Conciliation Court

Conciliation Court is sometimes called “People’s Court” or “Small Claims Court.” It is for simple court cases for disputes of up to $20,000. If the case is to collect a consumer debt, like a credit card, it is limited to $4,000. You don’t need a lawyer. Every county has Conciliation Court. 

Here are some examples:

• You buy a used car, and the seller lied about what shape it was in.
• You worked for someone who won’t pay you.
• Your old roommate owes you money or has things that belong to you.
• Someone is claiming to own something of yours (worth less than $20,000).
• Your neighbor damaged your property.
• Your old landlord didn’t make repairs, and you want some of the rent back.
• Your landlord won’t return your security deposit.
   

See our fact sheet, Security Deposits.

• Try to work the problem out with the other person first. Send a letter saying what that person owes you and why. Date the letter. Keep a copy. You can say you might file a lawsuit. Ask that they get back to you within 2 weeks. Don’t say angry or mean things – just state the facts. Remember that what you write in the letter may be read by a judge.
   

• Think about “mediation.” Mediation is a way to settle the problem out of court. Mediators are trained to get the facts of a dispute and help the people involved work out an agreement. They help write up any agreement so what each person needs to do is clear. The other person in the dispute has to agree to mediation. You can ask in your letter if s/he will try mediation.

  To find mediation programs in your area: 
  
  Check Community Mediation Minnesota. 
  
  For a mediation program in your area call 2-1-1 statewide. You can also text them your zip code at 898-211 or chat online at www.211unitedway.org.
  
  The state court website also has info and a list of mediators.
   

• If you have more than one claim, talk to a lawyer before you sue. You may not be able to sue separately for different things that happened in the same situation.
  
  For example – you are in a car crash, and you sue in Conciliation Court just for the damage to the car. By suing only about the car, you may lose the right to sue in another case for injuries if you were hurt in the crash.

There are 2 options for filing a case.

1. There is a new Guide and File program that lets you create and file the forms you need for conciliation court. Go to www.mncourts.gov, click on ‘Get Forms,’ click on ‘Conciliation / Small Claims Court.’ Everything you need and need to know is part of the program.
    
2. Downloading the forms
   • File your case in Conciliation Court in the county where the person you are suing lives. If it is a business, sue them in the county where they have an office.
     
     If you sue your landlord for a security deposit, repair problems, a lock-out, or for renting you a condemned property, you can file your case in the county where the property is located or where the landlord lives.
      
   • Your county courthouse has the form you need. It is called “Plaintiff's Statement of Claim.” 
     
     You can find it online at www.mncourts.gov.
     
     If you want the court’s instructions along with the form, or if you need an “Affidavit of Service” form, click on the “Filing a Conciliation Court Claim” packet in the list.
      
   • Fill in the “Plaintiff's Statement of Claim.” You need the full name of the person or company you are suing and their address. To find the legal name of a business, contact the Secretary of State at (651) 296-2803, or online at www.sos.state.mn.us.
     
     You can also write to them for the information at:
     
     Secretary of State
     60 Empire Drive, Suite 100
     St. Paul, MN 55103
      

• When you file the forms there is a filing fee. The filing fee is at least $65. Some counties charge more. You can find what your county charges at https://mncourts.gov/ under Help Topics – Court Fees – District Court Fees.
  
  If you have a low income, you don’t have to pay. Bring proof of your income. Ask the court clerk for a court fee waiver form. You can find the form at www.mncourts.gov.

Once your forms are filed, the court administration sends you a Summons and a hearing date in the mail. Each defendant has to be served with this Summons and a copy of your Statement of Claim. This is so that they know why you are suing them and when to go to court.

How each defendant is served depends on the amount of the claim and where they are located.

If the amount of your claim is $2500 or less, the defendant’s address is in Minnesota, AND

• If the defendant's address is in the county you are filing in, then court administration serves each defendant by first class mail. You do not need to file a proof of service. 
   

