LockoutCase

Small claims by state · checked

Court: Small Claims Section, Special Civil Part (Superior Court). Claims up to $5,000. Each fact below links to the official source we read. Anything we could not confirm says “Check with your court”.

Limit

$5,000

Claims of $5,000 or less, not counting costs, including claims for the return of a security deposit (Court Rule 6:1-2, since 1 July 2022). Claims over $5,000 and up to $20,000 go to the regular Special Civil Part.

Sources: Notice and Order: Increase in Special Civil Part jurisdictional limits (Rules 6:1-1 and 6:1-2), effective July 1, 2022; Consumer Brief: Small Claims Court (revised 09/12/22) · checked 26 Oct 2026

Filing fee

$35

$35 for one defendant, plus $5 for each additional defendant.

Sources: Consumer Brief: Small Claims Court (revised 09/12/22); CN 11112, Court Fees (revised 08/2026) · checked 26 Oct 2026

Lawyers

Lawyers allowed

You can generally present your case without an attorney, but parties may be represented by one.

Source: Consumer Brief: Small Claims Court (revised 09/12/22) · checked 26 Oct 2026

Serving a corporation

Check with your court Not verified

We could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the court clerk before you file.

Demand before suing

Check with your court Not verified

We could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the court clerk before you file.

Official self-help

Court self-help page

www.njcourts.gov/self-help/small-claims-court

Official page · checked 26 Oct 2026

Suing Meta from New Jersey

Meta’s terms point disputes to California courts or arbitration and cap its liability, so a New Jersey small-claims case is leverage, not a sure thing. Read the small-claims checklist before you pay a fee, then draft your demand letter in the free kit: pick New Jersey and it checks your loss amount against the limit.

Fees and limits change, and local courts can add costs. Confirm with the court clerk before you file.

LockoutCase is a self-help tool, not a law firm, and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Draft the demand letter

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New Jersey small claims, answered

What is the small-claims limit in New Jersey?
Claims of $5,000 or less, not counting costs, including claims for the return of a security deposit (Court Rule 6:1-2, since 1 July 2022). Claims over $5,000 and up to $20,000 go to the regular Special Civil Part.
How much does it cost to file a small claim in New Jersey?
$35 for one defendant, plus $5 for each additional defendant. Local courts can add costs.
Can I bring a lawyer to small claims in New Jersey?
You can generally present your case without an attorney, but parties may be represented by one.
Where do these facts come from?
Each fact on this page links to the official court, statute or government source we read. We last checked New Jersey on 26 Oct 2026. Anything we could not confirm says “Check with your court”.
Is this legal advice?
No. LockoutCase is a self-help tool, not a law firm, and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. It shows general information from official sources; confirm with the court clerk before you file.