Kentucky Small Claims Court: $2,500 Limit, Fees and How to File

In Kentucky, you can sue for up to $2,500 in small claims, not counting interest and costs. KRS 24A.230 gives the small claims division of District Court jurisdiction when the claim "does not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) exclusive of interest and costs," a figure last amended by 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 91, effective June 8, 2011.

Every county's District Court has a small claims division (KRS 24A.220), and the limit is the same for individuals and businesses. This guide follows a Kentucky small claims case from filing to collection; for other states, see our guide to small claims court by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-07. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers the small claims division of Kentucky District Court under the Small Claims Act, KRS 24A.200 to 24A.360, with filing fees under the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure as amended by Supreme Court Order 2026-15. It does not cover evictions, cases on the regular District or Circuit Court civil dockets, or small claims in other states.

Kentucky small claims limit: $2,500

The small claims division hears claims of up to $2,500, exclusive of interest and costs (KRS 24A.230). That covers suits for money and suits to disaffirm, avoid or rescind a contract to buy goods or services worth up to $2,500. The Kentucky legislature's published history for the section shows no amendment since 2011.

If you are owed more, the Small Claims Handbook says, "Even if you are owed more, you can choose to sue in the Small Claims Division for only $2,500." Neither the statute nor the Handbook says whether you can later sue for the rest, so treat cutting a larger claim down to $2,500 as a choice you may not be able to undo.

The alternative is the regular civil docket. District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases up to $5,000, exclusive of interest and costs, apart from cases about title to real estate and matters of equity (KRS 24A.120(1)).

What you can and cannot sue for

KRS 24A.230 keeps these cases out of small claims: libel, slander, alienation of affections, malicious prosecution and abuse of process. The division also cannot issue prejudgment attachment, garnishment, replevin or any other provisional remedy.

Some plaintiffs are barred entirely (KRS 24A.240(2) to (4)):

• assignees, so a claim bought from someone else cannot be brought here;
• class actions;
• anyone in the business of lending money at interest, suing in furtherance of that business;
• "any collection agency or collection agent."

Executors, administrators, guardians, trustees and conservators can be parties. The sources we reviewed did not address claims against government bodies or suits involving minors, so ask the clerk before filing one of those. Check the Kentucky statute of limitations to make sure your claim is still timely.

The 25-claims-a-year limit

KRS 24A.250 says, "No party shall file more than twenty-five (25) claims in any one (1) calendar year." A business gets 25 claims for each established location in the district that has been engaged in trade or commerce for at least six months. You sign an affidavit about your filings when you file, and a claim over the limit is dismissed without prejudice at your cost. The cap does not apply to city, county or urban-county governments, and cases transferred in from other dockets do not count (KRS 24A.310(4)).

Filing fees

Kentucky Supreme Court Order 2026-15, entered May 14, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, set the small claims filing fee in CR 3.03 at $38.00.

CR 3.03(1)(m) also requires fees under KRS 453.060 and KRS 27A.630 and any other required fees on top of the $38, so your total will be more. We did not find an official statewide total, so ask the Circuit Court Clerk, who handles small claims filings. Certified mail service is charged at a rate set by administrative order, and a sheriff's service fee is paid directly to the sheriff; we could not confirm either amount.

For comparison, the general District Court civil filing fee under the same order is $94.00.

Filing without paying fees

KRS 453.190 says, "A court shall allow a poor person residing in this state to file or defend any action or appeal therein without paying costs." You ask by motion with an affidavit showing that your income is at or below 100% of the Supreme Court's indigency scale, or that you cannot pay without depriving yourself or your dependents of necessities. Ask the clerk for the current form.

Lawyers and business representation

KRS 24A.240(1) says, "The appearance of an attorney-at-law on behalf of any party is permitted but not required." When a business sues or is sued, the Handbook says the person who appears at the hearing must be an officer, a person regularly employed in a managerial capacity, or an attorney.

Where to file

You file in "the judicial district where the party defendant or his agent resides or is doing business" (KRS 24A.260(2)). For a corporation, "resides" means the county of its headquarters, and "doing business" includes any county where it runs a place of business or sends sales representatives (KRS 24A.210). The Handbook adds that a corporation can also be sued in the county where the contract was made or performed.

