Settle a small dispute in days — without a trip to the courthouse.
When the amount is small, going to court can cost more than the dispute is worth. AI-powered arbitration on the People’s Court platform lets both sides tell their story online and get a binding, written decision — usually for a fraction of the cost of small claims court.
Getting back $2,500 shouldn’t cost you weeks and hundreds of dollars.
Florida’s small claims court is an important right — and you can always use it. But for disputes of a few thousand dollars or less, filing fees, service costs and time off work eat into whatever you recover. Many people simply give up and walk away from money they’re owed.
Fees add up fast
A filing fee to the clerk, a fee for the sheriff or a process server to serve the other side, plus parking and copies — all paid up front, before anyone hears your case.
Weeks of waiting
Florida’s Small Claims Rules require a pretrial conference, and a trial may be set weeks later. Many cases take one to three months or more to reach a decision.
Time away from work
Expect at least one, and often two, weekday trips to the county courthouse during business hours — lost wages, childcare, and travel the court never reimburses.
What is AI-powered arbitration?
Arbitration is a private way to resolve a dispute outside of court. Instead of a judge, a neutral decision-maker reviews both sides and issues a decision, called an Award. It has been used by businesses for decades — but traditional arbitration fees put it out of reach for small disputes.
People’s Court (peoplescourt.ai) uses artificial intelligence to do the work of reviewing the evidence and writing a reasoned decision. That cuts the cost from thousands of dollars to a small percentage of what’s in dispute.
Both sides must agree to use it. Once they do, the result is binding — just like a court judgment, but reached online, on your schedule.
Federal Arbitration ActSeat: Wilmington, Delaware
The People’s Court standard agreement is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, the national law courts use to enforce arbitration Awards.
Good disputes for People’s Court
- A security deposit you think was unfairly kept
- A contractor, mechanic or repair job gone wrong
- Money loaned to a friend, roommate or relative
- An online sale or marketplace purchase dispute
- Unpaid invoices for freelance or gig work
- Damaged property or a deal that fell through
Four steps, all online.
No courthouse, no hearing date, no dress code. You and the other side each build your case from your phone or computer.
File your claim
Describe what happened, the amount you’re seeking, and the outcome you want. The exact fee is shown before you pay.
Both sides agree
The other party is invited and must consent to arbitrate. You both choose the procedure — AI-only, or AI-assisted with a human arbitrator — before the case begins.
Build one Record
Each side submits its position and supporting evidence — receipts, photos, texts, contracts — on a fixed schedule. Everyone sees the same Record.
Receive your Award
The AI tribunal weighs the Record and issues a binding Award with a written explanation — typically in days, not months.
In the standard AI-only track, a panel of three AI arbiters decides the case. If both parties choose the AI-assisted human track, a human arbitrator reviews the AI draft and issues the Award in their own name. A paid appeal to a human reviewer is available unless both sides waive it.
What a $2,500 dispute really costs.
Estimates for one plaintiff, one defendant, claim of $2,500. Court fees vary by county; check with your Clerk of Court.
| Clerk filing feeClaims $500.01–$2,500 (typical county fee) | $175 |
| Service of process by sheriffPer defendant; private servers often charge more | $40 |
| Parking, travel, copiesEstimate, two courthouse trips | ~$20 |
| Lost wages / time offEstimate: two half-days at $15/hr | ~$120 |
| Estimated total costCash out of pocket: about $235 | ~$355 |
| Platform filing fee5.67% of $2,500 | $141.75 |
| Serving the other sideInvitation is sent online | $0 |
| Parking, travel, copiesUpload documents from home | $0 |
| Lost wages / time offWork on your case evenings or weekends | $0 |
| Estimated total costCash out of pocket: $141.75 | $141.75 |
Cash only: about $235 vs. $141.75, or about 40% less
~$213 · about 60% less
| Amount in dispute | Court: filing + sheriff service | People’s Court: AI-only fee |
|---|---|---|
| $500 | $120 ($80 + $40) | $28.35 |
| $1,000 | $215 ($175 + $40) | $56.70 |
| $2,500 | $215 ($175 + $40) | $141.75 |
of the amount in dispute, $1.67 minimum. $141.75 on a $2,500 claim. Reasoned Award included.
$451.75 on a $2,500 claim. A human arbitrator reviews the AI draft and signs the Award. Both parties must choose it.
of the amount in dispute, $520 minimum ($520 on a $2,500 claim), paid by the party who appeals. Available unless both sides waive it.
A nonbinding AI opinion for an informal disagreement. Not arbitration and not an Award.
