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Small claims court in New Jersey

The basics

Small claims limit

$5,000¹

Small Claims handles cases of up to $5,000, including claims for the return of a tenant's security deposit. Larger claims up to $20,000 go to the regular Special Civil Part.

Court

Small Claims Section of the Special Civil Part¹

Cases are filed in the Small Claims Section of the Special Civil Part.

Filing fee

$35¹

$35 for one defendant plus $5 for each additional defendant. Service by certified and regular mail costs $7 per defendant.

Lawyers

Not yet confirmed

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

Appeals

45 days¹

An appeal goes to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court and must be filed within 45 days of the final decision.

Deadlines to sue (statutes of limitations)

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

Written contract

6 years^2,3N.J. Stat. 2A:14-1

6 years for a contract claim.

Oral contract

6 years^2,3N.J. Stat. 2A:14-1

6 years. New Jersey uses the same period for written and oral contracts.

Property damage

6 years³N.J. Stat. 2A:14-1

6 years for damage to real or personal property.

Personal injury

2 years^2,4N.J. Stat. 2A:14-2(a)

2 years for personal injury.

Sources

1. Small Claims Frequently Asked Questions (CN 11482), New Jersey Courts, 2022-07-01official
2. What is the statute of limitations for my claim?, New Jersey Courtsofficial
3. N.J. Stat. 2A:14-1 (2025 New Jersey Revised Statutes), Justia (reproduction of state code text), 2025secondary
4. N.J. Stat. 2A:14-2 (2025 New Jersey Revised Statutes), 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.