A small claim statement of claim: what must appear in it, and a template to fill in

Suing on your own? You can prepare the statement of claim with me, and you file it yourself. How it works and what will be written on it →

Service page: Class actions and consumer claims lawyer.

What must a small claim statement of claim include?

In proceedings opened from 11 April 2025, regulation 3 of the Small Claims Regulations sets out what the statement of claim includes. It has a heading, a body, and what you attach to it. In the heading you also write your email address and your mobile phone number (regulation 3(b)(2)).

You can file a document you did not attach later only with the court’s permission. The court gives it when it finds that the document is needed for the judgment, or for another important reason.

Is there an official form for a small claim’s statement of claim?

In proceedings opened from 11 April 2025, there is no form that the regulations require. Form 1 in the Schedule to the regulations, “Statement of claim”, was repealed by an amendment to the regulations. The amendment was published on 10 February 2025. It came into force 60 days after its publication and applies to proceedings opened from 11 April 2025. Instead of the form, regulation 3 sets out what the statement of claim must include. An old form circulating online is suitable for proceedings opened before 11 April 2025. The ways of filing are set out on the “Filing a small claim” service page on gov.il.

A sample template for a small claim statement of claim, to fill in

The template follows the order of regulation 3. It is not a binding text and is not advice for your case. You fill in the facts, the amount and the grounds according to what happened and the documents you have. Instead of the square brackets, write your own details.

How do you write the facts and the amount?

• Facts, in time order. One paragraph for each event, with a date, and which document shows it. The body of the statement of claim is limited to five pages, and the documents are attached separately.
• What you can claim. Payment of up to NIS 39,900 in 2026. You can also claim the replacement or repair of goods, or the cancellation of a transaction, when the value does not exceed that amount (section 60(a) of the Courts Law [Consolidated Version], 5744-1984).
• Who can sue. Only an individual, and not under a right that was assigned or transferred to them. A matter within the exclusive jurisdiction of another court is not heard here (section 60(a)).
• An amount above the ceiling. The Small Claims Court has no jurisdiction to hear a claim whose amount exceeds the ceiling (section 60(a)). Such a claim is filed with the competent court, as a rule the Magistrates’ Court (section 51(a)(2) of the Courts Law). A claim within the ceiling can also be filed with another court instead of the Small Claims Court (section 61(1)).
• Breakdown of the amount. Write each item on a separate line, with the document it relies on. The total amount is the remedy in the heading.
• Witnesses. In the list of witnesses, write whom you intend to bring to testify in support of the claim (regulation 3(c)(5)).

Which court do you file with, and how much is the court fee?

You file with the court in the area where the defendant lives or does business, or in the area where the act or omission took place. This rule applies despite any agreement between the parties (regulation 2(a)). A claim over a publication or trade on the internet is filed only where the defendant or the plaintiff lives or does business (regulation 2(b)). When there are several defendants, it is enough that the court has jurisdiction over one of them (regulation 2(c)).

The court fee is 1% of the value of the claim, and no less than NIS 50. The amount is rounded up to a multiple of NIS 5 (regulation 6(a)). Anyone exempt from the court fee under the Courts Regulations (Fees), 5767-2007 (תקנות בתי המשפט (אגרות), התשס״ז-2007) is also exempt here (regulation 6(b)).

What happens after you file a small claim statement of claim?

The court clerk attaches a summons to the statement of claim. The summons invites the defendant to file a statement of defense within 30 days from the day it was served (regulation 4). The court serves the documents. If the statement of claim was not served by 60 days before the hearing, the plaintiff serves it at least 40 days before the hearing (regulation 7(b)–(b1)).

If a defendant did not file a statement of defense on time, the court gives judgment on the basis of the statement of claim alone. It does not do so if it sees that justice requires inviting the parties to present their arguments and bring evidence (regulation 10). If the plaintiff did not appear at the hearing, the claim is dismissed (regulation 11). In suitable cases the court may hold a hearing by technological means or decide on the basis of the written pleadings. It also weighs what you wrote about your preference (regulation 13(b)–(c)). The full stages and deadlines, up to the judgment and the appeal, are in the guide to the Small Claims Court.

Can a lawyer write the small claim statement of claim?

Section 63(a) of the Courts Law limits representation of a party by a lawyer in the Small Claims Court. It is allowed only with the court’s permission and for special reasons that will be recorded. The Ethics Committee of the Israel Bar Association (Tel Aviv District, relying on National Committee decision 144/06) found that there is no bar to a lawyer helping to draft a pleading for a small claim. There are two conditions. First, the lawyer does not sign or file the pleading. Second, the pleading clearly states that it was drafted with the help of a lawyer who does not file it and does not represent the party in the proceedings, directly or indirectly.

Section 20 of the Israel Bar Association Law, 5721-1961 (חוק לשכת עורכי הדין, התשכ״א-1961) lists acts reserved for lawyers as separate acts. Among them are representing and pleading on behalf of another person before a court (section 20(1)), drafting legal documents for them (section 20(3)) and legal advice (section 20(4)). Advice by a lawyer inside the courtroom during the hearing, or written arguments and summations on the lawyer’s behalf, count as representation for the purpose of section 63. The Supreme Court cited this from opinions of the Ombudsman of Israeli Judiciary and from Small Claims Court rulings (application for leave to appeal, LCA 5234/17, paragraph 11).

Even when a lawyer prepared the draft, the statement of claim is yours. You declare that everything stated in it is true, or true to your knowledge (regulation 3(d)(2)). You file it, and you appear at the hearing (regulation 11).

The Supreme Court explained that the limit on representation is meant to keep the proceeding simple and inexpensive, and to keep equality between the parties. It also explained that when the court allows one party to be represented by a lawyer, it must also consider whether to allow representation for the other party (LCA 5234/17 Driver Israel Ltd. v. Janah, 4 July 2018, relying on LCA 5711/08 Partuk v. Sol Turgeman Ltd.).

Frequently asked questions

How many pages are allowed in a small claim statement of claim?

In proceedings opened from 11 April 2025, the body of the statement of claim may not exceed five pages (regulation 3(e) of the Small Claims Regulations). You attach the documents you rely on to the statement of claim (regulation 3(d)).

Is there an official form for a small claim’s statement of claim?

In proceedings opened from 11 April 2025, there is no form that the regulations require. Form 1 in the Schedule to the regulations was repealed. What counts is the list of details in regulation 3: a heading, a body of up to five pages, documents and a declaration.

Do you have to attach documents to the statement of claim?

You attach the documents you rely on, if you have them. A document that was not attached can be filed later only if the court allowed it (regulation 3(d)).

What do you write if you don’t know the defendant’s ID number?

The regulation requires you to write the defendant’s ID number “if it can be found out”, and for a corporation its registration number. You also write the defendant’s contact details if they can be found out (regulation 3(b)(3)–(4)).

What is a “decision on the basis of the written pleadings”?

A decision based on arguments and evidence submitted in writing (regulation 1). In the statement of claim you state whether you prefer it. The court decides whether it is suitable. It also takes into account the parties’ preference and the nature of the evidence (regulations 3(c)(6), 13(c)).

Can a lawyer write the statement of claim for my small claim?

Representation by a lawyer in the Small Claims Court is allowed only with the court’s permission and for special reasons (section 63(a) of the Courts Law). According to the position of the Ethics Committee of the Israel Bar Association’s Tel Aviv District, a lawyer may help with drafting on two conditions. The lawyer does not sign and does not file. The document clearly states that it was drafted with the help of a lawyer who does not represent the party in the proceedings. The declaration, the filing and appearing at the hearing are yours.