The case starts with a Small Claims Complaint (form AOC-175) filed with the Circuit Court Clerk.

Serving the defendant

When you file, you choose how the defendant is served: certified mail with return receipt, sent by the clerk and paid in advance, or personal service by the Sheriff's Office, with the fee paid to the sheriff. The defendant receives the Summons (form AOC-180), a copy of the complaint and the Small Claims Handbook.

The hearing is set "not less than twenty (20) days nor more than forty (40) days after service of process" (KRS 24A.280). Check with the clerk that service was completed, because the case will not be heard until the defendant is served.

Settling before the hearing

Neither the Small Claims Act nor the Handbook requires a demand letter, but the Handbook urges you to try to settle first. It mentions the Attorney General's consumer protection mediation, which cannot get money for you as an individual and does not handle disputes between businesses.

If you reach a deal, you can file a Small Claims Settlement Agreement (form AOC-199). It becomes enforceable if the judge approves it.

If you are the defendant

You do not file a formal answer. The only pleadings are the claim and any counterclaim, and "There shall be no pretrial discovery in the small claims division of the District Court" (KRS 24A.300).

• Counterclaim (form AOC-185): it must come from the same transaction or occurrence, stay within $2,500, and not require bringing in third parties. File it "at least five (5) days prior to the time of the hearing" and get a copy to the plaintiff (KRS 24A.290). A counterclaim over $2,500 moves the case to the regular District or Circuit Court docket, and you pay the difference in filing fees (KRS 24A.310(1)).
• Jury trial: small claims are tried without a jury, and the plaintiff waives one by filing. A defendant can demand a jury by written notice at least 7 days before the hearing, which moves the case to the regular District Court docket for an additional fee. The Handbook says this option is available when the plaintiff claims more than $250.
• Complex cases: the judge can also move a case off the small claims docket as too complex (KRS 24A.310(3)).

If you are sued by a debt buyer or collection agency in small claims, you can point out to the court that KRS 24A.240 bars those plaintiffs from the division.

The hearing

"The hearing and disposition of all matters in the small claims division shall be informal" (KRS 24A.330). A District judge or a trial commissioner hears the case. Both sides can call witnesses and present evidence, and continuances are granted only where fairness and justice require (KRS 24A.280(3)). Bring your documents, photos and witnesses; there is no discovery to get them later.

If the defendant does not appear, the judge may enter a default judgment for the full amount plus costs, but the Handbook says the plaintiff must still prove the claim. Before any default judgment, federal law requires the plaintiff to file an affidavit on whether the defendant is in military service (50 U.S.C. 3931). If the plaintiff does not appear, the case may be dismissed, or the defendant's proven counterclaim granted.

We could not verify the rule and deadline for setting aside a small claims default judgment from the text of the Civil Rules. If a default was entered against you, talk to the clerk or a lawyer right away, because the 10-day appeal clock runs separately.

Appealing a Kentucky small claims judgment

Under KRS 24A.340, any party who loses "may appeal within ten (10) days of the judgment to the Circuit Court." The Handbook counts the 10 days from the date the judgment was stamped Entered. The Handbook describes the steps:

1. File a Notice of Appeal (there is no form) with the Circuit Court Clerk in the county, attach the judgment and serve the other side. A filing fee is required; we could not confirm the amount.
2. Within 30 days of the notice, file a Statement of Appeal in the Circuit Court case, limited to 8,750 words or 20 pages. The other side has 30 days to file a Counterstatement.
3. The Circuit judge reviews the case file and the electronic recording of the hearing for legal error. No new evidence is allowed.

The losing party pays the judgment plus the Circuit Court costs. The Circuit Court's decision cannot be appealed to the Court of Appeals as a matter of right (KRS 22A.020(1)); a party can only ask the Court of Appeals for discretionary review under Rule of Appellate Procedure 44.

