Small claims court in Utah

$20,000maximum claim in Justice court (small claims), as of 29 October 2026

The basics

Small claims limit: $20,000¹Utah Code 78A-8-102
You can ask for up to $20,000. That amount includes lawyer fees but not court costs or interest.
Court: Justice court (small claims)¹
Most small claims are filed in a city, town or county justice court. Where there is no justice court, the case goes to district court.
Filing fee: $60 to $185 (by claim amount)^2,1Utah Code 78A-2-301(1)(c)
The statewide fee is $60 for claims of $2,000 or less, $100 for claims over $2,000 and under $7,500, and $185 for claims of $7,500 up to $20,000. You can ask the court to waive the fee if you cannot afford it.
Lawyers: Yes, not required³Utah R. Small Claims P. 13
You may represent yourself, hire a lawyer licensed in Utah, or be represented by an employee. With the court's approval, an unpaid helper may also represent you.
Appeals: 28 days^1,4Utah R. Small Claims P. 12
Either side may appeal within 28 days after the judgment by filing a notice with the court that decided the case. The case then gets a new trial in district court.

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^5,6Utah Code 78B-2-309(1)(b)
6 years for a contract based on a written document.
Oral contract: 4 years^7,8Utah Code 78B-2-307(1)(a)
4 years for a contract that is not in writing, counted from the last charge or payment.
Property damage: 3 years^9,10,7Utah Code 78B-2-305(2), 78B-2-307(3)
3 years for taking or damaging personal property. Property damage from a motor vehicle accident has 4 years.
Personal injury: Not yet confirmed
We have not confirmed this from an official source yet, so we do not show a figure.

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

Small Claims, Utah State Courtsofficial
Filing Fees, Utah State Courts, 2026-05-06official
Utah Rules of Small Claims Procedure, Rule 13, Representation, Utah State Courts, 2005-06-07official
Utah Rules of Small Claims Procedure, Rule 12, Appeals, Utah State Courts, 2017-06-20official
Utah Code 78B-2-309 (2025), Justia (reproduction of state code text), 2025secondary
Utah Code 78B-2-309, FindLaw (reproduction of state code text), 2025-01-01secondary
Utah Code 78B-2-307 (2025), Justia (reproduction of state code text), 2025secondary
Utah Code 78B-2-307, FindLaw (reproduction of state code text), 2025-01-01secondary
Utah Code 78B-2-305 (2025), Justia (reproduction of state code text), 2025secondary
Utah Code 78B-2-305, 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.