Question: How does the process of filing a case in small claims court work?

The process of filing a case in small claims court contains many steps, and varies jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The general process is as follows: (1) filling out a statement of claim and any relevant auxilary forms; (2) filing the statement of claim and any relevant auxilary forms; (3) serving the other party; (4) awaiting the other party's response--which may lead to a settlement or may result in conflicting claims or a counter-suit; and (5) if no settlement is reached, trial. If trial occurs, the plaintiff must appear in court.‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‌