United States · checked
Small claims, state by state.
The dollar limit, filing fee and rules for small claims in 50 states and DC, each linked to the official source we read. “Check with your court” means we could not confirm it.
| State | Limit | Filing fee | Lawyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $6,000 | Check with your court | Lawyers allowed |
| Alaska | $10,000 | $50 to $100 | Lawyers allowed |
| Arizona | $5,000 | $30 | Lawyers limited |
| Arkansas | $5,000 | Check with your court | Check with your court |
| California | $12,500 (businesses $6,250) | $30 to $100 | No lawyers in court |
| Colorado | $7,500 | $31 to $55 | Lawyers limited |
| Connecticut | $5,000 | $95 | Lawyers allowed |
| Delaware | Justice of the Peace Court; Delaware has no separate small-claims court | $35 to $45 | Lawyers allowed |
| District of Columbia | $10,000 | $5 to $45 | Check with your court |
| Florida | $8,000 | $50 to $295 | Lawyers allowed |
| Georgia | $15,000 | Set by each court | Lawyers allowed |
| Hawaii | $5,000 | $35 | Lawyers allowed |
| Idaho | $15,000 | $69 | No lawyers in court |
| Illinois | $10,000 | Set by each court | Lawyers allowed |
| Indiana | $10,000 | Check with your court | Lawyers allowed |
| Iowa | $6,500 | $115 | Lawyers allowed |
| Kansas | $10,000 | $47.50 to $67.50 | No lawyers in court |
| Kentucky | $2,500 | Check with your court | Lawyers allowed |
| Louisiana | $5,000 | Check with your court | Check with your court |
| Maine | $10,000 | $70 | Lawyers allowed |
| Maryland | $5,000 | $44 | Lawyers allowed |
| Massachusetts | $7,000 | $40 to $150 | Lawyers allowed |
| Michigan | $7,000 | $30 to $70 | No lawyers in court |
| Minnesota | $20,000 | $65 | Lawyers allowed |
| Mississippi | $3,500 | Check with your court | Check with your court |
| Missouri | $5,000 | Check with your court | Check with your court |
| Montana | $7,000 | Check with your court | Lawyers limited |
| Nebraska | $7,500 | Check with your court | No lawyers in court |
| Nevada | $10,000 | Check with your court | Lawyers allowed |
| New Hampshire | $10,000 | $125 to $180 | Check with your court |
| New Jersey | $5,000 | $35 | Lawyers allowed |
| New Mexico | $10,000 | $77 | Lawyers allowed |
| New York | $10,000 in NYC ($5,000 or $3,000 in other courts) | $15 to $25 | Lawyers allowed |
| North Carolina | $10,000 | Check with your court | Lawyers allowed |
| North Dakota | $15,000 | Check with your court | Lawyers allowed |
| Ohio | $6,000 | Set by each court | Lawyers allowed |
| Oklahoma | $10,000 | Check with your court | Lawyers allowed |
| Oregon | $10,000 | $57 to $102 | Lawyers limited |
| Pennsylvania | $12,000 | $68.50 to $171 | Lawyers allowed |
| Rhode Island | $5,000 | Check with your court | Check with your court |
| South Carolina | $7,500 | Check with your court | Check with your court |
| South Dakota | $12,000 | $24.84 to $42.84 | Check with your court |
| Tennessee | $25,000 | Check with your court | Lawyers limited |
| Texas | $20,000 | Set by each court | Lawyers allowed |
| Utah | $20,000 | Check with your court | Check with your court |
| Vermont | $10,000 | $65 to $90 | Lawyers allowed |
| Virginia | $5,000 | Check with your court | No lawyers in court |
| Washington | $10,000 (businesses $5,000) | $35 to $50 | Lawyers limited |
| West Virginia | $20,000 | Check with your court | Check with your court |
| Wisconsin | Up to $10,000 ($5,000 for tort/personal injury) | Check with your court | Check with your court |
| Wyoming | $6,000 | $10 | Lawyers allowed |
Georgia’s limit rises from $15,000 to $25,000 for cases filed from 1 Jan 2027. Fees are base fees; local courts can add costs.
LockoutCase is a self-help tool, not a law firm, and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.
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