Small claims court in North Carolina

$10,000 (statewide maximum)maximum claim in Small claims court (magistrate), as of 29 October 2026

The basics

Small claims limit: $10,000 (statewide maximum)^1,2N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-210(1)
State law caps small claims at $10,000. The court system says the maximum in a given county ranges from $5,000 to $10,000, so check your county's limit.
Court: Small claims court (magistrate)¹N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-210(3)
Small claims are heard by a magistrate when the plaintiff asks for the case to be assigned to one.
Filing fee: $96^2,3,4N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-305(a)
The statewide filing fee is $96, made up of an $80 General Court of Justice fee, a $12 facilities fee and a $4 court technology fee. Sheriff service costs $30 per defendant.
Lawyers: Not required²
Many people represent themselves in small claims court. A business may be represented by an owner, employee or other authorized agent who is not a lawyer.
Appeals: 10 days^5,2N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-228
Either party may appeal to district court for a new trial. Notice can be given in court when the judgment is announced, or filed in writing with the clerk within 10 days after judgment.

Deadlines to sue (statutes of limitations)

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

Written contract: 3 years⁶N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-52(1)
3 years for a contract claim, express or implied. Contracts under seal and some other claims have different periods.
Oral contract: 3 years⁶N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-52(1)
3 years. North Carolina uses the same period for written and oral contracts.
Property damage: 3 years⁶N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-52(16), 1-52(4)
3 years for physical damage to property, and for taking or damaging goods.
Personal injury: 3 years⁶N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-52(16)
3 years for personal injury, unless another law sets a different period.

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

N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-210, Small claim action defined, North Carolina General Assemblyofficial
Small Claims, North Carolina Judicial Branchofficial
Civil Court Costs Chart (December 2020), North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, 2020-12-01official
N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-305, Costs in civil actions, North Carolina General Assemblyofficial
N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-228, New trial before magistrate, appeal for trial de novo, North Carolina General Assemblyofficial
N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-52, Three years, North Carolina General Assemblyofficial

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.