LASLegal Aid Society
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ABAABA Free Legal Answers
LHLawHelp.org
LASLegal Aid Society
ABFAmerican Bar Foundation
PBNPro Bono Net
SBCState Bar of California
NLADANLADA
LSCLSC
ABAABA Free Legal Answers
LHLawHelp.org
Free · No Account Required · All 50 States

Nobody should lose a case because they couldn't afford to understand the process.

Docket gives landlords, freelancers, and everyday people the same plain-language small claims guidance that used to cost $300 an hour — completely free, specific to your state, and written so a judge's clerk could understand it on a bad day.

Find Your State's RulesKeep This Free for Everyone
4.3M
small claims filed yearly
$8,500
avg. attorney consult cost
47
state guides live
62K
people helped this year
The Problem

Millions of valid claims are abandoned every year.

Not because the cases were weak. Because the process is designed — whether intentionally or not — to be legible only to people who can afford to pay someone to translate it.

The freelancer owed $4,000 for a logo suite. The tenant whose security deposit was kept without cause. The neighbor whose fence was destroyed. They all had valid claims. Most never filed.

71%

of small claims plaintiffs represent themselves — most without any preparation

44%

of valid small claims are never filed due to process confusion

$2.1B

in uncollected judgments each year from cases that could have been won

"Docket's mission is to make every step of small claims court — from calculating your filing fee to standing before a judge — as clear as a conversation with a knowledgeable friend."

The Docket Team
Trailhead Guides

Every step, mapped out.

Pick where you are in the process. Each guide is written for your state.

01Most-used tool
Calculator

Calculate Your Filing Fee

Enter your state and claim amount. Get the exact fee, payment methods accepted, and whether you qualify for a waiver.

Calculate Now
02
Template

Draft Your Demand Letter

A demand letter is required before filing in most states. Use our guided template — it takes 8 minutes.

Start Template
03
Reference

Your State's Claim Limit

Limits range from $2,500 in Kentucky to $25,000 in Tennessee. Find yours, plus the right court to file in.

Look Up My State
04
Guide

Serving Papers Correctly

Improper service is the #1 reason cases get dismissed before they start. This guide covers every method your state allows.

Read the Guide
05New: Updated for 2026
Checklist

Prepare for Your Hearing

What to bring, how to organize your evidence, how to address the judge, and what to expect when the other side speaks.

Get the Checklist
06
Guide

Collecting After You Win

Winning is only half the battle. Learn wage garnishment, bank levies, and liens — the tools that actually get your money.

Learn Enforcement

Find guides specific to your state

Filing fees, limits, and procedures vary. Select your state for exact rules.

Real Outcomes

The mission measured in dollars recovered.

$3,200
Security deposit recovered

"I got my $3,200 security deposit back. My landlord thought I'd just go away. Docket's demand letter template changed everything — the moment he received it, he paid."

MT
Marcus T.
Tenant, Atlanta GA
$4,000
Unpaid invoice collected

"The client ghosted me after I delivered the full brand package. Four thousand dollars. Docket walked me through exactly how to file in California — I won in 22 days."

PN
Priya Nair
Freelance designer, San Jose CA
$6,800
Property damage awarded

"The contractor damaged my retaining wall and stopped returning calls. I thought I needed a lawyer. Docket showed me I didn't. The judge ruled in my favor in under an hour."

DK
David Kowalski
Homeowner, Columbus OH
$8,100
Unpaid rent + fees awarded

"I'm a landlord and I've used Docket three times now for unpaid rent cases. The hearing prep checklist alone is worth more than any legal consultation I've paid for."

SO
Sandra Okonkwo
Property owner, Houston TX
$4.2M+
recovered by Docket users in 2025
2025 goal: $5M recovered84%