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Procedure guides

Small Claims Filing Checklist for the Philippine First Level Courts

What the Metropolitan or Municipal Trial Court expects in a small claims filing of up to 1,000,000 pesos, which form is used, and why a filing is returned.

First level courts (Metropolitan and Municipal Trial Courts)

How it works

  1. Get the prescribed statement of claim form from the court or from the Supreme Court website, and check which language versions that court has.
  2. Fill in the caption, the plaintiff and the defendant with their addresses, and the amount claimed with the basis for the figure.
  3. Set out the facts in date order, one event per numbered paragraph, in English, in Filipino or in the dialect of the region.
  4. Sign and swear the statement of claim before the court, with the verification and the certification against forum shopping.
  5. File the original and the copies with the attachments, and attend the hearing in person because the parties appear without lawyers in this procedure.

Next

How much can I claim in the Philippine small claims court?

Since the 2022 amendments, up to 1,000,000 pesos, exclusive of interest and costs.

Can I file my statement of claim in Filipino?

The rules allow English, Filipino or the dialect of the region. The bilingual forms cover only some courts and some languages, so confirm with the court you are filing in before relying on a Filipino or dialect version.

Can I change my statement of claim after filing?

No. The small claims rules do not allow the statement of claim to be amended after it has been filed, so check every entry before you file.

Format requirements for this court

Filings for the first level courts are on Letter size paper, 8.5 by 11 inches. Supreme Court of the Philippines - prescribed small claims forms, including SC Form 1-SCC (Statement of Claim)
A margin of 1 inch is kept on all four sides of the page. Supreme Court of the Philippines - prescribed small claims forms, including SC Form 1-SCC (Statement of Claim)
Paragraphs are numbered continuously from 1 through the statement of facts. Supreme Court of the Philippines - prescribed small claims forms, including SC Form 1-SCC (Statement of Claim)
The statement of claim must be signed and sworn by the plaintiff before the court. Rules of Procedure for Small Claims Cases, A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC, as amended by A.M. No. 22-06-11-SC
The small claims rules allow English, Filipino or the dialect of the region. Rules of Procedure for Small Claims Cases, A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC, as amended by A.M. No. 22-06-11-SC
The original is filed with the court, together with a copy for the court and a copy for the defendant. Rules of Procedure for Small Claims Cases, A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC, as amended by A.M. No. 22-06-11-SC
Small claims in the first level courts cover money claims of up to 1,000,000 pesos, exclusive of interest and costs. Rules of Procedure for Small Claims Cases, A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC, as amended by A.M. No. 22-06-11-SC

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.