Alabama Small Claims Court: $6,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Alabama small claims cases go to district court for claims up to $6,000. See the $35 to $198 filing fees, lawyer rules, 14-day appeals and how to collect.
9 min read
Small Claims Court
52 articles
Alaska Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Alaska small claims cases are capped at $10,000 under AS 22.15.040. Learn the $50 or $100 filing fee, the waiver rule, the 20-day answer, appeals and collection.
12 min read
Arizona Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Arizona small claims court hears money claims up to $5,000 with no lawyers, no jury and no appeal. Learn the fees, filing steps, hearing rules and collection.
13 min read
Arkansas Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Arkansas small claims court hears claims up to $5,000. Learn who can sue, filing fees, the ban on lawyers, service, appeals to circuit court and collection.
13 min read
California Small Claims Court: $12,500 Limit, Fees and How to File
California small claims court hears claims up to $12,500 for individuals and $6,250 for businesses. Learn the fees, filing, service, appeal and collection rules.
18 min read
Colorado Small Claims Court: $7,500 Limit, Fees and How to File
Colorado small claims court hears claims up to $7,500. Learn the $31 and $55 filing fees, who can file, serving the defendant, the 14-day appeal and collection.
11 min read
Connecticut Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Connecticut small claims covers money claims up to $5,000, or $15,000 for home improvement disputes. Learn the $95 fee, service, remote hearings and collection.
9 min read
D.C. Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
D.C. small claims cases are capped at $10,000 under D.C. Code 11-1321. Learn the filing fees, the business lawyer rule, service, the 3-day appeal and collection.
14 min read
Delaware Small Claims Court: $25,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Delaware's Justice of the Peace Court handles small claims up to $25,000. See filing fees from $35, service, the 15-day appeal and how to collect a judgment.
10 min read
Florida Small Claims Court: $8,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Florida small claims cases cover up to $8,000 in county court. Learn the filing fees, service rules, pretrial conference, appeals and how to collect a judgment.
14 min read
Georgia Small Claims Court: $15,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Georgia magistrate court hears small claims up to $15,000, rising to $25,000 for cases filed from January 1, 2027. Fees, filing, answers and collection.
14 min read
Hawaii Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Hawaii small claims court hears claims up to $5,000, with no limit for security deposit cases. Learn the $35 fee, service rules and why there is no appeal.
12 min read
Idaho Small Claims Court: $15,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Idaho raised its small claims limit to $15,000 on July 1, 2026. Learn the $69 filing fee, the no-lawyer rule, the 21-day answer and 30-day appeal deadlines.
13 min read
Illinois Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Illinois small claims cover money claims up to $10,000 in circuit court. See filing fees, who needs a lawyer, service rules, appeals and how to collect a judgment.
14 min read
Indiana Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Indiana small claims cases are capped at $10,000. Learn the $35 filing fee, who can represent a business, serving notice, appeals and collecting a judgment.
12 min read
Iowa Small Claims Court: $6,500 Limit, Fees and How to File
Iowa small claims covers money claims up to $6,500. Learn the new $115 filing fee, service, the 20-day appeal deadline and how to collect a judgment.
10 min read
Kansas Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Kansas small claims covers claims up to $10,000. Learn the filing fees, the 20-claim yearly cap, the no-lawyer rule, the 14-day appeal and collecting a judgment.
10 min read
Kentucky Small Claims Court: $2,500 Limit, Fees and How to File
Kentucky small claims court hears claims up to $2,500. Learn the $38 filing fee, who cannot sue there, the 25-claim yearly cap, 10-day appeals and collection.
12 min read
Louisiana Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Louisiana city court small claims divisions and justice of the peace courts hear claims up to $5,000. Learn the fees, appeal limits, deadlines and collection.
14 min read
Maine Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Maine's small claims limit rose to $10,000 on January 1, 2026. Learn the $70 filing fee, serving first, who can appeal in 30 days and how to collect.
14 min read
Maryland Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Maryland District Court hears small claims up to $5,000. The $44 filing fee, service, the Notice of Intention to Defend, appeals and collecting a judgment.
14 min read
Massachusetts Small Claims Court: $7,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Massachusetts small claims court hears claims up to $7,000, with no limit for car damage claims. Learn the fees, filing, hearings, appeals and collection.
14 min read
Michigan Small Claims Court: $7,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Michigan small claims court hears money claims up to $7,000. Filing fees of $30 to $70, no lawyers, no appeal from a judge, and how to collect your judgment.
16 min read
Minnesota Small Claims Court: $20,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Minnesota's conciliation court hears claims up to $20,000, or $4,000 on consumer credit. See the $65 filing fee, service rules, removal appeals and collection.
12 min read
Mississippi Small Claims Court: $3,500 Limit, Fees and How to File
Mississippi small claims cases go to justice court, with a $3,500 limit and a $25 filing fee. Learn service, juries, counterclaims, defaults and collection.
12 min read
Missouri Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Missouri small claims court hears money claims up to $5,000 under RSMo 482.305. Who can file, fees, service, the 10-day trial de novo appeal and collecting.
14 min read
Montana Small Claims Court: $7,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Montana small claims cases are capped at $7,000 under MCA 25-35-502. Learn the lawyer rule, the 10-claim yearly cap, fees, the 10-day appeal and collection.
