Claims for $1,500.00 or less | $30.00 |
---|---|
Claims from $1,500.01 to $5,000.00 | $50.00 |
Claims from $5,000.01 to $10,000.00 | $75.00 |
Persons or Business who have filed more than 12 claims in CA in the previous 12 mos. | $100.00 |
Service of Documents by Certified Mail | $15.00 (per defendant) [Fee waiver does not cover] |
A.R.S. § 22-281 CLASS | IN CASES WHERE AMOUNT IN CONTROVERSY EXCEEDS $50 DESCRIPTION | BASE FEE |
---|---|---|
A | INITIAL CASE FILING FEE CIVIL FILING FEES | $73.00 |
B | SUBSEQUENT CASE FILING FEE CIVIL FILING FEES | $40.00 |
C | INITIAL CASE FILING FEE SMALL CLAIMS FILING FORCIBLE ENTRY AND DETAINER FILINGS | $25.00 $35.00 |
State | Dollar Limit |
---|---|
Alabama | $6,000 |
Alaska | $10,000 |
Arizona | $3,500 |
Arkansas | $5,000 |
Some people assume that, because small claims court doesn’t allow clients to be represented by an attorney, they don’t need an attorney at all. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The most important first step you can take in any contract law claim is to consult with a lawyer. The best way to find the right type of lawyer, regardless of the exact facts associated with your case, is to contact a legal referral service.
Fraud is far more common in contract law than you might think. Contractors don’t have to engage in outright scams or con artist tricks to be accused. In fact, the exact definition of contract fraud is surprisingly broad, and might include: 1 False claims, such as when a contractor lies about their skill level, experience, or ability to complete a job. This is especially applicable if the results delivered do not meet reasonable expectations. 2 Fraudulent bill padding, such as when a contractor agrees to complete a job for one amount, yet starts tacking on dubious fees. While contracts can and often do change, any suspicious additions should be scrutinized closely. 3 False promises, such as promising to complete a job with an expensive material, yet sneakily using a cheaper product. For example, a contractor may promise to install an expensive Egyptian wool carpet, yet install a cheaper counterfeit version without the homeowner’s permission.
A breach of contract occurs when the contractor fails to hold up their end of the bargain. For example, a home reno contractor might miss a deadline, fail to deliver a completed product, or even display incompetence in providing a service.
Fundamental Breach – The same as a material breach, but generally includes much more serious fallout. For example, a contractor who works on a roof incompetently might leave it in disrepair, resulting in leaks and thousands of dollars worth of water damage.
Anticipatory Breach – The contractor lets the client know they cannot fulfill the contract in advance.
Fraud is far more common in contract law than you might think. Contractors don’t have to engage in outright scams or con artist tricks to be accused. In fact, the exact definition of contract fraud is surprisingly broad, and might include:
Determine the appropriate court for your complaint. For instance, family-related matters will go to a family court, while matters dealing with smaller amounts of money will go to the small claims court.
Acquire a petition form from the appropriate court and fill it out completely. The form will ask for some basic information about you, your claim and the person you are suing.
File your suit with the civil court. You will be required to pay a small filing fee when you file your claim.
Make several copies of all your documentation. You will need at least three copies of each document.
Mail copies of your documentation to the defendant via certified mail. This way you will have proof that they did indeed receive the paperwork before the trial.
Show up to your court date on time with all the necessary paperwork and witnesses to prove your case. The judge will explain what will happen before you go into court.
A corporate lawyer will be able to help you with issues related to the formation of your corporation, general corporate governance issues and corporate compliance issues.
The Social Security Disability system can be a particularly complex system in which to navigate. An attorney who specializes in Social Security Disability issues can help you with any step in the Social Security Disability process, including assisting you with eligibility issues, launching an appeal of a decision to deny you benefits and dealing with the reduction or termination of your benefits.
The estate planning lawyer specializes in wills and trusts, and can help you to draw up a will to pass on your assets. Among other estate planning legal services, this type of lawyer can help you set up a trust which will help take care of your children’s financial needs.
Also known as an IP attorney, an intellectual property lawyer can advise you with regard to issues relating to intellectual property, such as copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design and trade secrets.
