Small Claims Court Limits by State
By Legal Advice Basics Editorial,Editorial TeamUpdated
Small claims court is where ordinary disputes — unreturned security deposits, unpaid invoices, minor property damage — get resolved without lawyers. Every state caps the amount you can sue for, and the caps differ enormously. The table below shows each state's current limit with the court's actual name and a link to the official source.
Suing over a deposit? Read security deposit basicsfirst and send a demand letter before filing. Being sued yourself? Start withwhat to do after receiving court papers.
| State | Limit | Court & notes | Statute & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $6,000 | Small Claims Court (District Court) — $6,000 maximum in small claims court — Small claims are handled by the district court's small claims docket | Ala. Code § 12-12-31 |
| Alaska | $10,000 | District Court (Small Claims) — $10,000 maximum in district court small claims — Limit excludes interest and court costs; claims over $10,000 may be filed by waiving the excess | Alaska Stat. § 22.15.040 |
| Arizona | $5,000 | Justice Court, Small Claims Division — $5,000 maximum in the small claims division of justice court — Raised from $3,500 by SB 1022, signed May 2, 2025 (effective on Arizona's 2025 general effective date); no jury, no appeal, attorneys only by mutual consent | A.R.S. §§ 22-501, 22-503 (as amended by SB 1022, 2025) |
| Arkansas | $5,000 | District Court, Small Claims Division — $5,000 maximum in the small claims division of district court — Cases tried informally with relaxed rules of evidence; district court general civil jurisdiction is $25,000 | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-17-704; Ark. Dist. Ct. R. 10 |
| California | $12,500 | Superior Court, Small Claims Division — $12,500 maximum for individuals (natural persons) — Businesses and other entities limited to $6,250; only two filings over $2,500 allowed per calendar year; individual limit raised from $10,000 effective Jan 1, 2024 (SB 71) | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 116.220, 116.221 |
| Colorado | $7,500 | County Court, Small Claims Division — $7,500 maximum in small claims court — Limit excludes interest and costs; may sue for a larger amount but recovery is capped at $7,500 | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-6-403 |
| Connecticut | $5,000 | Superior Court, Small Claims Session — $5,000 maximum in the Small Claims Session — Exceptions: home improvement contract money damages up to $15,000, and actions for the return of a security deposit | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15 |
| Delaware | $25,000 | Justice of the Peace Court — $25,000 maximum in Justice of the Peace Court (Delaware has no separate small claims court) — Covers debt, trespass and replevin claims; limit raised from $15,000 to $25,000 effective Nov 23, 2020 (HB 232) | 10 Del. C. § 9301 et seq. |
| District of Columbia | $10,000 | Superior Court, Small Claims and Conciliation Branch — $10,000 maximum in the Small Claims Branch | D.C. Code § 11-1321 |
| Florida | $8,000 | County Court (Small Claims) — $8,000 maximum in county court small claims — Excludes costs, interest and attorneys' fees; may waive the excess to use small claims procedure | Fla. Stat. § 34.01; Fla. Sm. Cl. R. 7.010 |
| Georgia | $15,000 | Magistrate Court — $15,000 maximum in magistrate court (Georgia's small claims court) — Magistrate court can only award money judgments; no jury trials | O.C.G.A. § 15-10-2 |
| Hawaii | $5,000 | District Court, Small Claims Division — $5,000 maximum in the small claims division of district court — No dollar limit for residential security deposit cases; counterclaims up to $40,000 move the case to the regular claims division | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 633-27 |
| Idaho | $15,000 | Magistrate Division of District Court, Small Claims Department — $15,000 maximum in the small claims department of magistrate court — Raised from $5,000 to $15,000 by SB 1330 (2026), effective July 1, 2026; no punitive damages or pain-and-suffering claims | Idaho Code § 1-2301 (as amended by SB 1330, 2026) |
| Illinois | $10,000 | Circuit Court (Small Claims) — $10,000 maximum for small claims, exclusive of interest and costs | Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 281 |
| Indiana | $10,000 | Small Claims Court / Small Claims Docket of Circuit or Superior Court — $10,000 maximum in small claims court — Includes pre-judgment interest and attorney fees but not court costs; raised from $8,000 effective July 1, 2021 (HEA 1110, P.L. 125-2021) | Ind. Code §§ 33-28-3-4, 33-29-2-4 |
| Iowa | $6,500 | District Court (Small Claims Docket) — $6,500 maximum in small claims — Excludes interest and court costs; $6,500 applies to actions commenced on or after July 1, 2018 | Iowa Code § 631.1 |
| Kansas | $10,000 | District Court, Small Claims Division — $10,000 maximum in small claims (money or value of personal property) — Exclusive of interest, costs and certain statutory damages; raised from $4,000 effective July 1, 2024 (HB 2604, L. 2024 ch. 22); no attorney representation in small claims | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 61-2703 (as amended 2024) |
| Kentucky | $2,500 | District Court, Small Claims Division — $2,500 maximum in the small claims division of district court — Exclusive of interest and costs; regular district court civil division handles claims up to $5,000 | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 24A.230 |
