Texas Petition for Small Claims is a type of civil lawsuit used for disputes involving sums of money up to $10,000. It is a simplified version of a typical civil lawsuit, allowing parties to resolve disputes without having to go through a full trial. The filing party is known as the Petitioner and the defendant is known as the Respondent. The Petitioner must provide evidence of the Respondent's debt or wrong-doing. There are three types of Texas Petition for Small Claims: * Breach of Contract — This type of claim is used if a contract has been breached, either by failing to perform a duty or not providing a service as promised. * Debt Collection — This type of claim is used if a debt is owed and the debtor refuses to pay. * Property Damage — This type of claim is used if property has been damaged and the responsible party refuses to pay for the damages. The Texas Petition for Small Claims process begins with filing the paperwork with the court and paying a filing fee. The Petitioner must then serve the Respondent with notice of the lawsuit. The Respondent must then respond to the petition within a certain period of time. If the Respondent does not respond, the Petitioner can request a default judgment. If the Respondent does respond, a hearing may be set to present evidence and arguments. The judge will then make a ruling.