The Small Claims Court is a division of the Hamilton County Municipal Court and was designed to provide easy access to the court system to non-lawyers. The Small Claims Court handles cases involving monetary damages not exceeding $6,000. The Small Claims Court does not hear cases for slander, libel, replevin (an action for the return of specific personal property), malicious prosecution, abuse of process actions, punitive damages, or other cases where more than money is pursued.
For more information on the Hamilton County Small Claims Court, the Hamilton County Small Claims Guide is recommended. Among other things, it will provide you with the rules for, and costs of, filing a small claims suit; information on how to determine damages; recommendations for preparing for your case and appearing before the court; and the process for collecting a judgment.
Chapter 1925 Small Claims Divisions
1925.01 Small claims division established
1925.03 Voluntary conciliation procedures
1925.05 Service of notice of filing
1925.06 Stay of execution to permit deferred payments
1925.07 No attachment proceedings
1925.09 Amendments - no depositions or interrogatories
1925.11 Subpoena fees and services
1925.12 Dismissal for want of prosecution
1925.13 Collecting and enforcing judgments
1925.14 Modification or vacation of judgments
1925.151 Cancelation of uncollectible debts
1925.16 Applicability of Rules of Civil Procedure
1925.18 County department of job and family services employees
Other relevant code sections include:
1901.26 Municipal Court - Costs
1907.24 County Court - General Provisions - Schedule of Fees and Costs
2325 Relief after judgment - for information on the time to collect a court judgement.
Ohio Rules of Appellate Procedure - See Rule 4 (Appeal as of right - when taken).
Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure - See Rules 3 (Commencement of action and venue) and 4.1 (Process: methods of service).
Substantive Rules of the Consumer Sales Practices Act
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