[Note: See amendments, Frequently Asked Questions on the 2016 Revised Rules of Procedure for Small Claims Cases] The Supreme Court approved, through A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC dated 9 September 2008, the proposed “The Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases” (see full text). Here’s the basic primer or discussion on the new procedure.
What is the scope and applicabilty of the Rule?
It covers cases at the MTC where the value of the claim does not exceed P100,000.00, exclusive of interest and costs. It applies in all actions which are: (a) purely civil in nature where the claim or relief prayed for by the plaintiff is solely for payment or reimbursement of sum of money, and (b) the civil aspect of criminal actions, either filed before the institution of the criminal action, or reserved upon the filing of the criminal action in court. These claims or demands may be:
- For money owed under any of the following contracts: Lease, Loan, Services, Sale, or Mortgage.
- For damages arising from: Fault or negligence, Quasi-contract, or Contract
- The enforcement of a barangay amicable settlement or an arbitration award involving a money claim covered by this Rule pursuant to Sec. 417 of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.
Am I required to pay filing fees?
Unless allowed to litigate as an indigent, you have to pay the regular filing fees. In any case, even when declared an indigent, you MUST pay the P1,000.00 fee for service of summons and processes in civil cases.
How to I apply as an indigent litigant?
The proper motion must be filed (click here for the requirements). If the motion is denied, you have 5 days within which to pay the docket fees, otherwise the case will be dismissed.
Are lawyers allowed to appear?
No attorney shall appear in behalf of or represent a party at the hearing, unless the attorney is the plaintiff or defendant.
What is the general flow of the procedure?
1. Commencement. A small claims action is commenced by filing with the court an accomplished and verified Statement of Claim in duplicate, accompanied by a Certification of Non-forum Shopping, and 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. When requested, the Clerk of Court or other court personnel shall provide assistance regarding the availability of forms and other information about the coverage, requirements as well as procedure for small claims cases.
2. Examination by the court. The court may, from an examination of the allegations of the Statement of Claim and such evidence attached thereto, by itself, dismiss the case outright on any of the grounds apparent from the Claim for the dismissal of a civil action. If no ground for dismissal is found, the court shall issue: (a) Summons on the day of receipt of the Statement of Claim, directing the defendant to submit a verified Response; and (b) Notice to both parties, directing them to appear before it on a specific date and time for hearing, with a warning that no unjustified postponement shall be allowed.
3. Response. The defendant shall file with the court and serve on the plaintiff a duly accomplished and verified Response (affidavits of witnesses and other evidence in its support) within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of summons. In case of faulure to file a Response, the court by itself shall render judgment as may be warranted by the facts alleged in the Statement of Claim limited to what is prayed for.
4. Hearing. The parties or their duly-appointed representatives shall appear at the designated date of hearing. Failure of the plaintiff to appear shall be cause for the dismissal of the claim without prejudice and the award of permissive counterclaims in favor of the defendant who is present. Failure of the defendant to appear has the same effect as the failure to file a Response.
5. Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR). At the hearing, the judge shall conduct JDR through mediation, conciliation, early neutral evaluation, or any other mode of JDR. If JDR fails and the parties agree in writing that the hearing of the case shall be presided over by the judge who conducted the JDR, the hearing shall so proceed in an informal and expeditious manner and terminated within 1 day. Absent such agreement, the case shall, on the same day, be referred to the pairing judge for hearing and decision within 5 working days from referral.
6. Decision. After the hearing, the court shall render its decision on the same day. The decision shall be final and unappealable.
What is the date of effectivity of this Rule?
The Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases took effect on October 1, 2008 for the pilot courts designated to apply the procedure for small claims cases following its publication in two newspapers of general circulation.
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gusto ko lang po malaman kung ang 2,000 pesos po ay qualified for small claims case ?
meron po kasing taong malapit sakin na ipapakulong daw sa halagang 2,000 kahit mangako sya na sa katapusan nya babayaran pagkasahod ng anak nya.
Atty kumuha po ako ng cp sa halagang 5999.naka tatlong hulog lng po ako.ksi nawalan ako ng work.my warrant of arrest na daw ako.tama po b un??pls.answer po.natatakot po ako
yes starting feb 2016 200hundred thousand below covered ng Civil Case sum of Money kung ikaw ay naki pag kasundo sa ng habla sayo at nag karon kayo ng compromise agreement ay mas maganda pero kung di mo babayaran ang iyong napagkasuduan ang nag habla sau ay mag file ng motion for execution at kung sakaling ito ay ma grand ang finale ng husgado mag lalabas ang MTC ng dicision Writ of Execution ikaw ay hahatakan ng gamit .
