How to File in Oklahoma Small Claims Court
Small claims courts normally deal with civil law suits and normally do not involve attorney representation. In Oklahoma, civil judgments cannot exceed $6,000 and remain within the jurisdiction of small claims court. Filing a small claims suit only requires a trip to the county courthouse to fill out the necessary paperwork, and since Oklahoma is a less populated state, it only takes up to a few weeks for a small claims suit to be heard before a judge.
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Instructions
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Go to the courthouse in the county where the relevant incident took place. For example, if you suing a used car dealer over a car you bought in Guthrie, Oklahoma but you live in Oklahoma City, you would file your claim in Logan County rather than Oklahoma City County.
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Fill out forms to initiate your small claims suit in the Clerk's office inside the courthouse. You will enter in details of your suit such as the amount you are suing for, your personal and contact information, and the contact information for the defendant. You will also describe what you are suing for and why.
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Pay the filing fee to the County Clerk. Filing fees range and are dependent upon the type of case and amount being sought. For more information on filing fees you will have to contact the County Clerk's office.
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Have the defendant served. You can use a process server or the sheriff's department. The server must provide proof of service to the defendant.
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Appear in court within three weeks from the date your suit was originally filed. Make sure to bring all applicable documentation and proof with you to court, and make copies to hand to the judge.
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References
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