13 min read
Nebraska Small Claims Court: $7,500 Limit, Fees and How to File
Nebraska small claims court handles claims up to $7,500. Learn the $58 filing fee, the no-lawyer rule, the 30-day appeal deadline and how to collect.
13 min read
Nevada Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Nevada small claims covers money claims up to $10,000 in justice court. See Clark County fees, service rules, the 7-day appeal deadline and how to collect.
11 min read
New Hampshire Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees, How to File
New Hampshire small claims cover up to $10,000 under RSA 503:1. Learn the jury and mediation thresholds, service by mail, the 30-day appeal and collection.
13 min read
New Jersey Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
New Jersey small claims court hears claims up to $5,000 in the Special Civil Part. Learn the $35 filing fee, service, trial day, appeals and collection.
13 min read
New Mexico Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
New Mexico small claims cases go to magistrate court, which hears claims up to $10,000. Learn fees, service rules, evidence, 15-day appeals and collection.
12 min read
New York Small Claims Court: Limits by Court, Fees, How to File
New York small claims limits: $10,000 in NYC, $5,000 in City and District Courts, $3,000 in town and village courts. Fees, who can file, appeals and collection.
17 min read
North Carolina Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit and How to File
North Carolina small claims court hears cases up to $10,000 before a magistrate. What to know about lawyers, the $150 appeal cost, and collecting a judgment.
11 min read
North Dakota Small Claims Court: $15,000 Limit, Fees, How to File
North Dakota small claims cases are capped at $15,000 under NDCC 27-08.1-01. Learn the $20 fee, the defendant's 20-day choice, why there is no appeal and collection.
12 min read
Ohio Small Claims Court: $6,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Ohio small claims divisions hear money claims up to $6,000. Learn what you can sue for, filing fees, magistrate objections, appeals and how to collect a judgment.
14 min read
Oklahoma Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Oklahoma small claims court hears claims up to $10,000. Learn the $45 filing fee, who can sue, service rules, counterclaims, appeals and how to collect.
14 min read
Oregon Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Oregon small claims court hears claims up to $10,000 in circuit court. Learn the 2026 filing fees, service rules, the 30-day response, and why circuit court small claims have no appeal.
13 min read
Pennsylvania Small Claims Court: $12,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Pennsylvania small claims go to magisterial district judges for up to $12,000. See 2026 filing costs, who can represent you, appeals and how to collect a judgment.
17 min read
Rhode Island Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Rhode Island small claims cover contract and consumer claims up to $5,000. See what you cannot sue for, filing fees, the 20-day answer and the 2-day appeal.
14 min read
Small Claims Court by State: Limits, Fees and Appeals (2026)
Compare small claims limits in all 50 states and DC, from $2,500 in Kentucky to $25,000 in Delaware and Tennessee, plus filing fees, lawyer rules and appeals.
24 min read
South Carolina Small Claims Court: $7,500 Limit, Fees, How to File
South Carolina small claims cases up to $7,500 go to magistrates court. Learn the $80 filing cost, 2027 fee changes, service, appeals and collecting a judgment.
15 min read
South Dakota Small Claims Court: $12,000 Limit, Fees, How to File
South Dakota small claims cases are capped at $12,000 under SDCL 16-12B-13. See 2026 filing fees, how notice is served, why there is no appeal, and how to collect.
13 min read
Tennessee Small Claims Court: $25,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Tennessee has no separate small claims court: General Sessions Court hears civil cases up to $25,000. Fees by county, service, appeals and collecting.
14 min read
Texas Small Claims Court: $20,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Texas small claims cases go to justice court and can be for up to $20,000. Learn the $54 filing fee, who can file, service, appeals and collecting a judgment.
16 min read
Utah Small Claims Court: $20,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Utah small claims court hears claims up to $20,000 (rising to $25,000 in 2030). Learn the filing fees, ODR, service deadlines, appeals and how to collect.
13 min read
Vermont Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Vermont small claims cases are capped at $10,000 under 12 V.S.A. 5531, or $5,000 for consumer credit and medical debt. See fees, service, appeals and collection.
13 min read
Virginia Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Virginia small claims court hears claims up to $5,000 without lawyers. Learn the fees, where to file, how to serve, appeal deadlines and how to collect.
13 min read
Washington Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Washington small claims court hears money claims up to $10,000 for individuals and $5,000 for businesses. Learn the fees, service rules, appeals and collection.
13 min read
West Virginia Small Claims: $20,000 Limit in Magistrate Court
West Virginia has no separate small claims court. Magistrate courts hear civil claims up to $20,000. Learn the fees, the 20-day answer and appeal, and collection.
14 min read
Wisconsin Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, $15,000 in 2027
Wisconsin small claims covers money claims up to $10,000 ($5,000 for injury and tort), rising to $15,000 in 2027. Fees, filing, appeals and collection.
14 min read
Wyoming Small Claims Court: $6,000 Limit, $10 Fee, How to File
Wyoming small claims cases are capped at $6,000 under W.S. 1-21-201, and filing costs $10. Learn the demand rule, service, hearings, appeals and how to collect.
12 min read