First time filing small claims court

[Steve Balinski]

Hello, I could use help from anyone who has filed for small claims on their own.  

My previous tenant didnt pay their water bill for $525, I'd like to go after them for a judgement.  When I file, do I just need to file the small claims form, or do I also need to submit the bill itself from the city as well as the lease? Or do I just bring that all to the court case?

Also, can I serve the tenant myself, or does it need to be "someone official" like a process server?

[Greg M.]

Originally posted by @Bruce Woodruff:

However that means little in most cases, unless the defendant just pays...but if he was going to he would have already, right? 

Surprisingly, no. People are stupid or they think you won't go through with suing them. Twice I've gotten to court and the person offered to pay. Both completely ignored the repeated requests to pay and then while waiting for the case to be called, they both offered to pay.

I'm dealing with a moron (not my renter) right now that refused to pay. Even after being told multiple times her account would be turned over to a lien service and giving her a hard deadline and letting her know that they would tack on hundreds of dollars in fees, she refused to pay. She gets the notice from the lien service and all of a sudden she is willing to pay 100% including the extra $600 in fees the lien service tacked on. 

People are stupid...