Small claims court by state
Small claims court lets you sue for a limited amount of money without a lawyer, with simpler forms and a quick hearing. The limit, the fee, who can appear and whether you can appeal all depend on the state — 51 jurisdictions below, each checked against the courts' own pages and statutes. Last checked .
Free tools
Can I sue in small claims?Your state's limit for your claim, and the general deadline to sue from the date it happened.Demand letterAsk for the money in writing first, then copy or print the letter.Every state at a glance
| State | Limit | Filing fee | Lawyers | Appeal | Written contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $6,000 | Set by each court | Allowed | Either side, 14 days | 6 years |
| Alaska | $10,000 | $50–$100 | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 3 years |
| Arizona | $5,000 | $30 | Limited | No appeal | 6 years |
| Arkansas | $5,000 | Set by each court | Not allowed | Either side, 30 days | 5 years |
| California | $12,500 ($6,250 for a business) | $30–$100 | Not allowed | Defendant only, 30 days | 4 years |
| Colorado | $7,500 | $31–$55 | Limited | Either side, 14 days | 3 years |
| Connecticut | $5,000 | $95 | Allowed | No appeal | 6 years |
| Delaware | $25,000 | $35–$45 | Allowed | Either side, 15 days | 3 years |
| District of Columbia | $10,000 | $5–$45 | Allowed | Either side, 14 days | 3 years |
| Florida | $8,000 | $55–$300 | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 5 years |
| Georgia | $15,000 | Set by each court | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 6 years |
| Hawaii | $5,000 | $35 | Allowed | No appeal | 6 years |
| Idaho | $15,000 | $69 | Not allowed | Either side, 30 days | 5 years |
| Illinois | $10,000 | Set by each court | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 10 years |
| Indiana | $10,000 | Set by each court | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 6 years |
| Iowa | $6,500 | $115 | Allowed | Either side, 20 days | 10 years |
| Kansas | $10,000 | $47.5–$67.5 | Limited | Either side, 14 days | 5 years |
| Kentucky | $2,500 | Set by each court | Allowed | Either side, 10 days | 10 years |
| Louisiana | $5,000 | $35 | Allowed | No appeal | 10 years |
| Maine | $10,000 | $70 | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 6 years |
| Maryland | $5,000 | $44 | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 3 years |
| Massachusetts | $7,000 | $40–$150 | Allowed | Defendant only, 10 days | 6 years |
| Michigan | $7,000 | $30–$70 | Not allowed | No appeal | 6 years |
| Minnesota | $20,000 | Set by each court | Limited | Either side, 21 days | 6 years |
| Mississippi | $3,500 | Set by each court | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 3 years |
| Missouri | $5,000 | Set by each court | Allowed | Either side, 10 days | 10 years |
| Montana | $7,000 | $30 | Limited | Either side, 10 days | 6 years |
| Nebraska | $7,500 | $58 | Not allowed | Either side, 30 days | 5 years |
| Nevada | $10,000 | $45–$175 | Allowed | Either side, 7 days | 6 years |
| New Hampshire | $10,000 | $125–$180 | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 3 years |
| New Jersey | $5,000 | $35 | Allowed | Either side, 45 days | 6 years |
| New Mexico | $10,000 | $77 | Allowed | Either side, 15 days | 6 years |
| New York | $10,000 (lower in some courts; businesses can't sue) | $15–$20 | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 6 years |
| North Carolina | $10,000 (lower in some courts) | $96 | Allowed | Either side, 10 days | 3 years |
| North Dakota | $15,000 | $20 | Allowed | No appeal | 6 years |
| Ohio | $6,000 | Set by each court | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 6 years |
| Oklahoma | $10,000 | $58–$225.39 | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 5 years |
| Oregon | $10,000 | $57–$102 | Limited | No appeal | 6 years |
| Pennsylvania | $12,000 | $68.5–$171 | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 4 years |
| Rhode Island | $5,000 | $75.75 | Allowed | Defendant only, 2 days | 10 years |
| South Carolina | $7,500 | $70 | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 3 years |
| South Dakota | $12,000 | $24.84–$42.84 | Allowed | No appeal | 6 years |
| Tennessee | $25,000 | Set by each court | Allowed | Either side, 10 days | 6 years |
| Texas | $20,000 | $54 | Allowed | Either side, 21 days | 4 years |
| Utah | $20,000 | $60–$185 | Allowed | Either side, 28 days | 6 years |
| Vermont | $10,000 | $65–$90 | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 6 years |
| Virginia | $5,000 | Set by each court | Not allowed | Either side, 10 days | 5 years |
| Washington | $10,000 ($5,000 for a business) | $35–$50 | Limited | Either side, 30 days | 6 years |
| West Virginia | $20,000 | $50–$70 | Allowed | Either side, 20 days | 10 years |
| Wisconsin | $10,000 | $94.5–$98 | Allowed | Either side, 10 days | 6 years |
| Wyoming | $6,000 | $10 | Allowed | Either side, 30 days | 10 years |
Summary only. "Written contract" is the general time limit to sue on a written agreement. Some states have several courts that hear small claims, and fees often vary by county; open your state for the full rule and its sources. Court information, not legal advice; see our methodology.
How small claims works almost everywhere
- Ask the other side to pay, in writing. Some states require it; a judge will want to see that you tried.
- File a claim form with the court in the right county and pay the filing fee (a fee waiver is usually available if you can't afford it).
- Have the other side formally served with the claim and the hearing date.
- Bring your evidence — contracts, receipts, photos, messages, witnesses — to the hearing.
- If you win, the court gives you a judgment; collecting it is up to you, using the court's collection tools.
Suing a landlord?
Unreturned security deposits are among the most common small claims cases. See your state's security deposit law for the return deadline and any penalty, and the deposit demand letter.