Small claims court in Kentucky (2026)
In Kentucky you can sue for up to $2,500 in small claims. Court: Small Claims Division of the District Court. Lawyers: allowed. Appeal: either side, 10 days. For a broken written agreement you generally have 10 years to sue. Last checked .
Kentucky small claims at a glance
- Most you can sue for
- $2,500
- Court
- Small Claims Division of the District Court
- Filing fee
- Set by each court
- Lawyers
- Allowed
- Appeal
- Either side, 10 days
- Ask for payment first
- Not required by law
Can you sue in Kentucky small claims?
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Kentucky small claims limit
$2,500
Enter the amount to compare it with the limit.
The rule: Money, damages, or personal property worth up to $2,500, not counting interest and costs; also suits to cancel a goods-or-services contract of up to $2,500. Not allowed: libel, slander, alienation of affections, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process. Each party may file no more than 25 small claims per calendar year (a business: 25 per established location in the district); the plaintiff signs an affidavit to that effect.
Deadline to sue (general rule)
10 years for this kind of claim in Kentucky. Enter the date it happened to see the last day.
Written contracts signed after July 15, 2014: 10 years (older written contracts: 15 years). Contracts not in writing: 5 years. Taking, detaining, or injuring personal property: 2 years. Injury to the person: 1 year. The Handbook's examples still list 15 years for written contracts.
Lawyers: Lawyers may represent either side.
Collectors: a company that bought or was assigned the debt can't use small claims court in Kentucky.
Before you file: No demand is required by statute. The Handbook says you should try to resolve the dispute first and file only after it is clear that no resolution can be reached; the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division can mediate disputes with Kentucky businesses.
Appeal: Any aggrieved party may appeal to Circuit Court within 10 days of the judgment (the Handbook: 10 days from the date the judgment was stamped 'Entered'). The Circuit judge reviews only the case file and recording; no new evidence. A Statement of Appeal is due within 30 days after the notice of appeal.
Filing fee: Small claims filing fee is $38 (claims up to $2,500), effective July 1, 2026, plus a $20 court technology fee, fees required by KRS 453.060 and 27A.630, and any other required fees (e.g., court facility or library fees). Certified mail or sheriff service costs extra; a counterclaim is free unless it exceeds $2,500.
The deadline shown is the general statute of limitations counted from the date you entered. The real deadline can be later (for example when the problem was discovered later or the other side left the state) or earlier (a contract can shorten it, and claims against a government agency often need a written notice first, on a much shorter clock). If you are close to it, file now or ask a legal aid office. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Where to file and how much
- Court. Each county's District Court has a small claims division. File in the county where the defendant lives or does business (for a corporation, where its office is or its officer or process agent resides); contract suits against a corporation may also be filed where the contract was made or was to be performed.
- Limit. Money, damages, or personal property worth up to $2,500, not counting interest and costs; also suits to cancel a goods-or-services contract of up to $2,500. Not allowed: libel, slander, alienation of affections, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process. Each party may file no more than 25 small claims per calendar year (a business: 25 per established location in the district); the plaintiff signs an affidavit to that effect. (in force since June 8, 2011)
- Filing fee. Small claims filing fee is $38 (claims up to $2,500), effective July 1, 2026, plus a $20 court technology fee, fees required by KRS 453.060 and 27A.630, and any other required fees (e.g., court facility or library fees). Certified mail or sheriff service costs extra; a counterclaim is free unless it exceeds $2,500.
Who can sue and who can speak in court
- An attorney may appear but is not required. A corporation or partnership must appear through an officer, a person regularly employed in a managerial capacity, or an attorney. Assigned claims, class actions, money lenders (in furtherance of their business), and collection agencies are barred.
- A collection agency or anyone who was assigned or bought the claim can't file it in small claims.
- Before you file. No demand is required by statute. The Handbook says you should try to resolve the dispute first and file only after it is clear that no resolution can be reached; the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division can mediate disputes with Kentucky businesses.
- Jury and moving the case. All small claims are tried without a jury, and the plaintiff waives a jury by filing. A defendant who wants a jury must give written notice at least 7 days before the hearing; the case then moves to the regular District Court docket (the Handbook says this applies when more than $250 is claimed). A counterclaim above $2,500 also moves the case.
How long you have to sue in Kentucky
The general statute of limitations, counted from the day the agreement was broken or the damage happened. Written contracts signed after July 15, 2014: 10 years (older written contracts: 15 years). Contracts not in writing: 5 years. Taking, detaining, or injuring personal property: 2 years. Injury to the person: 1 year. The Handbook's examples still list 15 years for written contracts.
| Kind of claim | Time to sue |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 10 years |
| Oral (spoken) agreement | 5 years |
| Damage to property | 2 years |
| Personal injury | 1 year |
Law: KRS 413.160, 413.090(2), 413.120(1), 413.125, 413.140(1)(a)
After the hearing: appeals and collecting
- Who can appeal
- Either side can appeal.
- Kind of appeal
- Review of the record (no new trial)
- Deadline
- Any aggrieved party may appeal to Circuit Court within 10 days of the judgment (the Handbook: 10 days from the date the judgment was stamped 'Entered'). The Circuit judge reviews only the case file and recording; no new evidence. A Statement of Appeal is due within 30 days after the notice of appeal.
- Collecting the money
- If the judgment is not paid, the winner can send Small Claims Post-Judgment Interrogatories (AOC-197) to find assets, then use garnishment, execution, or a judgment lien; unless the judgment says otherwise, wait 10 days from the 'Entered' date before a garnishment issues. Small claims judgments are enforceable for 15 years. Prejudgment attachment or garnishment is not allowed in the division.
Good to know in Kentucky
- No pretrial discovery is permitted in the small claims division (KRS 24A.300).
- A judge may move a case to regular District Court if it is too complex (KRS 24A.310(3)).
- Cities, counties, and urban-county governments are exempt from the 25-claim limit (KRS 24A.250(4)).
- A defendant's counterclaim (AOC-185) must be filed at least five days before the hearing (Kentucky Small Claims Handbook).
Official help and forms
- Kentucky courts: small claims self-help
- Kentucky small claims forms
- Write a demand letter before you file (free, stays in your browser)
Sources
- KRS 24A.230 Jurisdiction (read October 18, 2026)
- KRS 24A.240 Appearance of attorneys; actions prohibited (read October 18, 2026)
- KRS 24A.250 Limitation on number of claims (read October 18, 2026)
- KRS 24A.270 Filing fee (read October 18, 2026)
- KRS 24A.310 Removal of action (read October 18, 2026)
- KRS 24A.320 Waiver of jury trial (read October 18, 2026)
- KRS 24A.340 Appeal (read October 18, 2026)
- KRS 413.090 (read October 18, 2026)
- KRS 413.120 (read October 18, 2026)
- KRS 413.125 (read October 18, 2026)
- KRS 413.140 (read October 18, 2026)
- KRS 413.160 (read October 18, 2026)
- Supreme Court of Kentucky Order 2026-15 (CR 3.03 fees, eff. July 1, 2026) (read October 18, 2026)
- Kentucky Small Claims Handbook (AOC and Office of Attorney General) (read October 18, 2026)
Court information, not legal advice. Limits and fees change — confirm with the court before you file. How we check: methodology.
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