If you want to file a small claim in Jefferson County, you can do so if your claim amount is less than $3000. Make sure you identify the person you want to sue and get his/her correct name and address. If you are suing a firm, make sure you get the correct details of the concerned people. Once you get this right, you will have to fill up a form called the Statement of Claim, You can get this from the clerk’s office. To download a form from the net you can visit http://wicourts.gov/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=38.

Once you fill up the form, you can file it either personally or have it mailed to the clerk’s office along with a small filing fee. After the clerk receives the papers duly filled in, he will give you a copy of your completed statement of claim along with a notice which mentions the date and time of the small claim court trial. Copies of the same will also be sent to the defendant. You have to make sure the defendant resides in Jefferson County before you file your small claim. If this is not the case, then the incident should have taken place in Jefferson County. For more information you can refer www.squidoo.com/alabamasmallclaims.

In Jefferson County, all actions related to Small claims will be scheduled at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays in the Intake Court. You have to ensure you have enough time before you select your date of trial. Once you issue your summons, you have to select a date within 30 days as your date of trial. Make sure the defendant is notified at least 8 days before the date of trial.

After you inform the defendant, if the defendant does not appear in the court, the judge will take the decision in your favor. However, if you fail to appear in the court on the trial date, the case will be dismissed.  The good thing is that all the fees that you pay to the court will be reimbursed to you along with the claim amount by the defendant, in case you win the case.

While filing your small claim in Jefferson County, you can definitely take some legal advice. However, you have to remember that a lawyer cannot represent you on the trial date. If you want to find attorneys in Jefferson County, you can log on to http://lawyers.justia.com/lawyers/west-virginia/jefferson-county to find an appropriate attorney.