Ohio Small Claims Questions & Answers
Q: What notice do I need to give my daughter before disposing of possessions she stored in my garage several months ago?
Since I do not have an address for my daughter, does texting count as written notification?
What are the possessions worth? If you dispose of them without an eviction, she could sue you. To be safe, you should go through an eviction process. Check your local court for the forms and procedure. But if the stuff isn't much value, you could text her, take photos, and give her a deadline.... Read more »
Q: My old roommate owes me $2500 after I covered our rent and utilities when he couldn't afford it. How can I get my money?
It has been 3 years since we lived together. He has not made one attempt to pay me back. He has declared bankruptcy for dealing with debt in other areas of his life (car payments, IRS).
Small claims court can handle a claim under $6000. But his bankruptcy might have terminated your claim. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to consult a local collection attorney.
Q: my girlfriend broke up with me before paying me back for a vacation we took together. How can I get my money back?
In 2012, we went on vacation and I covered her half of $10,000 total. She was supposed to pay me back when we returned home. She dumped me before I received a dime. When I asked about the money, she threatened to call the police and put a restraining order on me. It has been 6 years. Do I have any... Read more »
Small claims court can handle a claim up to $6000. If more than that, you file a claim in municipal court. But you might have waited too long. The time limit on your claim might be 6 years. Use the Find a Lawyer tab and retain a local litigation attorney.
Q: Lease says no more than 2 vehicles, people have more than that. Lease also states no working on vehicles on the property
I have complained numerous times about a car sitting next to mine that has not moved in almost a year, and most of the time (until I complain) sits with at least one flat tire. The people who own that car, park their 3rd vehicle out in the lot behind actual parking spaces which makes it difficult... Read more »
The landlord is not violating your lease, unless your lease specifically says that landlord will enforce similar restrictions against other tenants. It does not give you a basis to declare the lease void. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local real estate attorney to review your lease and... Read more »
Q: Do I have a winning case here?
I lived in an apartment with a couple from June 2017-September 2017. Our lease is up in late May or early June of 2018. Things turned hostile in the apartment and I felt scared and threatened so I moved out. I have video evidence of my male roommate threatening me along side his girlfriend who was... Read more »
You prove your case with admissible evidence and testimony. You should retain an attorney to review the facts and what you might submit as evidence and testimony, and then evaluate the likelihood of your success. There is no way to guess about your likelihood of success in a case, and no attorney... Read more »
Q: Can I pay a credit card debt before small claims pre trial
I received my pre trail notice to appear. And it’s my debt on a credit card. Can I contact the plaintiff and pay what’s owed, before pretrial.
Yes, make sure they will dismiss the suit though.
Q: Can the owner of the house I’m staying in change the locks with all of my things, including military gear, inside
Told I could stay in the house until I found a new place up to ninety days. No lease or rental agreement. He went active duty and decided to kick me out the next day. Taped falsely dated paperwork on the front door telling me to leave, nothing has been filed with the court. I got a call from their... Read more »
Try to work it out. Or sue the owner in small claims court yourself for a claim up to $6000.
Q: I wanted to know about laws on filing someone as a dependent if they don't or hasn't lived with you or cared for you
I recently filed for my taxes for the first time . On the other hand I HAD to file as a dependent or I would have been 'rejected' due to my mom using me as a dependent. But, I haven't lived with or haven't been under my mom's care since before I was 18. I worked on my own, lived with a friend and... Read more »
You need to talk to a tax advisor. Tax issues are complicated, and depend on your specific situation that your advisor will have to analyze to be able to give you any answers at all. The IRS has very specific criteria for claiming a dependent.
Q: Can my landlord use a old rental agreement with my signature & different address on it to evict me from a new address.
I lived in one side of a duplex back in July of 2017 I signed a lease and by October 2017 the other side of the duplex became available and i moved in and we’re given a new lease to sign but never signed it or returned it. We stopped paying rent due to failure to make necessary repairs in... Read more »
If you have not paid rent in full, then the lease might not matter, and the court could evict you. A written lease is not even required. Whatever issues there might be with the lease, either written or oral, if you still are behind on your rent, the court could grant an eviction. If not this... Read more »
Q: My ex husband and I own a home in Ohio. I rented it out and they are renting to own with HUD paying the payments. HUD do
HUD does not know they are doing it. We have a rental agreement and a rent to own that was not noterized and no lawyer was involved. The payment is $600 monthly. HUD pays $525 n they pay $75 Wich is never on time and I told her I would start eviction process if it happens again.
