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 Kentucky

$2,500maximum claim in Small claims division of district court, as of 29 October 2026

The basics

Small claims limit
$2,5001KRS 24A.230

The small claims division handles disputes over money or personal property worth $2,500 or less, not counting interest and court costs. An individual may file no more than 25 claims in a calendar year.

Court
Small claims division of district court1KRS 24A.230

Small claims are heard in the small claims division of the district court.

Filing fee
$382Ky. CR 3.03(1)(a)

The statewide filing fee for small claims cases of $2,500 or less is $38, effective July 1, 2026.

Lawyers
Yes, not required1

You may represent yourself or hire a lawyer. A corporation or partnership must send an officer, a regularly employed manager or a lawyer.

Appeals
10 days1KRS 24A.340

Either side may appeal to circuit court by filing a notice of appeal within 10 days after the judgment is entered. A statement of appeal is due within 30 days after that, and a fee applies.

Deadlines to sue (statutes of limitations)

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

Written contract
10 years3,4,5,6KRS 413.160, 413.090(2)

10 years for written contracts signed after July 15, 2014. Older written contracts have 15 years.

Oral contract
5 years7,8KRS 413.120(1)

5 years for a contract that is not in writing.

Property damage
2 years9,7,10,8KRS 413.125, 413.120(4)

2 years for taking, keeping or damaging personal property. Trespass on real or personal property has 5 years.

Personal injury
1 year11,12KRS 413.140(1)(a)

1 year for injury to the person.

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. Small Claims Handbook (P-6, revised January 2025), Kentucky Court of Justice, 2025-01official
  2. Supreme Court of Kentucky Order 2026-15, amending the Rules of Civil Procedure, Supreme Court of Kentucky, 2026-05-14official
  3. KRS 413.160, Kentucky General Assembly, Legislative Research Commissionofficial
  4. KRS 413.090, Kentucky General Assembly, Legislative Research Commissionofficial
  5. KRS 413.160 (2025), Justia (reproduction of state code text), 2025secondary
  6. KRS 413.090 (2025), Justia (reproduction of state code text), 2025secondary
  7. KRS 413.120, Kentucky General Assembly, Legislative Research Commissionofficial
  8. KRS 413.120 (2025), Justia (reproduction of state code text), 2025secondary
  9. KRS 413.125, Kentucky General Assembly, Legislative Research Commissionofficial
  10. KRS 413.125 (2025), Justia (reproduction of state code text), 2025secondary
  11. KRS 413.140, Kentucky General Assembly, 2026-07-15official
  12. KRS 413.140 (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.