Small claims guides · Updated Oct 2026
Small claims court · State guides

Get your money back without a lawyer

Small claims court is where people sue for unpaid bills, lost deposits, bad repairs and damaged property. Every state runs it differently. Pick yours to see the limit, the fee, the forms and the deadlines, then create a demand letter in a minute.

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AlabamaDistrict Court (Small Claims Docket)Limit $6,000Fee $52–$255 AlaskaDistrict Court (Small Claims)Limit $10,000Fee $50–$100 ArizonaJustice Court, Small Claims DivisionLimit $5,000Fee $58–$60 ArkansasDistrict Court, Small Claims DivisionLimit $5,000Fee $65–$68 CaliforniaSmall Claims Division of the Superior CourtLimit $12,500Fee $30–$75 ColoradoSmall Claims Court (County Court)Limit $7,500Fee $31–$55 ConnecticutSmall Claims Session of the Superior CourtLimit $5,000Fee $95 DelawareJustice of the Peace Court (civil)Limit $25,000Fee $35–$45 District of ColumbiaSmall Claims and Conciliation Branch of the D.C. Superior CourtLimit $10,000Fee $5–$45 FloridaCounty Court, Small Claims DivisionLimit $8,000Fee $55–$300 GeorgiaMagistrate CourtLimit $15,000Fee $95–$115 HawaiiSmall Claims Division of the District CourtLimit $5,000Fee $35 IdahoSmall Claims Department of the Magistrate Division (District Court)Limit $15,000Fee $69 IllinoisCircuit Court, small claimsLimit $10,000Fee $94–$379 IndianaSmall Claims Docket of the Circuit or Superior Court (Township Small Claims Courts in Marion County)Limit $10,000Fee $97–$125 IowaSmall Claims in the Iowa District CourtLimit $6,500Fee $115 KansasSmall Claims in the Kansas District CourtLimit $10,000Fee $48–$70 KentuckySmall Claims Division of the District CourtLimit $2,500Fee $58 LouisianaSmall Claims Division of City Court, or Justice of the Peace CourtLimit $5,000Fee $87–$130 MaineMaine District Court (small claims)Limit $10,000Fee $70 MarylandDistrict Court of Maryland (small claims)Limit $5,000Fee $44 MassachusettsSmall Claims Session of the District Court, Boston Municipal Court or Housing CourtLimit $7,000Fee $40–$150 MichiganSmall Claims Division of the District CourtLimit $7,000Fee $30–$70 MinnesotaConciliation Court (Minnesota District Court)Limit $20,000Fee $65 MississippiJustice CourtLimit $3,500Fee $85 MissouriSmall Claims Division of the Circuit Court (Associate Circuit)Limit $5,000Fee $20–$100 MontanaSmall Claims Court (Justice Court small claims division)Limit $7,000Fee $30 NebraskaSmall Claims Court (County Court)Limit $7,500Fee $30 NevadaJustice Court (small claims)Limit $10,000Fee $55–$196 New HampshireCircuit Court – District Division (small claims)Limit $10,000Fee $90–$145 New JerseySuperior Court, Special Civil Part, Small Claims SectionLimit $5,000Fee $35–$45 New MexicoMagistrate Court (Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court in Albuquerque)Limit $10,000Fee $77 New YorkSmall Claims Part of the Civil Court of the City of New YorkLimit $10,000Fee $10–$20 North CarolinaSmall Claims Court (heard by a magistrate)Limit $10,000Fee $96–$126 North DakotaSmall Claims Court (Small Claims Division of the District Court)Limit $15,000Fee $20 OhioSmall Claims Division of your Municipal or County CourtLimit $6,000Fee $37–$124 OklahomaSmall Claims Division of the District CourtLimit $10,000Fee $58–$225 OregonSmall Claims Department of the Circuit CourtLimit $10,000Fee $57–$102 PennsylvaniaMagisterial District Court (Philadelphia Municipal Court in Philadelphia)Limit $12,000Fee $95–$228 Rhode IslandSmall Claims, Rhode Island District CourtLimit $5,000Fee $76 South CarolinaMagistrate Court (Summary Court)Limit $7,500Fee $80 South DakotaSmall Claims Court (Magistrate Court, part of the Circuit Court)Limit $12,000Fee $25–$43 TennesseeGeneral Sessions Court (civil division)Limit $25,000Fee $146–$269 TexasJustice Court (Justice of the Peace Court)Limit $20,000Fee $54 UtahSmall Claims Department of the Justice CourtLimit $20,000Fee $60–$185 VermontSmall Claims, Civil Division of the Vermont Superior CourtLimit $10,000Fee $65–$90 VirginiaGeneral District Court, Small Claims DivisionLimit $5,000Fee $46–$55 WashingtonDistrict Court, Small Claims DepartmentLimit $10,000Fee $35–$50 West VirginiaMagistrate CourtLimit $20,000Fee $30–$50 WisconsinSmall Claims Branch of the Circuit CourtLimit $10,000Fee $95 WyomingSmall Claims, Circuit CourtLimit $6,000Fee $10