# File a small claims case

> A process map exported from forks.world (https://forks.world). Author: forks.world community. Source: https://forks.world/p/cmv3g9nje0005jk061hydycie
> It describes who does what, in what order, and with which technology. Read the plain-language sections first; the JSON at the end is the exact, complete data.

## Summary

- 14 steps across 1 layer
- Persona: You (the person suing), The other side, Small claims court
- Technology / systems: Court website or clerk's office

## Pain points

Where this process hurts, worst first:

- **Have the other side officially served with the papers** (File a small claims case; critical): Finding and serving the other person is where many cases stall
- **Collect the judgment if you win** (File a small claims case; critical): Winning doesn't mean getting paid; collecting can take more steps
- **Check your state's small claims limit and deadline to sue** (File a small claims case; painful): Limits and deadlines vary a lot by state

## How to read this file

- A process is made of **layers**. The main layer is the top level; any step of kind `subprocess` opens a detail layer with its own lanes and steps.
- **Lanes** are either persona (people/roles) or technology (systems). Each step belongs to one lane; `using` lists tools a person uses for that step.
- Step kinds: `start`, `task`, `decision` (its arrows carry the answer as a label), `subprocess`, `end`.

## File a small claims case

Lanes:
- You (the person suing): person / role (id `you`)
- The other side: person / role (id `other`)
- Small claims court: person / role (id `court`)
- Court website or clerk's office: technology / system (id `site`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **Someone owes you money and won't pay** [start; You (the person suing); id `b1`]
   - then Check your state's small claims limit and deadline to sue
2. **Check your state's small claims limit and deadline to sue** [task; You (the person suing); id `b2`] ⚠ PAIN POINT (painful): Limits and deadlines vary a lot by state
   - then Send a written demand letter with a deadline to pay
3. **Send a written demand letter with a deadline to pay** [task; You (the person suing); id `b3`]
   - then Pays or settles?
4. **Pays or settles?** [decision; The other side; id `b4`]
   - if "Yes" go to Case closed; if "No" go to Fill out the claim form and pay the filing fee
5. **Case closed** [end; You (the person suing); id `b14`]
6. **Fill out the claim form and pay the filing fee** [task; You (the person suing); id `b5`], using Court website or clerk's office
   - then Set a hearing date
7. **Set a hearing date** [task; Small claims court; id `b6`]
   - then Have the other side officially served with the papers
8. **Have the other side officially served with the papers** [task; You (the person suing); id `b7`] ⚠ PAIN POINT (critical): Finding and serving the other person is where many cases stall
   - then Respond, counterclaim or ignore it
9. **Respond, counterclaim or ignore it** [task; The other side; id `b8`]
   - then Organize evidence: contracts, receipts, photos, texts, witnesses
10. **Organize evidence: contracts, receipts, photos, texts, witnesses** [task; You (the person suing); id `b9`]
   - then Offer mediation before the hearing?
11. **Offer mediation before the hearing?** [decision; Small claims court; id `b10`]
   - if "Yes" go to Try to settle with a mediator; if "No" go to Hear both sides and decide
12. **Try to settle with a mediator** [task; You (the person suing); id `b11`]
   - then Hear both sides and decide
13. **Hear both sides and decide** [task; Small claims court; id `b12`]
   - then Collect the judgment if you win
14. **Collect the judgment if you win** [task; You (the person suing); id `b13`] ⚠ PAIN POINT (critical): Winning doesn't mean getting paid; collecting can take more steps
   - then Case closed

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_you["You (the person suing)"]
    n_b1(["Someone owes you money and won't pay"])
    n_b2["Check your state's small claims limit and deadline to sue"]
    n_b3["Send a written demand letter with a deadline to pay"]
    n_b5["Fill out the claim form and pay the filing fee"]
    n_b7["Have the other side officially served with the papers"]
    n_b9["Organize evidence: contracts, receipts, photos, texts, witnesses"]
    n_b11["Try to settle with a mediator"]
    n_b13["Collect the judgment if you win"]
    n_b14(["Case closed"])
  end
  subgraph l_other["The other side"]
    n_b4{"Pays or settles?"}
    n_b8["Respond, counterclaim or ignore it"]
  end
  subgraph l_court["Small claims court"]
    n_b6["Set a hearing date"]
    n_b10{"Offer mediation before the hearing?"}
    n_b12["Hear both sides and decide"]
  end
  n_b1 --> n_b2
  n_b2 --> n_b3
  n_b3 --> n_b4
  n_b4 -->|"Yes"| n_b14
  n_b4 -->|"No"| n_b5
  n_b5 --> n_b6
  n_b6 --> n_b7
  n_b7 --> n_b8
  n_b8 --> n_b9
  n_b9 --> n_b10
  n_b10 -->|"Yes"| n_b11
  n_b10 -->|"No"| n_b12
  n_b11 --> n_b12
  n_b12 --> n_b13
  n_b13 --> n_b14
```

## Full data (JSON)

```json
{
  "title": "File a small claims case",
  "maps": {
    "m_root": {
      "id": "m_root",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "you",
          "name": "You (the person suing)",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "other",
          "name": "The other side",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "court",
          "name": "Small claims court",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "site",
          "name": "Court website or clerk's office",
          "type": "system"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "b1",
          "kind": "start",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Someone owes you money and won't pay"
        },
        {
          "id": "b2",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b3"
            }
          ],
          "pain": {
            "note": "Limits and deadlines vary a lot by state",
            "level": 2
          },
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Check your state's small claims limit and deadline to sue"
        },
        {
          "id": "b3",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b4"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Send a written demand letter with a deadline to pay"
        },
        {
          "id": "b4",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "other",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b14",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "b5",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Pays or settles?"
        },
        {
          "id": "b5",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b6"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [
            "site"
          ],
          "label": "Fill out the claim form and pay the filing fee"
        },
        {
          "id": "b6",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "court",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b7"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Set a hearing date"
        },
        {
          "id": "b7",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b8"
            }
          ],
          "pain": {
            "note": "Finding and serving the other person is where many cases stall",
            "level": 3
          },
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Have the other side officially served with the papers"
        },
        {
          "id": "b8",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "other",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b9"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Respond, counterclaim or ignore it"
        },
        {
          "id": "b9",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b10"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Organize evidence: contracts, receipts, photos, texts, witnesses"
        },
        {
          "id": "b10",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "court",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b11",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "b12",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Offer mediation before the hearing?"
        },
        {
          "id": "b11",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b12"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Try to settle with a mediator"
        },
        {
          "id": "b12",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "court",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b13"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Hear both sides and decide"
        },
        {
          "id": "b13",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b14"
            }
          ],
          "pain": {
            "note": "Winning doesn't mean getting paid; collecting can take more steps",
            "level": 3
          },
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Collect the judgment if you win"
        },
        {
          "id": "b14",
          "kind": "end",
          "lane": "you",
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Case closed"
        }
      ],
      "title": "File a small claims case",
      "parent": null
    }
  }
}
```