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The court clerk or process server will typically provide a proof of service document indicating when and how the defendant was served with the court papers for the small claims case. This document is then filed with the court as confirmation of proper service.
Defendant should not have a lawyer in Small Claims Court. Most small claims actions forbid having an attorney appear unless the attorney is the plaintiff or defendant.
Small claims court in the county where the defendant resides or the county in which the claim arose.
If the defendant does not pick up the registered letter containing the copies from the small claims court, the court may consider the letter as being served. This means that the defendant is aware of the information contained in the letter, even if they did not physically receive it. The case may proceed in court based on this notification.
Most small claims courts require you to file where the defendant resides. To find out what the case is in your jurisdiction, contact the clerk of court where you live to see if you can file against an out of state defendant there.
The plaintiff decides. However, there are two main exceptions: If it is over $5000, it must be tried in county court. And, if the Defendant wishes, he or she may remove the case from Small Claims court to county or district court where he or she may be represented by an attorney. Be careful, if you file in small claims court and it is removed, you will lose the right to trial by jury.
If the defendant does not show up in small claims court, the judge may enter a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff. This means that the plaintiff wins the case by default since the defendant did not appear to defend themselves. The plaintiff may then be awarded the relief requested in their claim.
as much as they like i think In the UK they can claim all expenses, the court may also award damages as compensation in some cases.
If the plaintiff doesn't show up in a California small claims court, the case may be dismissed. The defendant may also ask for a dismissal due to the plaintiff's absence. The judge will typically rule in favor of the defendant if the plaintiff is not present to present their case.
In small claims court, you as the plaintiff or defendant do need to be present during the hearing. If you are unable to attend, you should notify the court in advance and seek rescheduling or alternatives like representation by an attorney or authorized agent.
To collect an award in small claims court, you will typically need to ask the court to enforce the judgment. This usually involves filing additional paperwork to request the court's assistance in collecting your judgment, such as a writ of execution or a garnishment order. You may also have to work with the court to locate the defendant's assets that can be used to satisfy the judgment.
Most likely yes, in a small claims court - if the amount is low enought. You need a lawyer to go above the small claims court and the defendant needs some assets if you hope to collect your money and the lawyer fees.