. If a video is central to your case, ask the clerk how that court handles it before the hearing, and bring still frames printed as a backup.

Put it in the order you are going to tell it

Organization is the part almost nobody does and the part that shows immediately. Use one folder, in chronological order, with a single page on top that lists what is inside: the agreement, what was paid, what went wrong, what it cost to fix. Number the pages so you can say the exhibit is on page four instead of shuffling through a stack. The goal is to hand the judge one organized set and walk through it in a couple of minutes without hunting. Your claim narrative and your exhibits should tell the same story in the same order. The packet we build lines those up for you, so the documents you bring match the claim already sitting in the court's file.

Why not just download the free form?

The forms are free. Why pay?

The forms are free. Knowing what to write in them is not. Most rejected filings are rejected on the claim narrative, not the paperwork.

Can't I just hire a lawyer?

Most attorneys will not take a small claims-sized case, and the ones who will cost more than the claim.

What if I get it wrong?

You refile and pay the fee again. That is the actual cost of guessing.

Common questions

What documents do I need for small claims court?

The agreement or contract, proof that you paid, and proof of what the loss cost you, such as an itemized repair quote or replacement receipt. Add the texts and emails between you and the other side, plus your filed claim and the proof of service. Those five categories cover most small claims cases.

How many copies of my evidence should I bring?

Plan on at least three of everything: one for the judge, one for the other side, and one for you. Some courts also want exhibits marked or filed ahead of the hearing, and that requirement is set locally. Tell us your county and we put your court's rule on your checklist.

Can I use text messages and emails as evidence?

Yes, they are routine evidence in small claims. Print them rather than showing a phone, include enough of the thread that the exchange makes sense, and make sure the names, dates and times are visible in the printout.

Do I need a witness for small claims court?

Only if someone other than you has firsthand knowledge that matters, such as a person who saw the damage or was present for the agreement. A written statement from an absent witness is often given far less weight than live testimony, so if the witness matters, bring the witness.

Can I show photos on my phone at the hearing?

Do not count on it. Many courts restrict phones and none of them are built for passing a screen around. Print your photos, caption each one with a date and what it shows, and put them in the order events happened.

What should I wear to small claims court?

Clean and plain. No shorts, no hats, no slogans. Courts also run security screening at the door, so leave anything that will not clear a metal detector in the car and arrive with time to spare.

Do I bring original documents or copies?

Bring both. Hand up copies, keep the originals with you in case the judge wants to see one, and expect that whatever you hand the court becomes part of the file and stays there.