My ex... Read more »
Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local real estate attorney to review all these facts, sort things out, and advise you. If an attorney did not draft the "rent to own" contract, it could have problems, and might not be enforceable. Your attorney will have to review it and advise you.
Q: If my 18 year old is at someone’s house when I don’t want them to but still in high school can I call the police?
You can, but unless there is illegal activity, the police are unlikely to do anything. An 18 year old is no longer a minor, and can do what they want.
Q: I rented from a guy at work he was looking to sell but offered to rent me the house for $1200 a month with no depoisit
But electronically signed a 12 month lease ... but he changed the rent for the first two months 650 for the first month and 900 for the second month . It’s now three months later and I want to move and he’s threating to sue for the remaining 9 months of rent. I want to know is there a way in... Read more »
If the lease is valid for 12 months, then try to work out an early termination with landlord. If you move out, landlord can sue you, and the court would then determine if the lease is valid, and if so, order you to pay the 9 months. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local real estate attorney... Read more »
Q: Can I sue for money I spent on personal travel to see a friend who eventually bailed on me?
You would have to sue him in his state and city. Even if you won a $300 claim, you then would have to go to court again to try to collect it.
Q: Can my ex boyfriend take me to court for my car?
We broke up in March and have been fine until last weekend. He said he has rights to my car and is trying to take it from me. He’s said he’s filing paperwork to try to take the car from me. I’ve never missed a payment and he’s never had to pay it. My name is on the title and registration.... Read more »
He is trying to bully you. Ignore him. If his name is not on the title, he has no rights to it. If he takes it, call the police and report it stolen by him. If he signed the loan, his obligation is to pay the loan, but that does not give him any rights in the car if his name is not on the... Read more »
Q: Received a phone call saying that I had a Check Into Cash debt from 2004 and was being summons to court
Upon calling was told I could set up a payment plan for $200 a month starting on the 15th Email sent an email a DocuSign agreeing to this and gave them my debit card information two days later I have received another DocuSign saying that it is paid in full and that there is no balance due but I... Read more »
Cancel your debt card and inform the bank you've been the victim of a scam. Courts do not call people to summon them into court.
Q: I was punched in the face by my roommate a few months back. He initially agreed to pay but now refuses.
He agreed to pay my 5,000 dollar hospital fee in texts.
Tell him you will report it as an assault to the police, then sue him in small claims court.
Q: After your account from a rental property is sent to an attorney what then happens ? Collection agency takes it ?
I fell behind in making my payment agreements after leaving my lease a few months early , I emailed the corporate office to pick back up the payments but I must of waited too late because its being sent to an attorney, I still want to make payments to clear the balance.
The attorney may turn it over to collections or file a lawsuit against you. You should call the attorney. If you are willing to work out a payment plan there is no reason for you to be sued or to have the debt wind up in collections.
Q: Hello i owe on a credit card and now they are suing me for the balance the paper states i need to reapond? How?
You respond by filing a document with the court. The most common is simply known as an answer, which is a document in which you respond point by point to the allegations in the complaint. There are also several motions which may be filed as a response before, with, or after the answer. As with any... Read more »
Q: A family member borrowed $4,000 to repair his vehicle, I paid for the repairs and have documentation. Next Steps?
Sue him in small claims court.
Q: My wife is watching her twin nephews at our home. One of them breaks the TV. Who is responsible for the damages?
She was using the restroom at the time and came out to find a large crack in our tv. Tv cost $2,500 around 3 years ago. She is being paid to watch them every now and then. They just turned 2 years old.
Do you know which twin? Did one of them admit it? Your wife probably assumed the responsibility for any damage when she agreed to watch them in your home. And it could be said that she was negligent when she left two 2-year old boys unattended with the ability to cause damage. You could sue... Read more »
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
