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 Colorado

$7,500maximum claim in Small claims court (county court), as of 29 October 2026

The basics

Small claims limit
$7,5001,2,3C.R.S. 13-6-403

You can sue for up to $7,500 in small claims, not counting interest and costs.

Court
Small claims court (county court)1,4C.R.S. 13-6-403

Small claims are heard in the small claims division of the county court where the defendant lives, works or where the property is.

Filing fee
$31 or $55 (by claim amount)5,1

The statewide filing fee is $31 for claims up to $500 and $55 for claims from $500.01 to $7,500. A defendant who responds also pays a fee.

Lawyers
Limited6,7,8C.R.S. 13-6-407, C.R.C.P. 520

Lawyers generally may not take part unless they are a party or a full-time employee or partner of a party. If the defendant gives written notice at least 7 days before trial that it will use a lawyer, both sides may then have one.

Appeals
14 days4,9,10C.R.S. 13-6-310, 13-6-311

File the appeal papers and pay the fee and appeal bond with the county court within 14 days after the decision. The district court of the same county hears the appeal.

Deadlines to sue (statutes of limitations)

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

Written contract
3 years11,12,13,14C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(a), 13-80-103.5(1)(a)

3 years for most contract claims. Claims to collect a debt or a set amount of money owed have 6 years.

Oral contract
3 years11,12,13,14C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(a), 13-80-103.5(1)(a)

3 years, the same as written contracts. Claims to collect a debt or a set amount of money owed have 6 years.

Property damage
2 years15,16,12C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a), 13-80-101(1)(n)

2 years for tort claims such as negligence and trespass. Property damage from a motor vehicle accident has 3 years.

Personal injury
2 years15,16,12C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a), 13-80-101(1)(n)

2 years for injury claims. Injury from a motor vehicle accident has 3 years.

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. JDF 248, Guide to Small Claims (R: December 14, 2023), Colorado Judicial Branch, 2023-12-14official
  2. JDF 1, Fees, surcharges and costs, Colorado Judicial Branch, 2013-07-01official
  3. C.R.S. 13-6-403, Public.Law (reproduction of state code text)secondary
  4. How to start a small claims or county civil appeal, Colorado Judicial Branchofficial
  5. Small Claims Cases Filing Fees, Colorado Judicial Branchofficial
  6. C.R.S. 13-6-407, Public.Law (reproduction of state code text)secondary
  7. Colorado Revised Statutes 13-6-407, FindLaw (reproduction of state code text), 2025-01-01secondary
  8. Rule Change 2007(02), C.R.C.P. 520 Attorneys, Colorado Supreme Court, 2007-01-11official
  9. C.R.S. 13-6-311, Public.Law (reproduction of state code text)secondary
  10. Colorado Revised Statutes 13-6-311, FindLaw (reproduction of state code text), 2025-01-01secondary
  11. C.R.S. 13-80-101, Public.Law (reproduction of state code text)secondary
  12. Colorado Revised Statutes 13-80-101, FindLaw (reproduction of state code text), 2025-01-01secondary
  13. C.R.S. 13-80-103.5, Public.Law (reproduction of state code text)secondary
  14. Colorado Revised Statutes 13-80-103.5, FindLaw (reproduction of state code text), 2025-01-01secondary
  15. C.R.S. 13-80-102, Public.Law (reproduction of state code text)secondary
  16. Colorado Revised Statutes 13-80-102, FindLaw (reproduction of state code text), 2025-01-01secondary

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.