Small Claims Resolution

Considering a small claims case?
If you’re weighing whether to file in small claims court, you’re probably asking the same questions everyone does: How long will it take? Will I actually collect? Is it worth the filing fees, the time off work, the stress of facing the other party in front of a judge?
Most small claims disputes settle before judgment. Many of them could have settled without filing at all — if the parties had an unbiased third party to help structure the conversation.
That’s what I do.
How it works:
I offer a structured path to resolve your dispute before small claims court — or to prepare you to file effectively if the other party won’t engage. Either way, you leave with clarity and a plan.
Step 1 — Intake. A 30-minute call. You tell me about the situation. I tell you honestly whether mediation has a real chance, what outcomes are likely, and what your options are.
Step 2 — Outreach. If you want to proceed, I contact the other party as a neutral — not as your advocate. I explain the option of resolving the dispute together with a mediator instead of going to court. Most people are never offered this, and a meaningful number accept when they are.
Step 3a — If both parties engage: I mediate the dispute. We produce a signed written settlement agreement, and the matter closes — typically in days, not months.
Step 3b — If the other party won’t engage: I help you prepare to file in small claims court — claim drafting, documentation, what to expect on the day of. You’ve lost nothing and gained a clearer path.
Why this works:
Small claims court is built for cases the parties can’t resolve themselves. But many disputes that end up there could have closed with one well-structured conversation — if someone had offered to facilitate it. That’s where I can help.
Cost: $300 flat. Typically, half the cost of filing fees, process service, and a day off work to appear in court — and usually resolved in weeks rather than months.
“Best suited for disputes of $1,000 or more.”
“And because most small claims judgments are never collected, our process is structured so payment happens during the mediation itself — not after a court order you’d have to chase.”
Ready to start? Schedule a 30 Small Claims Consult or call 719-425-9807.