court basics
Read small claims rules in plain English
See which court hears smaller civil cases in your state and the dollar limit only when an official statute or court page states it. This is general information, not legal advice.
Small claims cases are filed in state courts. United States District Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and are not small claims court.
U.S. CourtsStates set their own maximums. A figure that is right for one state is not the filing limit next door.
U.S. CourtsSelf-help pages from state courts describe procedure. They are not a substitute for advice about your own claim.
U.S. CourtsState guide
Small claims rules by state
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Before You File
Questions to answer from the official court page before you file a small claim.
- The verified dollar limit and any exception
- The court that hears the case
- What a judgment does not collect by itself
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Why it matters
The form is short. The limit is not a suggestion.
Small claims is designed so people can bring a modest money dispute without the full civil procedure. The tradeoff is a cap, and sometimes a limit on what the judge can order.
Filing over the cap, or filing in the wrong court, can get the case dismissed. The state pages exist so the first number you see is tied to a statute or a court explanation.
Winning is also not the same as collecting. Read the judgment guide before you pay a filing fee.
Guides
Plain answers, sourced
What small claims court is
A plain-English explanation of small claims court in the United States, including the different court names states use and what a hearing is for.
Read →How dollar limits work
How small-claims dollar limits are set, what they usually exclude, and why one state can have two different numbers.
Read →Who can sue and be sued
Who may file a small claim, who may be named as a defendant, and when a business has to use a lawyer or is barred from the simplified docket.
Read →A demand letter before you file
Why a written demand helps, when a statute requires one, and what to keep for the hearing.
Read →What to bring to the hearing
The papers, photos, and witnesses that official court pages tell people to have ready for a small-claims hearing.
Read →Collecting a judgment
What a small-claims judgment does and does not do, and the collection tools official court pages actually name.
Read →Featured partners