The Small Claims Court: a practical guide

Suing or being sued in a small claim? You can prepare the statement of claim or the statement of defense with me, and you file it yourself. How it works and what will be written on it →

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The Small Claims Court — everything you need to know

Were you harmed by a supplier who did not keep their commitment? Did you pay for a service you did not receive? Did a customer not pay? The Small Claims Court is a route designed for claims like these. This guide goes through the procedure under the Courts Law and the Small Claims Adjudication (Rules of Procedure) Regulations. It covers who may sue, how to file, what the deadlines are, and what to do after the judgment.

What is the Small Claims Court?

A Small Claims Court is a Magistrates’ Court that the Minister of Justice has authorized to sit as a Small Claims Court (section 59 of the Courts Law [Consolidated Version], 5744-1984). It hears a civil claim filed by an individual for payment of up to NIS 39,900 (the updated amount for 2026). It also hears a claim for an order for the replacement or repair of goods, or the cancellation of a transaction, of such value (section 60(a)). The court is not bound by the rules of procedure followed in another court. It may accept evidence even if it would not have been admissible in another court (section 62). The court fee is 1% of the value of the claim and no less than NIS 50 (regulation 6 of the Small Claims Regulations).

Who can sue?

Only an individual may file a claim (section 60(a) of the Courts Law). A company or corporation cannot sue in this procedure, but it can be sued. You cannot sue in it under a right that was assigned or transferred (section 60(a)). The court may decline to hear the claim of someone who has already filed more than five claims in the same year in the same court (section 60(b)). You can sue: private individuals, businesses, companies, and even public authorities.

What can you sue for? Common causes of action: poor service, a defective product, damage to a car, an unpaid debt, harm to a consumer, and advertising messages sent in breach of the Spam Law (section 30A(i)–(j) of the Communications (Telecommunications and Broadcasting) Law, 5742-1982). The Small Claims Court does not hear a matter within the exclusive jurisdiction of another court (section 60(a)). One example is a claim between an employee and an employer arising from the employment relationship. Such a claim is heard in the Labor Court (section 24(a)(1) of the Labor Court Law, 5729-1969 (חוק בית הדין לעבודה, התשכ״ט-1969)). A claim whose amount exceeds the ceiling is not within the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court (section 60(a)). It is filed with the court that has jurisdiction according to its amount, as a rule the Magistrates’ Court (section 51(a)(2)). A claim within the ceiling can also be filed with another court instead of the Small Claims Court (section 61(1)).

How do you file a claim in the Small Claims Court?

Step 1: draft a statement of claim. In proceedings opened from 11 April 2025, the heading of the statement of claim includes the plaintiff’s name, ID number, address and contact details. It also includes the defendant’s name and address, and the defendant’s ID number or registration number if they can be found out. It also states the remedy requested. The body of the statement of claim may not exceed five pages. In it you set out the place of the act or omission, the remedy, the grounds, and the list of documents and witnesses. You also state whether you prefer a hearing by technological means or a decision on the basis of the written pleadings, and the number of small claims filed in the past year. You attach the documents you wish to rely on, if you have them. You also attach a declaration that everything stated in the statement of claim is true, or true to your knowledge (regulation 3 of the Small Claims Regulations). Describe it simply: who is suing, who is being sued, what happened, how much you are demanding and why. In these proceedings there is no form that the regulations require. Form 1 in the Schedule to the regulations was repealed for proceedings opened from 11 April 2025. What counts is the list of details in regulation 3. A template to fill in, in the order of the regulation: Small claim statement of claim: what must appear, and a template to fill in.

Step 2: pay a court fee of 1% of the value of the claim, and no less than NIS 50. The amount is rounded up to a multiple of 5 shekels (regulation 6(a)). An exemption from the court fee under the Courts Regulations (Fees), 5767-2007 (תקנות בתי המשפט (אגרות), התשס״ז-2007) is also an exemption here (regulation 6(b)).

Step 3: 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 (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 ways of filing are set out on the “Filing a small claim” service page on gov.il.

Step 4: the court clerk attaches a summons to the statement of claim (regulation 4(a)) and arranges for it to be served on the defendant (regulation 7(b)).

What is the order of the stages and deadlines in a small claim?

The deadlines in the table are taken from the Courts Law and the Small Claims Adjudication (Rules of Procedure) Regulations. Where the regulations do not set a deadline, the deadline is set by the court.

In proceedings opened from 11 April 2025, the count of days starts on the day the document was served. If the decision was given in the presence of the parties, it starts from the date of the hearing. The court’s recess period is included in the count, unless the court ordered otherwise (regulation 16A).

What happens at the hearing?

The court sets the order in which evidence and arguments are presented in the way it sees fit, and actively examines the dispute (regulation 13(a)). It is not bound by the rules of procedure followed in another court. It may accept evidence even if it would not have been admissible in another court (section 62 of the Courts Law). In proceedings opened from 11 April 2025, the court may, in suitable cases, hold a hearing by video conference or other technological means. It may also decide on the basis of the written pleadings (regulation 13(b)–(c)). With the parties’ consent, the judge may hear the claim as an arbitrator or refer it to an arbitrator (section 65(a)). Prepare the documents, the evidence and the witnesses in advance.

