Ang small claims cases ay defined sa A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC na inilabas ng Supreme Court noong March 1, 2022: A “small claim” is an action that is purely civil in nature where the claim or relief raised by the plaintiff is solely for the payment or reimbursement of a sum of money. It excludes actions seeking other claims or reliefs aside from payment or reimbursement of a sum of money and those coupled with provisional remedies.
Ayon na rin sa nasabing issuance ng Supreme Court, ang claim or demand may be:
(a) For money owed (perang kailangan bayaran) under any of the following:
1. Contract of lease (upa);
2. Contract of Loan (utang) and other credit accomodations;
3. Contract of Services (pagbigay ng serbisyo); or
4. Congract of Sale of personal property (bentahan ng personal property), excluding the recovery of the personal property, unless it is made the subject of a compromise agreement (kasunduan) between the parties.
(b) The enforcement (pagpapatupad) of barangay amicable settlement agreements (kasunduan sa barangay) and arbitration awards, where the money claim does not exceed One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00), provided no execution has been enforced by the barangay within six (6) months from the date of settlement or date of receipt of the award or from the date the obligation stipulated or adjudged in the arbitration award becomes due and demandable
Hindi mo kailangan ng abogado upang mag-file ng kaso para sa small claims, at ipinagbabawal ang partisipasyon ng abogado sa ganitong proseso.
Bago pa man isampa ang kaso, dapat pong simulan ang proseso sa pagpapadala ng demand letter sa may utang. Mainam tandaan na ilagay sa demand letter ang demand na magbayad siya ng utang niya at ang halaga nito, ang kasunduan o kontrata na basehan ng iyong demand, ang pagtakda ng panahon para tumugon sila sayo, at ang paalala na maaari kang gumamit ng iba pang legal remedies para maipaglaban ang iyong karapatan kung hindi siya tumugon sa takdang panahon. Bukod dito, mainam din tandaan na ipadala ang demand letter gamit ang registered mail para makakuha mula sa post office ng proof of service o patunay na ito ay napadala sa iyong sinisingil. Maaari ring ipadala ang sulat gamit ang mga private courier na mayroong system para mapakitang natanggap ng pinadalhan ang sulat.
Ang pagsampa ng kaso ay sinisimulan sa pamamagitan ng pag-file sa korte ng accomplished and verified Statement of Claim (Form 1-SCC) in duplicate, accompanied by a Certification Against Forum Shopping, Splitting a Single Cause of Action, and Multiplicity of Suits (Form 1-A SCC), and two (2) duly certified photocopies of the actionable document/s subject of the claim, as well as the affidavits of witnesses and other evidence to support the claim. No evidence shall be allowed during the hearing which was not attached to or submitted together with the Statement of Claim, unless good cause is shown for the admission of additional evidence.
Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa small claims cases tulad ng mga sample ng forms at frequently asked questions, maaaring tignan ang susunod na link: https://oca.judiciary.gov.ph/small-claims/.
Maaari rin kayong sumangguni sa inyong local na Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court, or Municipal Circuit Trial Court, alinman ang applicable sa inyong lugar para sa iba pang tanong tungkol sa small claims at sa form ng Complaint na dapat gamitin sa pagsampa ng small claims na kaso.