Small Claims Limits
General information from official sources, not legal advice. Rules change. Check with the court before you file.

All states

Small claims court in Arkansas

$5,000maximum claim in Small claims division of district court, as of 29 October 2026

The basics

Small claims limit
$5,0001,2,3Ark. Sup. Ct. Admin. Order 18, sec. 3(b), 4

Small claims covers disputes of $5,000 or less, not counting interest and costs.

Court
Small claims division of district court2,1

Each district court has a small claims division. Larger claims go to circuit court.

Filing fee
Varies by court ($65 in Little Rock)2,1

Fees are set by each court. The Attorney General says they typically range from $30 to $65, and Little Rock District Court charges $65.

Lawyers
No (case moves if a lawyer is used)1,3,4Ark. Sup. Ct. Admin. Order 18, sec. 4(a)

Small claims cases are heard without lawyers. If either side uses a lawyer, the case moves to the regular civil docket. Collection agencies may not file in small claims.

Appeals
30 days1,2

File an appeal in the circuit court of the same county within 30 days after the judgment is entered.

Deadlines to sue (statutes of limitations)

How long you usually have to file, counted from when the claim arose. Exceptions apply.

Written contract
5 years5,2Ark. Code 16-56-111(a)

5 years for claims on written contracts and other written obligations.

Oral contract
3 years6,2Ark. Code 16-56-105(1)

3 years for contracts that are not in writing.

Property damage
3 years6,2Ark. Code 16-56-105(4), (6)

3 years for taking or damaging personal property and for trespass on land.

Personal injury
Not yet confirmed

We have not confirmed this from an official source yet, so we do not show a figure.

Small claims rules are set by state law and court rules, and fees are often set locally. Before you file, check the court's own page or call the clerk.

Sources

  1. Guide to Small Claims Court, Arkansas Attorney General, 2024-11-16official
  2. Civil and Small Claims Filing Instructions, Little Rock District Court, City of Little Rockofficial
  3. Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order 18, Administration of District Courts, WomensLaw.org (reproduction of court order text)secondary
  4. Small Claims Pamphlet, Arkansas Bar Association, 2011secondary
  5. Ark. Code 16-56-111 (2025), Justia (reproduction of state code text), 2025secondary
  6. Ark. Code 16-56-105 (2025), Justia (reproduction of state code text), 2025secondary

Checked 29 October 2026. "Secondary" sources reproduce the official text. We use them only where the official site could not be read and mark them here.