Botswana
Administration of Justice
Source checked 2026-08-03
General information
Debt collection / Published court process
Letters of Demand and Small Claims
The letter-of-demand step in Botswana's published Small Claims Court process.
Scope of this page
The Administration of Justice identifies a letter of demand as the first step in its Small Claims Court process. The rules below describe that court service only; other debt matters may follow different procedures.
What the official guidance says to include
- The letter of demand should set out the claim and demand settlement within 14 days, failing which proceedings will be instituted.
- The court page lists the contract, letter or other document on which the claim is based among the records required for the claim.
- It also asks for the defendant's full name, address and available home or work telephone numbers.
If the demand is not settled
- The published sequence next directs the claimant to request a summons from the Clerk of Court and arrange service on the defendant.
- If payment is made, the court page says the action may be withdrawn.
- If a judgment remains unpaid, the published process describes applying for a writ of execution and instructing the relevant court officer to enforce it.
Important limits of this court service
- The official page says only natural persons may institute Small Claims Court cases; a corporate body or association may appear as a defendant and may counterclaim.
- It states that lawyers do not appear to represent parties in the Small Claims Court.
- The page currently identifies Small Claims Courts in Gaborone and Francistown and publishes a monetary limit; verify the current limit directly with the court before relying on it.
Verify the current process
Official source
Small Claims Court
Published by Administration of Justice. This source was checked on 2026-08-03.
This page provides general information drawn from the official source linked above. It is not advice about a particular matter. Court and government requirements can change; confirm the current process with the relevant office before acting.
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