Before you sue: 5 steps that keep your case alive

1. Write the chronology before the complaint

Judges think in dates. Open a document and write one line per event:

• When the relationship started (lease, contract, purchase).
• What was promised, in writing or not.
• When you paid and how much.
• What went wrong, and when you first complained.
• What they answered — or the silence.

That document becomes the skeleton of the demand letter and, later, the facts section of your court file.

2. Gather the proof you already have

You do not need a perfect binder. You need three things: proof of the relationship (contract, invoice, message), proof of payment, and proof you complained. Screenshots with a visible date are worth more than a forwarded email.

3. Send a demand letter before filing

A certified letter does three things at once: it creates a dated record, removes the “I never knew” excuse, and gives you one last chance to get paid without a filing fee. Most cases that resolve, resolve here.

4. Confirm who you are actually suing

A trade name is not always the legal entity that can pay. Check your state business registry or ask for the legal name on the invoice. Suing the wrong entity is the most common way to lose a winnable case.

5. Decide your number

Define the exact amount and where it comes from: what you paid, what you lost, what it costs to fix. Small claims is not the place for round numbers. If you cannot explain the math in one sentence, it will be hard to win.