• If the defendant’s address is NOT in the county you are filing in, but still in Minnesota, the court administration MIGHT serve each defendant by first class mail. This depends on the type of case. If the court administration does not serve the defendants in your case, then you must serve each defendant by certified mail.
  
  Then file proof of service with court administration within 60 days of when the Summons is issued by the court.

  To prove service, file a completed Conciliation Court Affidavit of Service form after each defendant is served. Complete a separate Conciliation Court Affidavit of Service form for each defendant.

  If you are not sure how to serve a defendant, you may need to get legal advice.
   

If your claim is more than $2,500, and the defendant’s address is in Minnesota
If the amount of your claim is more than $2500, then you must serve each defendant by certified mail. Then file proof of service with court administration within 60 days of when the Summons is issued by the court.

To prove service, file a completed Conciliation Court Affidavit of Service form after each defendant is served. Complete a separate Conciliation Court Affidavit of Service form for each defendant.

If you are not sure how to serve a defendant, you may need to get legal advice.

If a defendant’s address is not in Minnesota 
Then the Summons usually must be handed to the defendant in person. You might need to ask a sheriff or civil process server to serve the Summons, even if the claim is $2500 or less. To prove service, you need to file a separate Conciliation Court Affidavit of Service form after each defendant is served.

There are some types of defendants that have special rules of service, such as out of state insurance companies and certain types of corporations.  If you are not sure how to serve a defendant, you may need to get legal advice.

The person you sue (defendant) can file a counterclaim, saying that you owe them money. The court hears the counterclaim at the same time as your claim.

Many cases are settled by an agreement before court. You can even settle at the courthouse right before your trial. Think about a fair compromise and suggest it to the other side. Even if you win in court, you might have trouble collecting the money. So, a settlement that gives you some money right away may be smart.

Put any agreement in writing! Both parties must sign and date it. Take the agreement to court on your hearing date, and have the court make it into an order. This will help protect you in case there is a disagreement later.

• Write a list of everything you need to say.
   
• Talk to witnesses and ask them to come to the hearing. Testimony in court is much better than a written statement from them. Judges may not take a written statement from witnesses. If an important witness won’t come, ask the court clerk for a “subpoena.” A subpoena is an order to come to court or bring evidence to court.
   
• If the defendant has papers or evidence they won’t give you, ask the court clerk about a subpoena for evidence.
   
• Practice explaining what happened to a friend like you are in court.
   
• Bring all your evidence to court: photos, letters, receipts, estimates, leases. You need to prove your case and show evidence about the amount of money you should be paid.
   
• Go watch a Conciliation Court hearing before your court date to see how they work.
   
• At the hearing, be very polite to the judge and the defendant. Don’t interrupt when others talk. Don’t get mad at what the defendant says. Your case depends on the impression you make!

The court usually doesn’t decide at the time of the hearing. They may help you and the defendant reach an agreement at the hearing. If not, the court decides the case later and you get a notice about the decision in the mail.

The orders in the decision are not effective until 20 days after the notice is mailed. The court administrator tells you about the date in this notice. This 20-day period is called the "stay period." It gives both parties time to appeal.

Conciliation court DOES NOT collect the judgment for you. If you win your case in conciliation court and the other side doesn’t pay you or make an agreement with you about how they are going to pay you, there are things you can do to try to get the money. It can take time so be patient! Remember, you have to wait 20 days after the decision is mailed to start any collection process. 

There are several steps to the collection process. Learn about this process at www.mncourts.gov

Yes. Conciliation court decisions can be appealed to the district court of the same county. You have to file with the District Court. You can find the forms and instructions online at: www.mncourts.gov.

The notice of an appeal must be filed to the court administrator and served on the other party. This has to be done within twenty 20 days of the date that the court mailed or delivered the decision from conciliation court. If you don’t file the appeal on time, it will be dismissed. 

If you don’t win in district court, you have to pay $50 to cover the costs of the other party. If you do win, they have to pay you the $50.

For more information on Conciliation Court go to the Attorney General website.