Beginning Aug. 15, Slidell residents who have legal claims less than $5,000 can go to the Small Claims Division of the Slidell City Court instead of traveling to Covington for a hearing in civil court.

Last week, Gov. Bobby Jindal signed House Bill 143 into law. This increased the upper cap on small claims disputes from $3,000 to $5,000.

The law applies only to the Slidell City Court, which includes Wards 8 and 9 and most of east St. Tammany Parish, said court spokesperson Ann Barks, Until Aug. 15, anyone with a financial dispute between $3,000 and $35,000 has to go to civil court. This means either going to civil court in Slidell or to the 22nd Judicial District in Covington.

Civil court also means one has to hire an attorney, which increases the cost of a claim under $5,000.

Slidell City Judge Jim Lamz suggested the new law in an effort to give small claims defendants and plaintiffs a chance to work things out without the expense of attorneys.

“When they come to Small Claims Court, they’ll find the rules are relaxed compared to civil court,” Lamz said.

Barks said judges in Small Claims court try to have the two parties work out their differences without attorneys. Barks added that it is hard for people to get lawyers for small claims because it is not usually worth the time or energy for the attorney. In Small Claims Court, the two parties are urged to talk things out between themselves.

“We make it less burdensome, less expensive, more informal and less adversarial,” Lamz said.

When the law goes into effect, anyone in east St. Tammany who has a financial dispute up to $5,000 can go to the Slidell City Court and represent themselves.

“We believe this will make things more convenient for people,” Barks said.