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 New York

$10,000 (New York City)maximum claim in Small claims (NYC Civil Court, city courts, town and village courts), as of 29 October 2026

The basics

Small claims limit
$10,000 (New York City)1,2,3N.Y. City Civ. Ct. Act 1801, Uniform City Ct. Act 1801, Uniform Justice Ct. Act 1801

Small claims are limited to $10,000 in New York City Civil Court, $5,000 in city courts outside New York City and $3,000 in town and village courts, not counting interest and costs.

Court
Small claims (NYC Civil Court, city courts, town and village courts)1,2,3N.Y. City Civ. Ct. Act 1801, Uniform City Ct. Act 1801, Uniform Justice Ct. Act 1801

Small claims are heard in the local court: New York City Civil Court, a city court, or a town or village justice court.

Filing fee
$15 or $20 (New York City)4N.Y. City Civ. Ct. Act 1803(a)

In New York City the fee is $15 for claims up to $1,000 and $20 for larger claims. Fees in other courts may differ.

Lawyers
Not yet confirmed

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

Appeals
Limited (substantial justice only)5N.Y. City Civ. Ct. Act 1807

In New York City Civil Court, the person who filed the claim gives up most appeal rights. Either party may appeal only on the ground that substantial justice was not done.

Deadlines to sue (statutes of limitations)

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

Written contract
6 years6N.Y. CPLR 213(2)

6 years for a contract claim. Some consumer credit and sale of goods claims have different periods.

Oral contract
6 years6N.Y. CPLR 213(2)

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

Property damage
3 years7N.Y. CPLR 214(4)

3 years for damage to property.

Personal injury
3 years7N.Y. CPLR 214(5)

3 years for personal injury, with some exceptions.

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. New York City Civil Court Act 1801, New York State Senate, 2023-07-07official
  2. Uniform City Court Act 1801, New York State Senate, 2024-01-05official
  3. Uniform Justice Court Act 1801, New York State Senate, 2022-09-02official
  4. New York City Civil Court Act 1803, New York State Senate, 2023-07-07official
  5. New York City Civil Court Act 1807, Review, New York State Senate, 2014-09-22official
  6. Civil Practice Law and Rules 213, New York State Senate, 2023-01-06official
  7. Civil Practice Law and Rules 214, New York State Senate, 2022-02-25official

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.