| Louisiana | $5,000 | Justice of the Peace Court / City Court Small Claims Division — $5,000 maximum (principal amount) in justice of the peace courts and small claims divisions of city courts — Principal amount excludes interest, court costs, attorney fees and penalties; city court general civil jurisdiction varies by city ($5,000-$20,000) | La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4911; La. R.S. 13:5200 et seq. |
| Maine | $10,000 | District Court (Small Claims) — $10,000 maximum in small claims court (as of January 1, 2026) — Exclusive of interest and costs; raised from $6,000 effective Jan 1, 2026 | 14 M.R.S. § 7482 |
| Maryland | $5,000 | District Court of Maryland (Small Claims) — $5,000 maximum in the small claims docket of District Court — Excludes interest, attorneys' fees and court costs; claims of $5,000-$30,000 are 'large claims' in District Court | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405 |
| Massachusetts | $7,000 | District Court / Boston Municipal Court (Small Claims Session) — $7,000 maximum in small claims — No dollar limit for property damage claims arising from motor vehicle accidents; statutory damages/attorney's fees (e.g., consumer protection, landlord-tenant) may push awards above $7,000 | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 218, § 21 |
| Michigan | $7,000 | District Court, Small Claims Division — $7,000 maximum in the small claims division of district court (as of January 1, 2024) — Statutory schedule: $6,500 through Dec 31, 2023, $7,000 beginning Jan 1, 2024; money judgments only | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8401 |
| Minnesota | $20,000 | District Court, Conciliation Court Division — $20,000 maximum in conciliation court (Minnesota's small claims court) — Claims involving consumer credit transactions limited to $4,000; raised from $15,000 | Minn. Stat. § 491A.01, subd. 3a |
| Mississippi | $3,500 | Justice Court — $3,500 maximum in justice court (small claims) | Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-9 |
| Missouri | $5,000 | Circuit Court, Small Claims Division — $5,000 maximum in small claims court — Exclusive of interest and costs; small claims court is a division of the circuit court; no more than 12 filings per calendar year | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 482.305 |
| Montana | $7,000 | Justice Court, Small Claims Division — $7,000 maximum in small claims court — Small claims heard in justice courts and some city/municipal courts | Mont. Code Ann. § 25-35-502 |
| Nebraska | $7,500 | County Court, Small Claims Court — $7,500 maximum in small claims court (as of July 1, 2025) — Raised from $6,000 by LB 139 (2024), effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030, with 5-year inflation adjustments thereafter; no attorneys allowed | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2802 (as amended by LB 139, 2024) |
| Nevada | $10,000 | Justice Court (Small Claims) — $10,000 maximum in justice court small claims | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 73.010 |
| New Hampshire | $10,000 | Circuit Court, District Division (Small Claims) — $10,000 maximum in small claims — Claims over $5,000 subject to mandatory mediation; defendant may demand jury trial (transfer to Superior Court) if claim exceeds $1,500 | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. ch. 503 |
| New Jersey | $5,000 | Superior Court, Law Division, Special Civil Part — Small Claims Section — $5,000 maximum in the Small Claims Section — Claims of $5,000-$20,000 go to the Special Civil Part; over $20,000 to the Law Division; limits raised effective July 1, 2022 | N.J. Court Rules, R. 6:1-2 |
| New Mexico | $10,000 | Magistrate Court / Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court — $10,000 maximum in magistrate court / Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court — New Mexico has no separate small claims court; magistrate and metropolitan courts hear tort, contract and landlord-tenant claims up to $10,000 | N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 35-3-3, 34-8A-3 |
| New York | $10,000 | NYC Civil Court Small Claims Part / City, Town and Village Courts — $10,000 maximum in New York City small claims court — $5,000 in city courts outside NYC (including Nassau/western Suffolk district courts); $3,000 in town and village courts; commercial small claims by corporations limited to $5,000 | N.Y.C. Civ. Ct. Act § 1801; UCCA § 1801; UJCA § 1801 |
| North Carolina | $10,000 | District Court, Small Claims Court (Magistrate) — $10,000 maximum in small claims court (before a magistrate) — Statutory ceiling is $10,000; the chief district judge sets the amount for each district up to that ceiling | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-210 |
| North Dakota | $15,000 | District Court, Small Claims Court — $15,000 maximum in small claims court | N.D. Cent. Code § 27-08.1-01 |
| Ohio | $6,000 | Municipal or County Court, Small Claims Division — $6,000 maximum in small claims division — Money claims only; municipal/county court general civil jurisdiction is $15,000 | Ohio Rev. Code § 1925.02 |
| Oklahoma | $10,000 | District Court (Small Claims Procedure) — $10,000 maximum under the small claims procedure — Collection agencies and most assignees may not use small claims procedure | Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1751 |
| Oregon | $10,000 | Circuit Court, Small Claims Department (also some Justice Courts) — $10,000 maximum in small claims department (including value of property) — Claims of $750 or less generally must be filed in small claims; attorneys only with court permission | Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 46.405, 46.415 |
| Pennsylvania | $12,000 | Magisterial District Court — $12,000 maximum in magisterial district court (Pennsylvania's small claims forum) — Excludes court costs and interest; Philadelphia Municipal Court handles small claims in Philadelphia (also $12,000) | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1515(a)(3) |
| Rhode Island | $5,000 | District Court (Small Claims) — $5,000 maximum in small claims — Small claims limited to claims based on contract, retail sale, or services rendered | R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-16-1 et seq. |
| South Carolina | $7,500 | Magistrate Court — $7,500 maximum in magistrate court (South Carolina's small claims court) | S.C. Code Ann. § 22-3-10 |
| South Dakota | $12,000 | Magistrate Court (Small Claims) — $12,000 maximum in small claims court | S.D. Codified Laws § 16-12C-13 |
| Tennessee | $25,000 | General Sessions Court — $25,000 maximum in general sessions court (Tennessee's small claims forum) — Attorney's fees, court costs and discretionary costs excluded from the limit; unlimited jurisdiction in forcible entry and detainer (eviction) and recovery of personal property cases; a few counties vary under private acts | Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501 |
| Texas | $20,000 | Justice Court — $20,000 maximum in justice court (small claims) — Excludes statutory interest and court costs; raised from $10,000 effective Sept 1, 2020; justice courts also handle evictions | Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031; Tex. R. Civ. P. 500-507 |
| Utah | $20,000 | Justice Court / District Court Small Claims Department — $20,000 maximum in small claims (Jan 1, 2025 - Dec 31, 2029) — Includes attorney fees but excludes court costs and interest; statutory schedule: $15,000 (2022-2024), $20,000 (2025-2029), $25,000 from Jan 1, 2030 (HB 107, 2022) | Utah Code § 78A-8-102 |
| Vermont | $10,000 | Superior Court, Civil Division (Small Claims Procedure) — $10,000 maximum in small claims — No jurisdiction over debt-collection actions above $5,000 arising from consumer credit transactions or medical debt; claims may not be split to evade the limit | 12 V.S.A. § 5531 |
| Virginia | $5,000 | General District Court, Small Claims Division — $5,000 maximum in the small claims division of general district court — Also hears return of personal property valued up to $5,000; general district court itself hears claims up to $25,000; no attorneys in small claims division | Va. Code § 16.1-122.2 |
| Washington | $10,000 | District Court, Small Claims Department — $10,000 maximum for natural persons in small claims court — Limit is $5,000 when the claimant is not a natural person (businesses, assignees, etc.); money claims only | Wash. Rev. Code § 12.40.010 |
| West Virginia | $20,000 | Magistrate Court — $20,000 maximum in magistrate court (West Virginia's small claims forum) — Exclusive of interest and costs; West Virginia has no separate small claims division — magistrate court hears these informally; limit raised from $10,000 | W. Va. Code § 50-2-1 |
| Wisconsin | $10,000 | Circuit Court (Small Claims) — $10,000 maximum for small claims — Personal injury and tort claims limited to $5,000; evictions allowed regardless of amount of rent claimed | Wis. Stat. § 799.01 |
| Wyoming | $6,000 | Circuit Court (Small Claims) — $6,000 maximum in small claims (circuit court) — Circuit court general civil jurisdiction is $50,000; small claims use simplified affidavit procedure | Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-201 |
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in small claims court?
It depends on your state: limits currently range from $2,500 (Kentucky) to $25,000 (Delaware). Find your state in the table above — and note that some states set different limits for businesses or specific claim types.
What if my claim is worth more than the limit?
You have three options: sue in a higher court (with more formal procedure and often attorney costs), waive the excess and sue for the limit in small claims (you give up the difference permanently), or split — though most courts prohibit dividing one claim into several suits. For amounts far above the limit, talk to an attorney about which court makes sense.
Do I need a lawyer for small claims court?
No — small claims procedure is designed for self-represented people, with simplified forms and relaxed rules of evidence. A few states even prohibit or restrict attorneys in small claims. Preparation matters more than representation: bring your documents, photos, a timeline, and any demand letter with proof of delivery.
Is small claims court where deposit and debt disputes go?
Very often, yes. Security-deposit recovery is a classic small claims case — low fees, fast hearings, and in many states enhanced damages against landlords who withheld in bad faith. Debt collectors also frequently sue in small claims or similar limited-jurisdiction courts, which is why answering rather than defaulting matters so much.
This page is general legal information, not legal advice. Limits and procedures here are summaries; the linked sources control. For advice about your situation, see ourfree legal help guide.