Legal rights are not waived by first trying to resolve issues through Early Settlement prior to court action. Legal advice cannot be given from the mediator, however, in mediation, even if complete settlement is not consummated, participants discover all the relevant issues to be heard by the Judge. Court costs vary, dependent on the services provided through the Court Clerk, the amount of the principal sum being sued for, how court papers are served, etc. These costs are origination costs, other actions like transfers, collection procedures such as garnishments and hearings on assets also have specific costs to the plaintiff, usually recoverable through the judgment of the court. The Court's papers, required for the action to commence, are picked up and completed by the plaintiff or their attorney, completed, and then filed with the Court Clerk's office.
Court costs are due at.
By law, legal advice is not given by either the Court Clerk's personnel or the Judge. The landlord, or the tenant, whoever is filed against and named as the defendant in the initial case, may file a counterclaim to the plaintiff's claim, based on the suit having been filed against them. Counterclaims and set-offs are heard by the judge at the same time the original claim is heard. The Court Clerk's deputy assigns a date certain for trial, usually on the next available regular docket date of Small Claims in that district. Both the plaintiff and the defendant are notified of the date of trial and are advised to attend.