[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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sir, if the amount involve is more than 200k can i split my claim into several causes of action in order to qualify under SCC? say 500k is the amount involved can i filed first for the 1st 200k, then for the next 200k and so on?
Hello po, tanong ko lang po kung pwede pa bang singilin ang mga 10 -12 years na utang? May kaibigan kasi ako nuon na pinapuhunan nya ako sa wedding photography nya. Tpos d namn sya ngbukas ng photography shop at nang singilin ko sya nuon ay nagalit ang nanay nya kusa ko daw binigay sa anak nya kaai may gusto daw ako dito. P135k+ ang utang nya. May receipt ako na pnadala ko sakanya ang pera at emails na ngsasabing magnegosyo kami ng photography shop. Andito po ako sa Canada as an OFW kng sakali pwede lng ba ang kapatid ko ang haharap sa hearing? Thank you po God bless.
Atty,
Gud day…ano po ba ang remedy kapag nadimiss ang small claim case…nadismis kasi for lack of jurisdiction daw.
tnx
may i ask if last 2005 may utang bf ko then nag abroad cla ng asawa nya. till now di pa rin mobayad .may promissory cya sa akin,pwede ko mag file sa kanya?nasa cebu na ako at ang kanyang hometown ay nasa south cotabato
Good day po atty,
Consider po ba na small claims ang below 5k it was 3 yrs ago? Thanks and more power!
gudpm po. ang 5k pesos po ba na utang ay tinatanggap sa small claims procedure,?
Gud pm may nangutang po sa akin na 120k na gagamitin daw po para sa kanilang negosyo at ang sabi po ng ngutang tutubuan ng 10% sa loob ng 20 araw..dahil sa Inuutangan daw nla 20days25% ang tubo dahil sa ang Pamangkin ko naman po ang nagrekomenda na pautangin xa sapagkat secretarya po xa ng kumpanya ng kanyang boss pinautang po ko po merun naman po silang iniyung checke PDC ang problema po twing sumasapit ung due date sinasabi na I cacash nlng nla wag m daw nmin iincash wala rin manang pondo hanggang sa puro ganun nlng po ang ginawa nla Isuzu ng checke tapus Hindi naman suka tumutupad sa pinag usapan pag dumatrating young date na nkalagay sa checke mag ttxt sila n Hindi mkakabayad at mag iisue nalang ng panibagong checke may mga uspan po Kami na khit wala ng tubo bayaran nlng aq kc kailangan ko na po young perang pinihiram ko ..nag issue nnm po xa ng cheke at nangako na magbabayad nung August 15 2017 pagsapit po ng due uno cash ko po ung check sa bank ang sabi po sken ng teller ipapa aprobe pa tpus simabihan ako na makipagusap sa ngutang saken subalit nung tinatawagan ko po ang may utang sken pinapatayan Lang po aq ng cp ang advise po sken ng banko Kung may account daw po aq s bank I deposit ko nlng daw po ang banko n daw po bahala ng mkipag usap sa knila ang inaashan ko po kc tumalbog ang checke pra mkasuhan ko sila ng stafa kayalang ang advise ng tells sken Kung may bank account ako idepost ko nlng dun deneposit ko naman po ung cheke kayalang Hindi Ko rin makuha ang amount nung cheke kc sna current balance lng xa Anu po ba maari Kung gawin?
Hi Atty., is thier an expiration of validity for Small Claims decision? They were all decided April 2011.
Hope to hear from you.
Jo
Gud pm .. ask ko lng my utang kc ako as Avon company na almost 2000 sinabi nila n kapag d me ngbayad today ipapabaranggay nila ako ”pwede po ba un ??
Good evening po..
Ask po sana ako legal advice, meron po kc ako cc sa rcbc worth 103 thousand kasama na po lahat dun (interest at late charges). Nawalan po kase ako work last March kaya di po ako nakakabayad sa bank, gang sa may dumating po na sulat galing sa court na nag file c rcbc ng small claims against sakin. Sobrang natatakot po ako, ano po dapat ko gawin? Ako lng po inaasahan ng parents (may maintenance na po kc nanay ko sa diabetes) Please help me po king ano dapat ko gawin. Salamat po