Employment Lawyer. Whether you’re a company that’s having a problem with an employee, or an individual who’s having problems with the company you work for, an employment lawyer can generally provide advice about legal issues which arise from an employment contract or within an employment relationship.
If you’ve been injured while on the job, or have had to face the death of a loved one as a result of a workplace accident or occupational disease, a lawyer who specializes in workers compensation law can help you navigate the issues you face, such as the extent of the employer’s fault and the amount of benefits to which you are entitled.
Doctors do occasionally make mistakes, and if you’re facing the consequences of a medical mistake such as a medical misdiagnosis or inaccurate treatment, a lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice issues can be particular helpful.
Unless you are going to Small Claims Court without an attorney, if you are taking this case to court to save money or get a big payoff, it won't happen. A good example is taking a non-compete agreement case to court.
You Can't Force Someone to Pay. In civil lawsuits, particularly in Small Claims Court, you can get a judgment by the Court for money owed you, but you may have great difficulty collecting the money. There are ways the Court can put pressure on the payee, with garnishment or a lien against the property. In these cases, you must be proactive in ...
The types of civil lawsuits businesses may be involved in can be: 1 Employment lawsuits, in which an employee is suing a business, 2 Insurance lawsuits, in which cases may be (and are) settled out of court, 3 Small claims cases or other cases where one party owes money to the other, 4 Breach of contract cases, in which two parties had an agreement that one party doesn't abide by.
There are a multitude of reasons people want to sue others, such as money owed, damage to your property or your business reputation , or because of some sort of accident, among others. Before you decide to take someone to court, there are some basic facts about civil litigation you should know. 1. This Isn't Law & Order.
Civil litigation is between two parties in which one party is claimed to have injured another, and it's the kind of litigation most businesses will be involved in. Criminal law is the government prosecuting a crime against society.
In civil lawsuits, the preponderance of evidence means that evidence is not weighed on the amount of evidence, but on how accurate and convincing the evidence presented by each party is . Civil litigation isn't always in front of a jury, as in criminal cases. A bench trial in front of a judge is common. This changes the dynamic of the situation ...
A bench trial in front of a judge is common. This changes the dynamic of the situation drastically. The types of civil lawsuits businesses may be involved in can be: Employment lawsuits, in which an employee is suing a business, Insurance lawsuits, in which cases may be (and are) settled out of court,
When it comes to legal fights, envision a one-on-one sport. Your opponent does it often. You never have, or maybe twice. So, you'll likely lose – making beginners’ mistakes your opponent doesn’t. For that reason, businesses often win against individuals – having built trial law muscle over decades.
Still, prior subject expertise doesn’t hurt. If suing your broker, it’s handled via arbitration under the brokers’ self-regulatory organization, the misleadingly yet authoritatively sounding Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (also called FINRA). Your odds in FINRA arbitrations are good. They pay off often. Study FINRA’s website.
If your lawyer candidate doesn’t warn you on how suing can backfire, run. If they claim they are the best around, they aren't. If their goal is extorting a pre-trial settlement go elsewhere and find a lawyer who is willing, if needed, to go all the way to a final judgment. Good ones will.
When You Can Probate an Estate Without a Lawyer. Here are some circumstances that make you a good candidate for handling the estate without a professional at your side. Not every one of them needs to apply to your situation—but the more that do, the easier time you will have.
But you won't need probate if all estate assets are held in joint ownership, payable-on-death ownership, or a living trust, or if they pass through the terms of a contract (like retirement accounts or life insurance proceeds).
Many executors decide, sometime during the process of winding up an estate, that they could use some legal advice from a lawyer who's familiar with local probate procedure . But if you're handling an estate that's straightforward and not too large, you may find that you can get by just fine without professional help.
Most or all of the deceased person's property can be transferred without probate. The best-case scenario is that you don't need to go to probate court, because assets can be transferred without it. This depends on the planning the deceased person did before death—you can't affect it now.
The estate won't owe either state or federal estate tax. More than 99% of estates don't owe federal estate tax, so this isn't likely to be an issue. But around 20 states now impose their own estate taxes, separate from the federal tax—and many of these states tax estates that are valued at $1 million or larger.