> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://peoplescourt.ai/llms.txt). This page is also available as Markdown.

How it works

# How to resolve a contract dispute without going to court

Decide a contract dispute at People’s Court instead of in a lawsuit. If the contract has no clause yet, both sides sign a submission agreement for this dispute. Each side submits its documents and argument in writing, an AI Tribunal decides from that Record, and the signed Award is enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act. The AI-only fee is 5.67% of the amount in dispute: $567.00 on a $10,000 claim.

Fee5.67%$1.67 minimumSchedule7 dayseach phase, at mostFormatWritten Recordno ordinary hearing or discoveryReviewHuman appealunless both sides waive itEnforcementFAA9 U.S.C.

## Bring it to People’s Court

A contract dispute can be decided here without a lawsuit. A clause signed before the dispute is optional.

1. 01

  ### The contract already names People’s Court

  File. The clause is the agreement to arbitrate.
2. 02

  ### There is no clause yet

  Send a submission agreement for this dispute. Both sides accept it, and the case is heard here. The rest of the contract stays put.
3. 03

  ### You want a read before a binding case

  A Quick Ruling is a nonbinding AI opinion at a flat price. It is not an Award. Use it to reset the numbers, then open a binding case if you still need a decision.

## Step by step: binding arbitration at People’s Court

1. 01

  ### Check your contract for a dispute clause

  If it already names People’s Court, file. If it names a court or another forum, both sides can still sign a submission agreement that sends this dispute here.
2. 02

  ### No clause yet is fine

  Send a submission agreement for this dispute. Both sides accept it, and the Tribunal decides on that agreement. The rest of the contract stays as it is.
3. 03

  ### Gather the Record

  The signed contract or the emails that formed it, invoices, delivery proof, change requests, and the messages where the dispute started. There is no discovery, so submit everything you rely on.
4. 04

  ### File

  State the parties, the facts, each ground for relief, and the amount or ruling you want. The exact fee appears before you pay.Start at intake
5. 05

  ### Exchange submissions on a fixed schedule

  Answer, evidence and argument, and rebuttal are each up to seven calendar days. Both sides file evidence at the same time, so neither sees the other’s filing first.
6. 06

  ### Confirm the Record

  Each side gets 24 hours to flag any material omission in the summary of its own filings.
7. 07

  ### Receive the Award

  The Tribunal decides from the closed Record, the contract, and governing law, and serves a signed Award with reasoning.
8. 08

  ### Appeal window, then enforcement

  Each side has seven days to request a correction or file one appeal to a human arbitrator, unless both waived it. If the other side does not pay, you can ask a court to confirm the Award within one year.See how Awards are enforced

## What it costs

| Amount in dispute | AI-only case fee | AI-assisted human case fee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| $1,000 | $56.70 | $366.70 |
| $5,000 | $283.50 | $593.50 |
| $10,000 | $567.00 | $877.00 |
| $25,000 | $1,417.50 | $1,727.50 |
| $50,000 | $2,835.00 | $3,145.00 |

The fee is set before the case begins and never depends on who wins. An appeal to a human arbitrator costs the appealing party 15.67% of the amount in dispute, with a $520.00 minimum. A binding ruling without a money claim is $105.00 flat (AI-only) or $520.00 flat (AI-assisted human). For comparison, traditional arbitration of a $10,000 claim is about $10,100 by our estimate. The traditional figure is an estimate, not a quote. It assumes a $2,600 filing and administration fee plus 15 arbitrator hours at $500 an hour. Real fees vary by provider, claim size, and arbitrator, and exclude lawyers, appeals, and enforcement. Small claims court adds a clerk fee, service of process, parking, travel, and a weekday trip on top of the wait. See the cost calculator or small claims court vs. People’s Court.

## Common questions

### Can I resolve a contract dispute without going to court?

Yes. File it at People’s Court. If the contract has no arbitration clause, both sides sign a submission agreement for this dispute. The Tribunal decides on a written Record, and the Award can be confirmed under the Federal Arbitration Act.

### What if the contract has no arbitration clause?

Send a submission agreement for this dispute. Both sides accept it after the disagreement exists, and the Tribunal decides on that agreement. The rest of the contract does not have to change.

### How much does it cost to arbitrate a contract dispute at People’s Court?

AI-only cases cost 5.67% of the amount in dispute, with a $1.67 minimum. A $10,000 claim costs $567.00. AI-assisted human cases cost $310.00 plus 5.67%. The fee is shown before you pay and never depends on who wins.

### How long does it take?

Under the standard schedule, the Answer, evidence, and rebuttal phases are each seven calendar days at most, followed by 24 hours for Record confirmation. Phases close early once every required filing is in. The Tribunal decides after the Record closes.

### Is the decision binding?

Yes. The operative Award is final and binding on the parties, subject to correction requests, one human appeal unless every party waived it, and narrow court review. Judgment may be entered on it in any court having jurisdiction.

These answers describe People’s Court procedure and general law. They are not legal advice for a particular dispute.

From filing to AwardHow Awards are enforcedArbitration cost calculatorUnpaid freelance invoiceRules

## Have the contract and the paper trail? Start the case.

Start a caseSee the fee for your amount