Small claims court limits by state
The most you can sue for in small claims court depends on your state. Of the 49 states we have verified so far, the highest limit is $25,000 in Delaware and the lowest is $2,500 in Kentucky. Every figure links to the statute or court page it comes from.
| Court | Filing fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $6,000 | Small claims court (district court) | Varies by county ($72 to $235 in Houston County) |
| Alaska | $10,000 | District court (small claims) | $50 or $100 (by claim amount) |
| Arizona | $5,000 | Small claims division of the justice court | $30 (statewide base fee) |
| Arkansas | $5,000 | Small claims division of district court | Varies by court ($65 in Little Rock) |
| California | $12,500 | Small claims court | $30 to $100 |
| Colorado | $7,500 | Small claims court (county court) | $31 or $55 (by claim amount) |
| Connecticut | $5,000 | Small Claims Session of the Superior Court | $95 |
| Delaware | $25,000 | Justice of the Peace Court | $35 to $45 (by claim amount) |
| District of Columbia | $10,000 | Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, D.C. Superior Court | $5 to $45 (by claim amount) |
| Florida | $8,000 | County court | $50 to $295 (statewide maximums) |
| Georgia | $15,000 * | Magistrate Court | Varies by county ($106 in Liberty County) |
| Hawaii | $5,000 | Small Claims Division of the District Court | $35 |
| Idaho | $15,000 | Small claims department of the magistrate division | $69 |
| Illinois | $10,000 | Small claims court (circuit court) | Varies by county ($94 or $264 in Madison County) |
| Indiana | $10,000 | Small claims docket of circuit or superior court | Varies by county ($125 in Randolph County) |
| Iowa | $6,500 | Small claims (district court) | $115 ($95 filing fee plus $20 mailing) |
| Kansas | $10,000 | District court (small claims) | Varies by county ($49 or $69 in Johnson County) |
| Kentucky | $2,500 | Small claims division of district court | $38 |
| Louisiana | $5,000 | Small claims division of city court | Not yet confirmed |
| Maine | $10,000 | District Court (small claims) | $70 |
| Maryland | $5,000 | District Court of Maryland (small claims) | $44 |
| Massachusetts | $7,000 | Small claims session of the District Court, Boston Municipal Court or Housing Court | $40 to $150 (by claim amount) |
| Michigan | $7,000 | Small claims division of the district court | $25 to $65 |
| Minnesota | $20,000 | Conciliation Court | $65 (plus any county law library fee) |
| Mississippi | $3,500 | Justice Court | Varies by county ($85 in Hinds County) |
| Missouri | $5,000 | Small claims court (circuit court) | Varies by county ($100 in Morgan County) |
| Montana | $7,000 | Small claims court (justice court) | Varies by county ($30 in Gallatin and Park counties) |
| Nebraska | $7,500 | Small Claims Court (county court) | $58 |
| Nevada | $10,000 | Justice court (small claims) | Varies by court ($66 to $196 in Reno Justice Court) |
| New Hampshire | $10,000 | Circuit Court, District Division (small claims) | Not yet confirmed |
| New Jersey | $5,000 | Small Claims Section of the Special Civil Part | $35 |
| New York | $10,000 (New York City) | Small claims (NYC Civil Court, city courts, town and village courts) | $15 or $20 (New York City) |
| North Carolina | $10,000 (statewide maximum) | Small claims court (magistrate) | $96 |
| North Dakota | $15,000 | Small claims court (district court) | $20 |
| Ohio | $6,000 | Small claims division of the municipal or county court | Not yet confirmed |
| Oregon | $10,000 | Small claims department of circuit court | $57 or $102 (by claim amount) |
| Pennsylvania | $12,000 | Magisterial district court | Not yet confirmed |
| Rhode Island | $5,000 | District Court (small claims) | $75.75 |
| South Carolina | $7,500 | Magistrates court | Varies by county ($80 in Charleston and Florence counties) |
| South Dakota | $12,000 | Small claims court (circuit or magistrate court) | $24.84 to $42.84 (by claim amount) |
| Tennessee | $25,000 | General Sessions Court | Varies by county ($271.25 in Hamilton County) |
| Texas | $20,000 | Justice court | Not yet confirmed |
| Utah | $20,000 | Justice court (small claims) | $60 to $185 (by claim amount) |
| Vermont | $10,000 | Small claims court (Superior Court, Civil Division) | $65 or $90 (by claim amount) |
| Virginia | $5,000 | Small claims court (general district court) | Not yet confirmed |
| Washington | $10,000 | Small claims department of the district court | $35 (plus up to $15 county surcharge) |
| West Virginia | $20,000 | Magistrate court | $30 to $50 (by claim amount) |
| Wisconsin | $10,000 * | Circuit court (small claims) | $94.50 ($124 from November 1, 2026) |
| Wyoming | $6,000 | Small claims (circuit court) | $10 |
Select State or Limit to sort. Some states set lower limits for certain claims. See each state page. * Georgia's limit rises to $25,000 and Wisconsin's to $15,000 for cases filed from 1 January 2027.
States still being verified
We publish a state only after at least the limit and most other facts are confirmed from official sources. These 2 are in progress:
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma