For a civil lawsuit involving an amount less than $1,000 and where you want to avoid strict court formalities and potentially not hire an attorney, the best venue would typically be the Magistrate Court.
Magistrate Courts (or Small Claims Courts, depending on the jurisdiction) are designed to handle small claims and allow individuals to represent themselves, making the process simpler and more accessible compared to higher courts like Superior Court. Juvenile Courts primarily deal with matters concerning minors, and Probate Courts handle issues related to wills and estates, so they would not be appropriate for a general civil lawsuit.