Collecting your judgment

Winning does not mean the court collects for you. Garnishment or execution can issue on the date stated in the judgment, or if none is stated, 10 days after it is stamped Entered. The Handbook lists these tools:

• Post-judgment interrogatories (form AOC-197): the debtor answers under oath within 30 days, and a motion (form AOC-198) asks the court to compel answers.
• Wage garnishment (form AOC-150) and non-wage or bank garnishment (forms AOC-145 and AOC-150.1): the garnishee answers within 20 days, and the clerk holds the funds for 15 days. Federal law limits garnishment of wages for ordinary debts to the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage each week (15 U.S.C. 1673(a)).
• Execution (form AOC-135): the sheriff returns it within 60 days, personal property is taken before real estate (KRS 426.230), and the debtor has 10 days to challenge it.
• Judgment lien: a notice of judgment lien is filed with the county clerk, and enforcing it takes a separate lawsuit.

Judgments "bear six percent (6%) interest compounded annually from the date the judgment is entered," unless a written contract sets a different rate (KRS 360.040), and the court may set a lower rate for unliquidated damages after a hearing. The Handbook says small claims judgments are enforceable for 15 years, the period KRS 413.090(1) allows for an action on a judgment.

Some income and property are exempt. Social Security benefits cannot be garnished or levied (42 U.S.C. 407(a)), and Kentucky's own exemptions are in KRS Chapter 427; see Kentucky debt collection laws and our wage garnishment calculator. When you are paid, note the judgment satisfied or file a Satisfaction of Judgment; a debtor who has paid can file a Motion for Satisfaction of Judgment (form AOC-191).

Official forms and self-help

• Kentucky Small Claims Handbook (P-6), Administrative Office of the Courts and Attorney General, revised January 2025. It explains forms AOC-175, AOC-180, AOC-185, AOC-191, AOC-197, AOC-198 and AOC-199, and the garnishment and execution forms.
• Kentucky Supreme Court Order 2026-15 (filing fees effective July 1, 2026). The Handbook predates this order, so use the order for fees.
• Small Claims Act, KRS 24A.230 on the Kentucky legislature's site.

Related

• Small claims court by state
• Kentucky statute of limitations
• Kentucky debt collection laws
• Kentucky landlord-tenant laws
• Indiana small claims court
• Tennessee small claims court

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information about the small claims division of Kentucky District Court under KRS 24A.200 to 24A.360 and the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure, verified on 2026-10-07. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For help with your situation, contact your Circuit Court Clerk, a legal aid office, or a lawyer licensed in Kentucky.

Last updated: 2026-10-07.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the small claims limit in Kentucky?

$2,500, not counting interest and costs (KRS 24A.230). The figure was last amended in 2011 and applies to individuals and businesses alike.

Can I sue for more than $2,500 in Kentucky small claims court?

No. You can choose to sue for only $2,500 if you are owed more, but the Small Claims Handbook does not say whether you can recover the rest later. The regular District Court civil docket hears cases up to $5,000 (KRS 24A.120).

How much does it cost to file small claims in Kentucky?

The small claims filing fee is $38 under Supreme Court Order 2026-15, effective July 1, 2026, plus a $20 court technology fee and other required fees. Ask the Circuit Court Clerk for the total.

Can a lawyer represent me in Kentucky small claims court?

Yes. KRS 24A.240(1) says the appearance of an attorney is permitted but not required.

Can a collection agency sue me in Kentucky small claims court?

No. KRS 24A.240 bars collection agencies and collection agents, people in the business of lending money at interest suing in furtherance of that business, and assignees from bringing actions in the small claims division.

How many small claims can I file in Kentucky in a year?

Up to 25 per calendar year statewide (KRS 24A.250). A business gets 25 for each established location in the district, and the limit does not apply to city, county or urban-county governments.

How long do I have to appeal a Kentucky small claims judgment?

10 days from the judgment (KRS 24A.340); the Handbook counts from the date the judgment was stamped Entered. The appeal goes to Circuit Court and is decided on the record.

Can I get a jury in Kentucky small claims court?

Small claims are tried without a jury. A defendant can demand one by written notice at least 7 days before the hearing, which moves the case to the regular District Court docket for an extra fee (KRS 24A.320).

How long is a Kentucky small claims judgment good for?

The Handbook says small claims judgments are enforceable for 15 years, matching the 15-year period for an action on a judgment in KRS 413.090(1).