
Effective Collection in Small Claims Court
Collecting money owed to your business can be critical to maintaining profitability. Sometimes, going to small claims court is your best option. A business may be required to be represented by an attorney, even in small claims court. Getting proper legal help can be key to your success in these situations.
Collecting Debt Via Small Claims Court
If you have been unsuccessful collecting a debt from a customer and decide to go to small claims court, you’ll need to confirm the steps required under the laws of your state. Generally, you will need to consider the following.
- Make sure your case fits the monetary limits and parameters for the court and if your company will require representation by an attorney
- The case will need to be filed in the right court using the appropriate forms and procedures
- A party must be prepared to present evidence and make arguments to plead their case to the judge
- If you win, how then to collect on the judgment from the defendant
Getting legal advice from an attorney is a critical first step. Join LegalShield today and you can be on the phone with a provider attorney in as little as 4 hours.


Being Prepared for Small Claims Court
Going to small claims court typically involves at least some of the following documents.
- The documents used to file to the case
- Signed agreements between your business and the defendant
- Receipts, bank statements or other financial documents
- Written or digital communications between you and the defendant
- Witnesses and any other evidence
As a member of LegalShield, you can consult with your provider attorney and confirm if your company will be required to have representation in the matter. The consultation is included with your membership. As a plaintiff, your provider attorney can represent you at a 25% discount from their standard rate.
Have an Attorney Represent You in Small Claims Court
Representation by a business attorney familiar with small claims court procedure can reduce your stress and increase your chance of winning the case. Also, if you win, a collection attorney can play a critical role in helping you with the often challenging task of actually collecting the money from the defendant.
LegalShield’s SMB Essentials plan allows you to hire your attorney to represent you for 25% off their standard hourly fees. If you’re a defendant, our SMB Plus and Pro plans include 75 hours of trial defense time for no additional fee. Either way, you save a ton of money on attorney representation in small claims court.

How a LegalShield Small Business Plan Works for Small Claims Court
Your business pays a small monthly fee starting at $49.00 per month and gets legal advice, document review and attorney representation services you can use to increase your chances of winning debt collection cases.
Key Features of Our Small Business Legal Plans
LegalShield’s business plans can help you in the following areas.
Legal consultation from a provider attorney on business legal matters, with legal research for each issue, if needed.
Receive help with business legal matters more efficiently with professional communications issued on your behalf.
Put business-related legal documents through legal review.
A collection letter from a provider attorney could help you recoup payments more efficiently.