asset_type: jurisdictional-variation

body: Every state sets its own maximum dollar amount a plaintiff may sue for in small claims court, and the limit for an individual often differs from the limit for a business entity. Filing above the limit forces a case into a higher (and much more expensive) court. This table gives, for each state, the small claims dollar limit for individuals, the limit for business/corporate plaintiffs where it differs, and the court name that hears the case, so someone deciding where to file knows the ceiling before they start.

key_field: jurisdiction

licence: unknown

title: Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State

type: dataset


body:
**jurisdiction:** Arizona

**court_name:** small claims division

**individual_dollar_limit:** $5,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** A.R.S. § 22-503

> The small claims division has concurrent original jurisdiction with the justice court in all civil actions in which the debt, damage, tort, injury or value of the personal property claims either by the plaintiff or defendant does not exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest and costs

Source: <https://www.azleg.gov/ars/22/00503.htm>

court_name: small claims division

jurisdiction: Arizona

title: Arizona — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State

type: jurisdictional-variation


body:
**jurisdiction:** California

**court_name:** small claims court

**individual_dollar_limit:** $12,500

**business_dollar_limit:** $6,250

**statute_or_rule_citation:** Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 116.221

> If you are an individual and want to file a lawsuit for $12,500 or less, you have the option to file either a small claims case or a limited civil case. If you are a business entity, like a corporation, you can file in small claims court for $6,250 or less.

Source: <https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/small-claims-or-limited-civil>

court_name: small claims court

jurisdiction: California

statute_or_rule_citation: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 116.221

title: California — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Delaware

**court_name:** Justice of the Peace Court

**individual_dollar_limit:** $25,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** 10 Del. C. ch. 93

> The Justice of the Peace Court has jurisdiction over civil cases involving debt, trespass and replevin in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000.

Source: <https://courts.delaware.gov/jpcourt/jurisdiction.aspx>

court_name: Justice of the Peace Court

jurisdiction: Delaware

title: Delaware — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Hawaii

**court_name:** Small Claims Court

**individual_dollar_limit:** $5,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** Haw. Rev. Stat. § 633-27

> The Small Claims Court hears your case if: The amount disputed doesn’t exceed $5,000.

Source: <https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/small_claims/small_claims>

court_name: Small Claims Court

jurisdiction: Hawaii

statute_or_rule_citation: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 633-27

title: Hawaii — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Iowa

**court_name:** small claims court

**individual_dollar_limit:** $6,500

**statute_or_rule_citation:** Iowa Code chapter 631

> What kinds of cases are heard in small claims court? A small claims case is a civil action for a money judgment in which the amount of damages is $6,500 or less.

Source: <https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/small-claims/>

jurisdiction: Iowa

statute_or_rule_citation: Iowa Code chapter 631

title: Iowa — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Kansas

**individual_dollar_limit:** $10,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** K.S.A. 61-2703

> "Small claim" means a claim for the recovery of money or personal property, where the amount claimed or the value of the property sought does not exceed $10,000, exclusive of interest, costs and any damages awarded

Source: <https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch61/061_027_0003.html>

jurisdiction: Kansas

title: Kansas — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Maine

**individual_dollar_limit:** $10,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** 14 M.R.S. § 7482

> (TEXT EFFECTIVE 1/01/26) Notwithstanding the total amount of a debt or contract, a "small claim" means a right of action cognizable by a court if the debt or damage does not exceed $10,000 exclusive of interest and costs.

Source: <http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/14/title14sec7482.html>

jurisdiction: Maine

title: Maine — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Maryland

**court_name:** District Court

**individual_dollar_limit:** $5,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405

> The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over a small claim action, which, for purposes of this section, means a civil action for money in which the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000

Source: <https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcj&section=4-405>

court_name: District Court

jurisdiction: Maryland

statute_or_rule_citation: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405

title: Maryland — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Massachusetts

**court_name:** district court department

**individual_dollar_limit:** $7,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** G.L. c. 218, § 21

> There shall be within the district court department and the Boston municipal court department a simple, informal and inexpensive procedure, hereinafter called the procedure, for the determination, according to the rules of substantive law, of claims in the nature of contract or tort, other than slander and libel, in which the plaintiff does not claim as debt or damages more than $7,000

Source: <https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleI/Chapter218/Section21>

court_name: district court department

jurisdiction: Massachusetts

title: Massachusetts — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Minnesota

**court_name:** conciliation court

**individual_dollar_limit:** $20,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** Minn. Stat. § 491A.01

> the conciliation court has jurisdiction to hear, conciliate, try, and determine civil claims if the amount of money or property that is the subject matter of the claim does not exceed: (1) $20,000; or (2) $4,000, if the claim involves a consumer credit transaction.

Source: <https://revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/491A.01>

court_name: conciliation court

jurisdiction: Minnesota

statute_or_rule_citation: Minn. Stat. § 491A.01

title: Minnesota — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Missouri

**court_name:** small claims court

**individual_dollar_limit:** five thousand dollars

**statute_or_rule_citation:** RSMo § 482.305

> When sitting as a small claims court, the judge shall have original jurisdiction of all civil cases, whether tort or contract, where the amount in controversy does not exceed five thousand dollars, exclusive of interest or costs

Source: <https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=482.305>

individual_dollar_limit: five thousand dollars

jurisdiction: Missouri

title: Missouri — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Montana

**court_name:** small claims court

**individual_dollar_limit:** $7,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** MCA 25-35-502

> The small claims court has jurisdiction over all actions for the recovery of money or specific personal property when the amount claimed does not exceed $7,000, exclusive of costs, and the defendant can be served within the county where the action is commenced.