Court figures reflect fees commonly charged by Florida clerks (e.g., Miami-Dade) under §34.041, Fla. Stat., and the $40 sheriff service fee; your county may differ. People’s Court fees reflect its fee schedule as of October 2026 and may change; see peoplescourt.ai/pricing. The exact fee is shown before you file. Lost-wage and travel figures are illustrative estimates. In court, a winning party can usually ask the judge to add filing and service costs to the judgment; People’s Court fees are fixed and do not change based on who wins. On a $2,500 claim, the optional human track ($451.75) costs more than court filing and service, and a human appeal ($520 minimum) is about 21% of the claim.
Small claims court vs. People’s Court
| Small Claims Court | People’s Court (AI arbitration) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | County courthouse, during business hours | Online, from anywhere, any time |
| Speed | Pretrial conference, then trial — often 1–3+ months | Written Award typically in days |
| Other side must agree? | No — you can sue them | Yes — both parties must consent |
| Who decides | A county judge (or a jury, on request) | A panel of AI arbiters, or a human arbitrator if both choose |
| Decision | Judgment entered by the court | Binding Award with a written explanation |
| Appeal | Limited appeal to circuit court | Paid human appeal, unless both sides waive it |
| Governing law | Florida Small Claims Rules | Federal Arbitration Act; seat in Wilmington, Delaware |
| If the loser won’t pay | Collection tools through the court | Judgment may be entered on the Award in any court with jurisdiction, then collected like any judgment |
| Privacy | Public court record | Private proceeding |
People’s Court may be a good fit if…
- The amount is small and court costs would eat up most of it
- The other side is willing to agree to a neutral decision
- Your evidence is mostly documents, photos and messages
- You want a fast answer without missing work
- You’d like to keep the dispute out of the public record
Small claims court may be better if…
- The other side refuses to agree to arbitration
- You need a court order beyond money (for example, an eviction or injunction)
- The case turns on live witness testimony or credibility
- You want a judge, a jury, or the court’s free mediation program
- You expect to need court collection tools such as a judgment lien or garnishment
Frequently asked questions
Is a People’s Court decision really binding?
Yes. When both parties agree to arbitrate, they agree to be bound by the Award, subject to the limited review procedures in the People’s Court Rules and the rights that courts always keep. Read the governing Rules at peoplescourt.ai before you agree.
Does the other side have to agree?
Yes. People’s Court verifies that both parties consent before the case is decided. If the other side won’t agree, you still have the right to file in Florida small claims court.
Do I give up my right to go to court?
For that dispute, generally yes — agreeing to binding arbitration usually means a court will not rehear the case from scratch. That is the trade-off for speed and lower cost. If you aren’t ready to give up the court option, People’s Court also offers a $5.67 nonbinding “Quick Ruling” that gives both sides an informal AI opinion.
What if the other side loses and doesn’t pay?
An arbitration Award is not self-enforcing. If the losing party won’t pay, the winner can ask a court to confirm the Award and enter judgment on it. That judgment can then be collected like any other. This step involves a court filing and its own costs.
Will a court enforce an AI arbitration Award?
The People’s Court standard agreement says the arbitration is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), with its legal seat in Wilmington, Delaware. It also provides that judgment may be entered on the Award in any court having jurisdiction. The FAA is the national law that requires courts, state and federal, to enforce valid arbitration agreements and confirm Awards except on narrow grounds such as fraud or a lack of consent. Choosing the FAA puts these Awards on the strongest legal footing available. Courts have not yet ruled widely on Awards decided entirely by AI. If you expect a fight over collection, consider the AI-assisted human track, where a human arbitrator signs the Award.
Does a human ever review my case?
In the AI-only track, AI arbiters decide the case. If both sides choose the AI-assisted human track, a human arbitrator reviews and signs the Award. Every track offers a paid appeal to a human reviewer (15.67% of the amount in dispute, $520 minimum) unless both parties expressly waive it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page provides general legal information to help you compare your options. JusticeXpressFlorida.com is not a law firm, and People’s Court is a private dispute resolution service, not a court of the State of Florida.
Resolve your dispute — without the courthouse.
File online in minutes, invite the other side, and get a binding written decision for a fraction of what small claims court would cost.
Start Your Case at PeoplesCourt.ai →
Law That You Can Afford™ · You’ll see the exact fee before you file.
People’s Court is a private dispute resolution service operated by Epistemic Labs Inc. It is not a court of the State of Florida and is not affiliated with the Florida State Courts System. Fees and procedures described here are summarized from information published at peoplescourt.ai as of October 2026 and may change; consult the platform’s Fees page and Rules before agreeing to arbitrate.
JusticeXpressFlorida.com is an online legal forms provider and a document preparation service, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice. The legal information on this page is for general educational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Court filing fees vary by county; contact your Clerk of Court for current amounts.