Small Claims Matters (Pre-Judgment)

Small Claims Court is a special kind of Civil Court in which disputes are resolved more quickly and inexpensively and the rules are more simple and less formal. To understand more about small claims matters we recommend you read the Basic Guide to Wisconsin Small Claims Actions. The Guide covers a large number of Frequently Asked Questions.  Below you will find a description and links to the forms and instructions to starting and answering a small claims matter (Pre-judgment).  The following are the 5 types of cases heard in Small Claims Court:

Arbitration Award (Not a common case type)
A case to confirm (verify), vacate (to make void), modify, or correct an award resulting from an arbitration related to the purchase of real property, regardless of the amount.

Claim under Dollar Limit-Lawsuit under $5,000
A Claim Under Dollar Limit is a case involving issues such as breach of contract, property damage, or money owed from one person to another, when the amount claimed is $5,000 or less.

Eviction
A case to remove tenants from rental property and claim the money owed in rent and damages, regardless of the amount claimed.

Replevin
A case involving the return of movable property (not monetary debt or real estate) to an individual when either the property is valued at less than $5,000 or the credit or lease for the property is in the amount of $25,000 or less.

Return of Earnest Money (Not a common case type)
A case to recover money paid to a home seller as a deposit for the purchase of real estate.

Additional Pre-Judgment Assistance

Service
The delivery of legal papers filed by one party to the other.

You have been Served: Filing an Answer to a Small Claims Complaint
The person being sued may be required to file a statement in response to the lawsuit.