20 ChatGPT Prompts to Prepare for Small Claims Court With Confidence
Representing yourself in small claims can feel overwhelming. Paste your situation into the brackets and these prompts help you decide whether to file, organize your evidence, build a timeline, and plan what to say. This is general preparation help, not legal advice for your case.
In short: This page contains 20 copy-paste ready prompts, organized into 5 categories with a description and pro tip for each. The first 5 prompts are free instantly, no signup needed. Hand-curated and tested by the AI Academy team.
Decide Whether to File
4 promptsWeigh It Up
1/20Act as a neutral sounding board. I am considering filing a small claims case against [person or company] over [describe the dispute] for about [amount in dispute]. Ask me questions to help me think through the strength of my case, the time and cost involved, and whether it is worth pursuing.
A structured gut-check before you commit.
Pro tip: Answer the questions honestly, including the weak points of your own case.
What You Are Really Claiming
2/20Help me separate what I am owed from how I feel. Based on my situation, [describe what happened], list the specific losses I could realistically claim, such as money paid, repair costs, or unreturned deposits, and note anything that is probably not claimable.
A clear split between claimable losses and frustration.
Pro tip: Courts award provable losses, not stress, so focus on the numbers you can document.
Try to Settle First
3/20Before I file, help me write a short, calm message to [person or company] offering one last chance to settle this over [describe the dispute] for [amount you would accept]. Keep it professional and set a reply date of [the deadline].
A final settlement offer that may save you a hearing.
Pro tip: Many judges like to see that you tried to resolve it first, so keep a copy.
Know the Basics to Check
4/20I plan to file a small claims case in [your city or state]. Give me a checklist of practical things I should confirm on my local court website before filing, such as filing limits, fees, deadlines, and where to file. Remind me to verify each on the official site.
A checklist of local details to confirm yourself.
Pro tip: Rules vary by location, so always confirm specifics on your court's official website.
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Organize Your Evidence
4 promptsEvidence Checklist
5/20Based on my dispute, [describe what happened and what records I have], list the documents and evidence that would best support my claim, such as contracts, invoices, photos, receipts, and messages. Order them from strongest to weakest.
A prioritized list of proof to gather.
Pro tip: If a document is missing, note it now so you have time to track it down.
Turn Messages Into Proof
6/20I have a long back-and-forth with [person or company]. Help me summarize the key points from these messages into a short, dated list I can reference in court: [paste or describe the messages]. Keep it factual and neutral.
A tidy summary of a messy message thread.
Pro tip: Bring the full originals too, since a summary supports them but does not replace them.
Label Your Exhibits
7/20Help me organize my evidence into a simple exhibit list. Here is what I have: [list your documents and photos]. Suggest a clear label and one-line description for each item so a judge can follow along.
An organized exhibit list that is easy to present.
Pro tip: Number your exhibits and bring a copy for yourself, the judge, and the other side.
Spot the Gaps
8/20Play devil's advocate. Based on my case, [describe your dispute and evidence], what questions might the judge or the other side ask that I cannot yet answer, and what evidence would fill those gaps?
A preview of the weak spots in your case.
Pro tip: Finding the holes now beats being surprised by them at the hearing.
Build Your Timeline
4 promptsOrder of Events
9/20Turn my notes into a clean, chronological timeline for court: [list what happened and roughly when]. Use clear dates, one event per line, in neutral language with no opinions.
A dated timeline that tells the story simply.
Pro tip: A judge follows a timeline far more easily than a wall of paragraphs.
The One-Paragraph Summary
10/20Write a short summary of my case in three to four sentences that I could say out loud at the start of a hearing: I am [your name], I am claiming [amount] from [person or company] because [the core reason].
A calm opening you can rehearse.
Pro tip: Practice saying it until you can deliver it without reading.
Fill in Missing Dates
11/20Here is my rough timeline: [paste it]. Point out where dates or details are vague or missing, and list the questions I should answer to make each event precise.
A check that tightens up a fuzzy timeline.
Pro tip: Approximate dates are fine if you say so, but exact ones are stronger.
Match Evidence to Events
12/20For each event on my timeline, [paste your timeline], suggest which piece of my evidence, [list your documents], best backs it up. Flag any event that has no supporting proof.
A map linking each claim to its evidence.
Pro tip: An event with no backing document is the first one to shore up.
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Calculate What to Claim
4 promptsAdd Up Your Losses
13/20Help me total what I am claiming. Here are my costs: [list each amount and what it is for]. Add them into a clear itemized total and flag anything that might be hard to prove.
A clean, itemized total for your claim.
Pro tip: Keep a receipt or record behind every number on the list.
Separate the Extras
14/20From this list of what I want to claim, [paste your list], help me separate direct out-of-pocket losses from softer items like inconvenience or my own time, and explain in plain terms why the direct losses are usually the strongest.
A split that keeps your claim credible.
Pro tip: Anchor your claim on hard costs, then mention extras separately.
Sanity-Check the Number
15/20I am thinking of claiming [amount]. Based on my documented losses of [list them], does that total add up, and where might it look inflated to a judge? Suggest a defensible figure.
A reality check on the amount you name.
Pro tip: A number you can fully justify beats a bigger one you cannot.
Explain the Math Simply
16/20Write a short, plain-English explanation of how I calculated my claim of [total amount] from [list the components], as if I were explaining it to a judge in under a minute.
A simple walkthrough of how you got your number.
Pro tip: If you can explain the math in one breath, it will land.
Rehearse for the Hearing
4 promptsPractice Questions
17/20Act as a small claims judge and ask me the ten questions you would most likely ask about my case: [describe your dispute and claim]. Ask them one at a time and wait for my answer.
A mock question round to practice with.
Pro tip: Say your answers out loud, not just in your head.
Answer the Hard One
18/20The other side's strongest argument is [their main point]. Help me prepare a short, calm response that sticks to the facts and my evidence, without getting defensive.
A prepared reply to their best point.
Pro tip: Plan for their strongest argument, not their weakest.
Stay Calm and Clear
19/20Give me three plain-language reminders for speaking to a judge, such as staying factual, being brief, and being respectful, tailored to my situation: [describe your case and what makes you nervous about representing yourself].
Simple coaching for staying composed.
Pro tip: When in doubt, slow down and stick to the timeline.
What to Bring
20/20Give me a checklist of what to take to my small claims hearing, based on my case: [describe it]. Include copies of evidence, my timeline, my claim total, and anything I should have ready to hand to the judge.
A day-of checklist so nothing is forgotten.
Pro tip: Bring at least three copies of every document: one for you, the judge, and the other side.
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