ABA Family Legal Guide

How the Legal System Works

Mediation and Small-Claims Court

Bob gave a friend of his $3,000 to put a deposit on a boat they were buying together. The sale fell through, but Bob's friend never returned the money. Bob phoned his friend and tried to convince him to return the money, and even visited his house to talk about the problem. Eventually his friend told him that he'd spent the money and that Bob should just forget about it. What can Bob do now?

Not all disputes are worth the trouble and expense of a full-fledged trial, and some disputes--like those between friends and neighbors--might be better solved if the parties could work it out informally and preserve their relationship. This section will look at your options for avoiding trial altogether. This may seem a little strange after emphasizing the important role of the courts, but the fact is that the vast majority of disputes are resolved before they ever get to trial.

1. Resolving Your Dispute out of Court
2. Small-Claims Court