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Small Claims Court is a special court created to settle disputes people have over getting property back and ?small? amounts of money, that is, $5,000 or less. Landlords trying to remove tenants from property may also use Small Claims Court through an ?action for forcible entry and detainer,? or more commonly, an ?eviction.?

A Judge or Magistrate will listen to your case and decide, based upon the facts and law. The person who brings the case or counterclaim has to prove the case by a ?preponderance of the evidence.? A preponderance of the evidence is a legal term which generally means the version of events or parties? stories which is more convincing.

This information is mainly on disputes over money. Click here for a brief summary of Small Claims Court and evictions. The Iowa Legal Aid booklet A Guide to Landlord Tenant Law in Iowa has more details on evictions.

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