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Small claims court in Utah (2026)

In Utah you can sue for up to $20,000 in small claims. Court: Small claims (usually the Justice Court). Lawyers: allowed. Appeal: either side, 28 days. For a broken written agreement you generally have 6 years to sue. Last checked .

Utah small claims at a glance

Most you can sue for
$20,000
Court
Small claims (usually the Justice Court)
Filing fee
$60–$185
Lawyers
Allowed
Appeal
Either side, 28 days
Ask for payment first
Not required by law

Can you sue in Utah small claims?

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Utah small claims limit

$20,000

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The rule: Up to $20,000, including attorney fees but not court costs or interest. The limit rises to $25,000 on January 1, 2030. Only money (and interpleader) can be sought; you cannot sue a government agency or evict in small claims. Motor-vehicle property damage can be sued in small claims without losing the right to sue the same defendant separately for bodily injury; the self-help site says injuries may also be claimed in the same small claims case.

Deadline to sue (general rule)

6 years for this kind of claim in Utah. Enter the date it happened to see the last day.

Written contract: 6 years. Oral contract and open accounts: 4 years from the last charge or payment. Injury to personal or real property: 3 years, but motor-vehicle property damage from an accident: 4 years. Personal injury: no specific general section; it falls under the 4-year catch-all for relief not otherwise provided for by law.

Lawyers: Lawyers may represent either side.

Before you file: The small claims statute and the Utah Courts self-help steps do not require a demand for payment before filing.

Appeal: Either party may appeal to the district court of the county by filing a notice of appeal in the original trial court within 28 days of entry of the judgment. The appeal is a trial de novo under small claims procedures; its decision cannot be appealed further unless the court rules on the constitutionality of a statute or ordinance.

Filing fee: Statewide filing fees for a small claims affidavit: $60 for claims of $2,000 or less; $100 for more than $2,000 but less than $7,500; $185 for $7,500 or more. A counter affidavit costs $50 or $70 (or more for larger claims). A trial de novo petition costs $240. The version of the fee statute effective Jan. 1, 2027 keeps the same small claims fees.

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.

All Utah small claims rules →Write a demand letter →

Where to file and how much

  • Court. Small claims cases are usually filed in a city/town or county justice court (district court only where there is no justice court, such as parts of Cache County). File where the defendant lives or where the debt was incurred or the events happened.
  • Limit. Up to $20,000, including attorney fees but not court costs or interest. The limit rises to $25,000 on January 1, 2030. Only money (and interpleader) can be sought; you cannot sue a government agency or evict in small claims. Motor-vehicle property damage can be sued in small claims without losing the right to sue the same defendant separately for bodily injury; the self-help site says injuries may also be claimed in the same small claims case. (in force since January 1, 2025)
  • Filing fee. Statewide filing fees for a small claims affidavit: $60 for claims of $2,000 or less; $100 for more than $2,000 but less than $7,500; $185 for $7,500 or more. A counter affidavit costs $50 or $70 (or more for larger claims). A trial de novo petition costs $240. The version of the fee statute effective Jan. 1, 2027 keeps the same small claims fees.

Who can sue and who can speak in court

  • People and corporations may litigate with or without a lawyer, in person or through authorized employees. A non-employee non-lawyer may represent a party only as the Utah Rules of Small Claims Procedure allow. The statute does not bar assignees; the court may reschedule all but the first of multiple claims filed by one plaintiff.
  • Before you file. The small claims statute and the Utah Courts self-help steps do not require a demand for payment before filing.
  • Jury and moving the case. Small claims cases are tried by a judge under simplified rules, and the trial de novo also follows small claims procedures. A defendant who wants a jury trial may move the case to district court within 15 days of being served, by filing the forms and paying the $250 jury fee; district court rules then apply. Some justice courts use Online Dispute Resolution first, and parties may agree to mediate.

How long you have to sue in Utah

The general statute of limitations, counted from the day the agreement was broken or the damage happened. Written contract: 6 years. Oral contract and open accounts: 4 years from the last charge or payment. Injury to personal or real property: 3 years, but motor-vehicle property damage from an accident: 4 years. Personal injury: no specific general section; it falls under the 4-year catch-all for relief not otherwise provided for by law.

Kind of claimTime to sue
Written contract6 years
Oral (spoken) agreement4 years
Damage to property3 years
Personal injury4 years

Law: Utah Code §§ 78B-2-309(1)(b), 78B-2-307(1), (3), (4), 78B-2-305(1)(a)

After the hearing: appeals and collecting

Who can appeal
Either side can appeal.
Kind of appeal
A new trial in a higher court
Deadline
Either party may appeal to the district court of the county by filing a notice of appeal in the original trial court within 28 days of entry of the judgment. The appeal is a trial de novo under small claims procedures; its decision cannot be appealed further unless the court rules on the constitutionality of a statute or ordinance.
Collecting the money
The court does not collect for you; the Utah Courts self-help site has a 'How to Collect a Judgment' process, including garnishing wages. A judgment can be enforced or sued on for 8 years from entry or from renewal under the Renewal of Judgment Act.

Good to know in Utah

  • The limit steps up to $25,000 on January 1, 2030 (Utah Code § 78A-8-102(1)(a)(i)(C)).
  • Many justice courts require Online Dispute Resolution (ODR): the plaintiff must log in within 7 days of filing and the defendant within 14 days of service.
  • A counterclaim must arise from the same transaction and cannot be raised for the first time at the trial de novo.
  • A motion to set aside a judgment or dismissal should be filed within 15 days (Utah Courts self-help).

Official help and forms

Sources

Court information, not legal advice. Limits and fees change — confirm with the court before you file. How we check: methodology.

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