{
  "slug": "small-claims-worth-it",
  "title": "Small Claims Court Worth-It Calculator",
  "heading": "Small Claims Worth-It Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/small-claims-worth-it",
  "summary": "Expected value of suing after fees, time off work, and collection odds.",
  "description": "Winning a judgment is not the same as getting paid. This weighs your claim by the probability of winning and the probability of actually collecting, then subtracts filing fees, service costs, and the wages you lose showing up.",
  "formula": "EV = claim × P(win) × P(collect) − filing − service − (hours off × hourly wage).",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=small-claims-worth-it",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "claim",
      "label": "Amount you are claiming",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "pWin",
      "label": "Chance of winning",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 70,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100
    },
    {
      "id": "pCollect",
      "label": "Chance of collecting",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 55,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100
    },
    {
      "id": "filing",
      "label": "Filing fee",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 75,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "service",
      "label": "Service + misc costs",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 60,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "hours",
      "label": "Hours of work missed",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 12,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "wage",
      "label": "Your hourly value",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 40,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "ev",
      "label": "Expected value of filing",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "expected",
      "label": "Probability-weighted recovery",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "cost",
      "label": "All-in cost to pursue",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "breakeven",
      "label": "Claim size needed to break even",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Amount you are claiming: 3500 $",
      "Chance of winning: 70 %",
      "Chance of collecting: 55 %",
      "Filing fee: 75 $",
      "Service + misc costs: 60 $",
      "Hours of work missed: 12",
      "Your hourly value: 40 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Expected value of filing: $733",
      "Probability-weighted recovery: $1,348",
      "All-in cost to pursue: $615",
      "Claim size needed to break even: $1,597"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter amount you are claiming ($).",
      "Enter chance of winning (%).",
      "Enter chance of collecting (%).",
      "Enter filing fee ($).",
      "Enter service + misc costs ($).",
      "Enter hours of work missed.",
      "Enter your hourly value ($).",
      "Read your expected value of filing on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "claim": 2100,
        "pWin": 40,
        "pCollect": 35,
        "filing": 45,
        "service": 35,
        "hours": 7,
        "wage": 25
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "claim": 3500,
        "pWin": 70,
        "pCollect": 55,
        "filing": 75,
        "service": 60,
        "hours": 12,
        "wage": 40
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "claim": 5600,
        "pWin": 100,
        "pCollect": 90,
        "filing": 120,
        "service": 95,
        "hours": 19,
        "wage": 65
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What limits apply to small claims?",
      "a": "Dollar limits vary by state, commonly between $2,500 and $20,000. If your claim exceeds the cap you either waive the excess or file in a higher court."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why weight for collection?",
      "a": "Judgment-proof defendants with no wages or assets are common. A judgment you can't enforce has a real value close to zero, which is why the second probability matters as much as the first."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Small Claims Court Worth-It Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/small-claims-worth-it)"
}