If none of the parties appeared, the claim is struck out. If the defendant did not appear, the court gives judgment on the basis of the statement of claim, after the plaintiff declared that what is stated in it is true. If the plaintiff did not appear, the claim is dismissed (regulation 11). The judgment is given at the end of the hearing. The court may postpone giving it by up to 7 days (regulation 15(a)).

A lawyer in a small claim: what they may do, and what not

Section 63(a) of the Courts Law provides that a party in a Small Claims Court may be represented by a lawyer 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 the pleading and does not file it. 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 three separate acts reserved for lawyers. They 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 counts as representation for the purpose of section 63. So do written arguments and summations on the lawyer’s behalf. The Supreme Court cited these rules from opinions of the Ombudsman of Israeli Judiciary and from Small Claims Court rulings (application for leave to appeal, LCA 5234/17, paragraph 11).

The Supreme Court explained that the limit is meant to allow a simple and inexpensive procedure and to keep equality between the parties. When the court allowed one party to be represented by a lawyer, it considers whether to allow representation for the other party too. It looks, among other things, at the nature of the represented party, the subject of the claim, its value and its legal complexity (LCA 5234/17 Driver Israel Ltd. v. Janah, 4 July 2018; LCA 5711/08 Partuk v. Sol Turgeman Ltd.). When one of the parties is a lawyer, the court does not have to offer the other party permission to be represented on its own initiative. This is a decision based on the circumstances of the case (LCA 5234/17). Representation by an organization that the Minister of Justice has designated for this purpose is possible with the court’s permission. In that case, the court will allow the opposing party to be represented as it directs (section 63(a)).

Can you appeal a judgment in a small claim?

Only with permission. A judgment of a Small Claims Court can be appealed to the District Court if permission was given by a judge of the District Court. The appeal is heard by a single judge (section 64 of the Courts Law). In proceedings opened from 11 April 2025, an application for leave to appeal is filed within 30 days from the day the judgment was given. In proceedings opened before then, it is filed within 15 days (regulation 16(a)). If permission is given, the application is treated as a notice of appeal (regulation 16(b)). The judgment itself states how it can be challenged and the deadline for doing so (regulation 15(c)).

You can apply to cancel a decision given in a party’s absence, for example when they did not appear at the hearing. The application is filed within 30 days from the day the decision was served (regulation 12).

What do you do if the defendant does not pay after the judgment?

The winning party may file an application to enforce the judgment with any Execution Office (enforcement proceedings). In it, they can set out the steps they want taken (section 6(a) of the Execution Law, 5727-1967 (חוק ההוצאה לפועל, התשכ״ז-1967)). The application is filed after the date set in the judgment for carrying it out has passed. If no date was set, it is filed, as a rule, after 30 days have passed from the day the judgment was given (section 6(b)).

Frequently asked questions

Up to what amount can you sue in the Small Claims Court?

Section 60(a)(1) of the Courts Law sets an amount of NIS 30,000, adjusted to August 2008. The updated amount for 2026 is NIS 39,900 (notice of the Director of Courts according to the change in the index, Yalkut HaPirsumim 14222, 4 February 2026; the amount applies from 1 January 2026). You can also claim an order for the replacement or repair of goods, or the cancellation of a transaction. This applies when the value of the goods, the repair or the transaction does not exceed the same amount (section 60(a)(2)).

Can a company or a business file a small claim?

Only an individual may sue in the Small Claims Court (section 60(a) of the Courts Law), so a company cannot sue there. According to the service page on gov.il, an exempt dealer (a small business not charging VAT) or a licensed dealer (a VAT-registered business) who is a private individual may also file a small claim. A company can be a defendant in the Small Claims Court.

How long does the defendant have to file a statement of defense in a small claim?

The summons invites the defendant to file a statement of defense within 30 days from the day it was served (regulation 4(b) of the Small Claims Adjudication (Rules of Procedure) Regulations, 5737-1976). 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).

Can you be represented by a lawyer in a small claim?

Only with the court’s permission and for special reasons that will be recorded (section 63(a) of the Courts Law). With the court’s permission, representation is also possible by an organization that the Minister of Justice has designated for this purpose. It is also possible by another person to whom the party gave a power of attorney. This applies if that person does not represent people regularly, does not represent in the ordinary course of their business and does not receive payment (section 63(b)).

How long do you have to file an application for leave to appeal a judgment in a small claim?

In proceedings opened from 11 April 2025, within 30 days from the day the judgment was given. In proceedings opened before then, within 15 days (regulation 16(a) of the Small Claims Regulations). The application is filed with the District Court. The appeal is heard only if a judge of the District Court gave permission (section 64 of the Courts Law). The judgment itself states how and by when it can be challenged (regulation 15(c)).

What happens if you file more than five small claims in a year?

The court may decline to hear the claim and transfer it to the Magistrates’ Court or to the competent court. It may do so if the plaintiff has already filed more than five claims in the same year in the same court (section 60(b) of the Courts Law). In proceedings opened from 11 April 2025, the plaintiff states in the statement of claim the number of small claims they filed during the past year (regulation 3(c)(7)).

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 that what is stated is true, the filing and appearing at the hearing are yours (regulations 3(d)(2), 11).

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.