Navigating small claims court for a client taught me something new yesterday

I helped a client in Denver file a $300 claim last week and the clerk handed me a form I had never seen before. Turns out Colorado has a special affidavit for serving papers by mail instead of paying a process server. Has anyone else run into state-specific shortcuts that save money on routine legal tasks?

3 comments

3 Comments

casey2682d ago

That "serving by mail" affidavit is a real gem, but here's the side nobody talks about. In some states, if you use that shortcut and the defendant claims they never got the papers, you're stuck starting the whole thing over again. I had a buddy in Florida try this with a $400 security deposit dispute and the judge tossed it because the signature on the green card looked "unreliable" (you know, like a neighbor signed it). The clerk never warned him about that risk either, so now he spends the extra $50 for a process server just to have a witness. The mail option works fine for straightforward cases, but if you're dealing with someone who might play games, it's worth the extra cash for the peace of mind.

kim_davis2d ago

Oh man, my buddy in Texas had a similar thing happen with a contractor dispute. He used certified mail and the guy just claimed he never signed for it, judge believed him too.

the_john2d agoTop Commenter

@kim_davis so did your buddy end up paying the guy twice or what?