All small claims court sessions are open to the public. You may attend any of these courtroom proceedings to familiarize yourself with the procedures. After completing the forms, they must be filed with the court. You will be charged a filing fee which differs from county to county. The filing fee must be paid in advance.
Many counties allow service by regular or certified mail if the defendant lives in that county.
The court will mail the forms for you, but will require a fee for this service. Preparing Your Case In preparing your case, keep in mind that your proof must be more convincing than the other side's evidence. Start by making a detailed list of what happened so that the facts are clear in your mind. Talk to people who may have witnessed important aspects of the dispute. For example, if you are suing your landlord for the return of your security deposit, ask a neutral person to testify concerning the condition of the rental unit when you started renting and when you left.