diff --git a/claims.go b/claims.go
index ef4e57b..46b1a42 100644
--- a/claims.go
+++ b/claims.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package jwt
 
 import (
 	"crypto/subtle"
-	"encoding/json"
 )
 
 // For a type to be a Claims object, it must just have a Valid method that determines
@@ -13,6 +12,7 @@ type Claims interface {
 
 // Structured version of Claims Section, as referenced at
 // https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7519#section-4.1
+// See examples for how to use this with your own claim types
 type StandardClaims struct {
 	Audience  string `json:"aud,omitempty"`
 	ExpiresAt int64  `json:"exp,omitempty"`
@@ -85,90 +85,7 @@ func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
 	return verifyNbf(c.NotBefore, cmp, req)
 }
 
-type MapClaims map[string]interface{}
-
-// Compares the aud claim against cmp.
-// If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
-func (m MapClaims) VerifyAudience(cmp string, req bool) bool {
-	aud, _ := m["aud"].(string)
-	return verifyAud(aud, cmp, req)
-}
-
-// Compares the exp claim against cmp.
-// If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
-func (m MapClaims) VerifyExpiresAt(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
-	switch exp := m["exp"].(type) {
-	case float64:
-		return verifyExp(int64(exp), cmp, req)
-	case json.Number:
-		v, _ := exp.Int64()
-		return verifyExp(v, cmp, req)
-	}
-	return req == false
-}
-
-// Compares the iat claim against cmp.
-// If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
-func (m MapClaims) VerifyIssuedAt(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
-	switch iat := m["iat"].(type) {
-	case float64:
-		return verifyIat(int64(iat), cmp, req)
-	case json.Number:
-		v, _ := iat.Int64()
-		return verifyIat(v, cmp, req)
-	}
-	return req == false
-}
-
-// Compares the iss claim against cmp.
-// If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
-func (m MapClaims) VerifyIssuer(cmp string, req bool) bool {
-	iss, _ := m["iss"].(string)
-	return verifyIss(iss, cmp, req)
-}
-
-// Compares the nbf claim against cmp.
-// If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
-func (m MapClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
-	switch nbf := m["nbf"].(type) {
-	case float64:
-		return verifyNbf(int64(nbf), cmp, req)
-	case json.Number:
-		v, _ := nbf.Int64()
-		return verifyNbf(v, cmp, req)
-	}
-	return req == false
-}
-
-// Validates time based claims "exp, iat, nbf".
-// There is no accounting for clock skew.
-// As well, if any of the above claims are not in the token, it will still
-// be considered a valid claim.
-func (m MapClaims) Valid() error {
-	vErr := new(ValidationError)
-	now := TimeFunc().Unix()
-
-	if m.VerifyExpiresAt(now, false) == false {
-		vErr.err = "Token is expired"
-		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorExpired
-	}
-
-	if m.VerifyIssuedAt(now, false) == false {
-		vErr.err = "Token used before issued, clock skew issue?"
-		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorIssuedAt
-	}
-
-	if m.VerifyNotBefore(now, false) == false {
-		vErr.err = "Token is not valid yet"
-		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorNotValidYet
-	}
-
-	if vErr.valid() {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	return vErr
-}
+// ----- helpers
 
 func verifyAud(aud string, cmp string, required bool) bool {
 	if aud == "" {
diff --git a/map_claims.go b/map_claims.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e9d59f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/map_claims.go
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+package jwt
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+)
+
+// Claims type that uses the map[string]interface{} for JSON decoding
+// This is the default claims type if you don't supply one
+type MapClaims map[string]interface{}
+
+// Compares the aud claim against cmp.
+// If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
+func (m MapClaims) VerifyAudience(cmp string, req bool) bool {
+	aud, _ := m["aud"].(string)
+	return verifyAud(aud, cmp, req)
+}
+
+// Compares the exp claim against cmp.
+// If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
+func (m MapClaims) VerifyExpiresAt(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
+	switch exp := m["exp"].(type) {
+	case float64:
+		return verifyExp(int64(exp), cmp, req)
+	case json.Number:
+		v, _ := exp.Int64()
+		return verifyExp(v, cmp, req)
+	}
+	return req == false
+}
+
+// Compares the iat claim against cmp.
+// If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
+func (m MapClaims) VerifyIssuedAt(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
+	switch iat := m["iat"].(type) {
+	case float64:
+		return verifyIat(int64(iat), cmp, req)
+	case json.Number:
+		v, _ := iat.Int64()
+		return verifyIat(v, cmp, req)
+	}
+	return req == false
+}
+
+// Compares the iss claim against cmp.
+// If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
+func (m MapClaims) VerifyIssuer(cmp string, req bool) bool {
+	iss, _ := m["iss"].(string)
+	return verifyIss(iss, cmp, req)
+}
+
+// Compares the nbf claim against cmp.
+// If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
+func (m MapClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
+	switch nbf := m["nbf"].(type) {
+	case float64:
+		return verifyNbf(int64(nbf), cmp, req)
+	case json.Number:
+		v, _ := nbf.Int64()
+		return verifyNbf(v, cmp, req)
+	}
+	return req == false
+}
+
+// Validates time based claims "exp, iat, nbf".
+// There is no accounting for clock skew.
+// As well, if any of the above claims are not in the token, it will still
+// be considered a valid claim.
+func (m MapClaims) Valid() error {
+	vErr := new(ValidationError)
+	now := TimeFunc().Unix()
+
+	if m.VerifyExpiresAt(now, false) == false {
+		vErr.err = "Token is expired"
+		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorExpired
+	}
+
+	if m.VerifyIssuedAt(now, false) == false {
+		vErr.err = "Token used before issued, clock skew issue?"
+		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorIssuedAt
+	}
+
+	if m.VerifyNotBefore(now, false) == false {
+		vErr.err = "Token is not valid yet"
+		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorNotValidYet
+	}
+
+	if vErr.valid() {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return vErr
+}