May i seek advice regarding my issue.
May nagutang po sakin ng 84k tapos po tumakas po sya at nag tago.
Nag post po ako sa facebook ng picture nya para po babala sa mga taong tinakasan nya. at dahil sa galit narin dahil tinakbuhan nya ako.
Ngayon bumalik sya nag rereklamo ng paninirang puri ebidensya nya ang post ko sa fb.
Nag file ako ng Small Claims — on going pa —
Sya naman po ay mag fifile ng libel case.. kakatapos palang namin mag usap sa brgy. kanina. kami padaw po ang mag babayad sa kanya dahil sa ginawa ko sa facebook.
Hindi ko po inamin ang post ko sa fb. sabi ko wala akong alam dun. tapos po deactivated n ang fb ko.
Ano po ba ang laban ko dito?
Good day po,
Sir ask ko lang po kung below 5000 ay tinatangap po small claims?
Atty.,
OFW po aq, ngresign po aq last Feb 29 2016, umuwi po aq last March 1, may utang aq sa isang lending company, 5 months n po aq nkkabayad kso etong 2 mos e hndi na po dhil nwalan na po aq ng work. Paalis na po aq uli kaso hntay pa po ng visa. Kaso etong lending company e pinipilit aq maglabas ng pera, gusto q mag compromise sa knila kso e pilitan aq pinag bbyad ng amount na hndi ko kaya bayaran. Ano po magandang gawin d2.
Salamat po
Good day po,ask q po kung ganu kvalid ang promisory note even if n wala yung name ng babayaran n tao..last dec po kc nkabangga ang sskyan nmin ng uv express.ngaon po d nman msyado ang damage ng nabangga nmin. Ang operator ng uv express ayaw ipasok s insurance nmin o kya ipaassess kng mgkano ang damage ng sskyan nya. Ang gusto ng operator mgbyad km ng 100 k. Npilitan n lng km n gumawa ng promi note dahil msyado n km ngstay s presinto 4 hrs.ksama p nman nmin ang mga anak nmin. Ngayon po ngdemanda n po under s small claims ang operator dahil d nmin nbyaran ang hinihingi kc msyadong malaki. Pinaestimate nmin s talyer ns 7 thou lng po ang damage. Sana po mbigyan nyo po aq ng advice. Salamat po and godbless
Nagfile po ako ng kaso sa Small Claims Court sa Pasay noong Friday. Tumawag po ako sa Process Server kanina para tanungin kung kailan maise-serve ang summon sa hinabla ko. Pinapupunta po nya ulit sa offiice nya para magbigsy ng pamadahe papunta sa bahay o opisina ng aking inihahabla. Sa Las Piñas pa po ako manggagaling, at taga- Malibay, Pasay ang respondent. Ganyan po ba talaga ang kalakaran sa korte?
Hi po. Nais ko lng idulog sa inyo yung problema ko. Dec last year po nakakuha ako ng 15k sa isang kakilala. Ang usapan ay 3k ang tubo monthly hanggang d pa kaya ibalik ang kapital. Tapos po early this year. May ginarantoran ako na mga kakilala. Bale total po ay 15k din. So 30k na ung total sa knila. Mula dec 15 hanggang june15 ay hinulugan ko po ang tubo na 5k mo. Kaso po nhirapan na kong ituloy gawa ng buntis ako at nangangailangan pa ng operasyosn sa cyst. Nkiusap ako na pwedeng ung kapital nlng ang bayaran monthly hanggang mabalik ubg tubo dapat ng start na netong june 30 pero d ko naibigay dhil 3k lng ang ntira sa sinahod ko. Nakiusap ako mula pero ang savi ay ihahabla daw po ako at ipapahiya. D ko nmn po tinatakbuhan ung utang ko, ano po naganda gawin??? Salamat po.
Atty.
May mga cases na po ako sa small claims as the plaintiff and was decided by the judge in favor of me. May amicable settlements po na nangyari to pay me in three gives. Pero after giving the first hindi na tumupad yong may utang. Ano po ang gagawin ko para masingil ang kanyang balance.
Hi Julius, mabilis naman yung processing during your hearing?
How can I go after a person who owes me around 30k pesos in cash and does not pay the monthly credit card installment charge of 7400php? We do not have any written agreement but it was just in good faith the she will pay. I have been asking and collecting payment bec of the credit card finance charges due to unpaid monthly balance. Please help on how I can collect money from her. Thank you.