Source: <https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0350/part_0050/section_0020/0250-0350-0050-0020.html>

jurisdiction: Montana

title: Montana — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Nebraska

**court_name:** Small Claims Court

**individual_dollar_limit:** seven thousand five hundred dollars

**statute_or_rule_citation:** Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2802

> The Small Claims Court shall have jurisdiction when the party defendant or his or her agent resides or is doing business within the county or when the cause of action arose within the county. (4) The jurisdictional amount is six thousand dollars from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. The jurisdictional amount is seven thousand five hundred dollars beginning July 1, 2025.

Source: <https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-2802>

individual_dollar_limit: seven thousand five hundred dollars

jurisdiction: Nebraska

statute_or_rule_citation: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2802

title: Nebraska — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Nevada

**court_name:** justice court

**individual_dollar_limit:** $10,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** NRS 73.010

> A justice of the peace has jurisdiction and may proceed as provided in this chapter and by rules of court in all cases arising in the justice court for the recovery of money only, where the amount claimed does not exceed $10,000.

Source: <https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-073.html>

court_name: justice court

jurisdiction: Nevada

title: Nevada — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** New Hampshire

**individual_dollar_limit:** $10,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** RSA 503:1

> A small claim is any right of action not involving the title to real estate in which the debt or damages, exclusive of interest and costs, does not exceed $10,000.

Source: <https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LI/503/503-1.htm>

jurisdiction: New Hampshire

title: New Hampshire — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** North Carolina

**individual_dollar_limit:** ten thousand dollars ($10,000)

**statute_or_rule_citation:** N.C.G.S. § 7A-210

> For purposes of this Article a small claim action is a civil action wherein: (1) The amount in controversy, computed in accordance with G.S. 7A-243, does not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000)

Source: <https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_7A/GS_7A-210.html>

individual_dollar_limit: ten thousand dollars ($10,000)

jurisdiction: North Carolina

title: North Carolina — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** North Dakota

**court_name:** Small Claims Court

**individual_dollar_limit:** $15,000.00

**statute_or_rule_citation:** N.D.C.C. ch. 27-08.1

> You may bring a claim in Small Claims Court if: You want to recover money and the amount you want to recover is $15,000.00 or less

Source: <https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/small-claims>

jurisdiction: North Dakota

title: North Dakota — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Ohio

**individual_dollar_limit:** six thousand dollars

**statute_or_rule_citation:** R.C. § 1925.02

> has jurisdiction in civil actions for the recovery of taxes and money only, for amounts not exceeding six thousand dollars, exclusive of interest and costs.

Source: <https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1925.02>

individual_dollar_limit: six thousand dollars

jurisdiction: Ohio

title: Ohio — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Oregon

**court_name:** small claims department

**individual_dollar_limit:** $10,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** ORS 46.405

> an action for the recovery of money, damages, specific personal property, or any penalty or forfeiture may be commenced and prosecuted in the small claims department if the amount or value claimed in the action does not exceed $10,000.

Source: <https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors046.html>

court_name: small claims department

jurisdiction: Oregon

title: Oregon — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** South Carolina

**individual_dollar_limit:** seven thousand five hundred dollars

**statute_or_rule_citation:** S.C. Code § 22-3-10

> Magistrates have concurrent civil jurisdiction in the following cases: (1) in actions arising on contracts for the recovery of money only, if the sum claimed does not exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars

Source: <https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t22c003.php>

jurisdiction: South Carolina

title: South Carolina — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Vermont

**individual_dollar_limit:** $10,000.00

**statute_or_rule_citation:** 12 V.S.A. § 5531

> in which the plaintiff does not claim as debt or damage more than $10,000.00. Small claims proceedings shall be limited in accord with this chapter

Source: <https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/187/05531>

jurisdiction: Vermont

title: Vermont — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Virginia

**individual_dollar_limit:** $5,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** Va. Code § 16.1-122.2

> when the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest.

Source: <https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title16.1/chapter6/section16.1-122.2/>

jurisdiction: Virginia

title: Virginia — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Washington

**court_name:** small claims department

**individual_dollar_limit:** Ten thousand dollars

**business_dollar_limit:** Five thousand dollars

**statute_or_rule_citation:** RCW 12.40.010

> The small claims department shall have jurisdiction, but not exclusive, in cases for the recovery of money only if the amount claimed does not exceed: (a) Ten thousand dollars in cases brought by a natural person; or (b) Five thousand dollars in all other cases.

Source: <https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=12.40.010>

business_dollar_limit: Five thousand dollars

individual_dollar_limit: Ten thousand dollars

jurisdiction: Washington

title: Washington — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** West Virginia

**court_name:** magistrate courts

**individual_dollar_limit:** $20,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** W. Va. Code § 50-2-1

> in addition to jurisdiction granted elsewhere to magistrate courts, such courts shall have jurisdiction of all civil actions wherein the value or amount in controversy or the value of property sought, exclusive of interest and cost, is not more than $20,000.

Source: <https://code.wvlegislature.gov/50-2-1/>

court_name: magistrate courts

jurisdiction: West Virginia

statute_or_rule_citation: W. Va. Code § 50-2-1

title: West Virginia — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State


body:
**jurisdiction:** Wisconsin

**court_name:** Small claims court

**individual_dollar_limit:** $10,000

**statute_or_rule_citation:** Wis. Stat. ch. 799

> Small claims court is limited to claims of $10,000 or less. However, third-party complaints, personal injury claims, and actions based in tort are limited to claims of $5,000 or less.

Source: <https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/smallclaims.htm>

court_name: Small claims court

jurisdiction: Wisconsin

statute_or_rule_citation: Wis. Stat. ch. 799

title: Wisconsin — Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State