Does anyone know about small claims?

[TemperanceBrennan]

I know the laws will depend on what state you are in. But, I'm wondering if you have a roommate who hasn't paid rent and you paid all of it, so you wouldn't get evicted, can you take them to small claims to make them pay you back?
My sister's roommate owes her a bunch of back rent and for some bills. Now, her roommate is telling her she doesn't owe her anything or at least not as much as she actually does. She's also saying "you'll get it when you get it". She had told my sister she would pay her back when she got her taxes done, that hasn't happened and doesn't sound like it will. Do you know what kind of proof you have to have to file a claim?

If it helps, the state is Wisconsin.

Thank you for any help or advice you have!

[CheshireGrin]

Is her roommate's name on the lease? I don't know about Wisconsin specifically, but I know in some states if you're not on the lease, there's very little recourse.

[TemperanceBrennan]

Yes, her roommate is on the lease. I know that when she talked to the landlord about re-signing the lease by herself, he said that her roommate was legally responsible (for what I'm not sure, I'm assuming for the last 2 months of this lease).

[Deleted]

www.wicourts.gov/publications/guides/smallclaimsguide.htm

[noodleskooze]

In Texas, yes. I've done it.

[TemperanceBrennan]

Thank you all for your help. I really appreciate it!

[hubes]

I did it in Wisconsin! The county I was in, I didn't even have to go to the court date. She never showed up and we got a judgement. We sued for part of the heating too, because there was a minimum temp in our lease. What county is she in?

[hubes]

I did it in Wisconsin! The county I was in, I didn't even have to go to the court date. She never showed up and we got a judgement. We sued for part of the heating too, because there was a minimum temp in our lease. What county is she in?

[TemperanceBrennan]

She is in La Crosse county.

[hubes]

We were in a different county, but what I did, was wrote her a letter (actually, I wrote her one every month), outlining what she owed, and gave her X number of days to pay. After the X number of days, I took the letter to the courhouse and filed- it took like 5 minutes and cost maybe $70? They summoned her, she didn't show and it was an automatic judgement in our favor.