Small Claims US vs State court self-help portals
State-by-state small-claims filing — limits, fees, service rules in plain English. Here's an honest comparison and when each one is the right fit.
The two tools at a glance
State court self-help portals
https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-smallclaims.htm
Your state court's self-help portal has the official forms, filing fees, and venue rules. California's is the gold standard, but every state has one.
When it's right:
You've decided to file and just need the form.
Small Claims US
https://claims.freshskyai.com/
We help you decide if small claims is the right venue (vs higher court, mediation, or just walking away) and prepare the case — what evidence you need, what your state's claim limit is, how to serve the defendant, and what damages you can actually win.
When we're right:
You're not sure if your case belongs in small claims, what to ask for, or how to prepare for the hearing.