{
  "name": "Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State",
  "description": "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.",
  "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/",
  "licence": "unknown",
  "last_verified": "2026-08-26",
  "stale_after": "2027-08-26",
  "sources": [
    "https://www.azleg.gov/ars/22/00503.htm",
    "https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/small-claims-or-limited-civil",
    "https://courts.delaware.gov/jpcourt/jurisdiction.aspx",
    "https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/small_claims/small_claims",
    "https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/small-claims/",
    "https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch61/061_027_0003.html",
    "http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/14/title14sec7482.html",
    "https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcj&section=4-405",
    "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleI/Chapter218/Section21",
    "https://revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/491A.01",
    "https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=482.305",
    "https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0350/part_0050/section_0020/0250-0350-0050-0020.html",
    "https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-2802",
    "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-073.html",
    "https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LI/503/503-1.htm",
    "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_7A/GS_7A-210.html",
    "https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/small-claims",
    "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1925.02",
    "https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors046.html",
    "https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t22c003.php",
    "https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/187/05531",
    "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title16.1/chapter6/section16.1-122.2/",
    "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=12.40.010",
    "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/50-2-1/",
    "https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/smallclaims.htm"
  ],
  "records": [
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Arizona",
      "court_name": "small claims division",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$5,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "A.R.S. \u00a7 22-503",
      "id": "arizona",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/arizona/",
      "source": "https://www.azleg.gov/ars/22/00503.htm",
      "source_quote": "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",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "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. \u00a7 116.221",
      "id": "california",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/california/",
      "source": "https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/small-claims-or-limited-civil",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "business_dollar_limit",
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Delaware",
      "court_name": "Justice of the Peace Court",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$25,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "10 Del. C. ch. 93",
      "id": "delaware",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/delaware/",
      "source": "https://courts.delaware.gov/jpcourt/jurisdiction.aspx",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Hawaii",
      "court_name": "Small Claims Court",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$5,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "Haw. Rev. Stat. \u00a7 633-27",
      "id": "hawaii",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/hawaii/",
      "source": "https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/small_claims/small_claims",
      "source_quote": "The Small Claims Court hears your case if: The amount disputed doesn\u2019t exceed $5,000.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Iowa",
      "court_name": "small claims court",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$6,500",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "Iowa Code chapter 631",
      "id": "iowa",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/iowa/",
      "source": "https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/small-claims/",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Kansas",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$10,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "K.S.A. 61-2703",
      "id": "kansas",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/kansas/",
      "source": "https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch61/061_027_0003.html",
      "source_quote": "\"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",
      "verified_fields": [
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Maine",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$10,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "14 M.R.S. \u00a7 7482",
      "id": "maine",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/maine/",
      "source": "http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/14/title14sec7482.html",
      "source_quote": "(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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Maryland",
      "court_name": "District Court",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$5,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. \u00a7 4-405",
      "id": "maryland",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/maryland/",
      "source": "https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcj&section=4-405",
      "source_quote": "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",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Massachusetts",
      "court_name": "district court department",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$7,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "G.L. c. 218, \u00a7 21",
      "id": "massachusetts",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/massachusetts/",
      "source": "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleI/Chapter218/Section21",
      "source_quote": "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",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Minnesota",
      "court_name": "conciliation court",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$20,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "Minn. Stat. \u00a7 491A.01",
      "id": "minnesota",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/minnesota/",
      "source": "https://revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/491A.01",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Missouri",
      "court_name": "small claims court",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "five thousand dollars",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "RSMo \u00a7 482.305",
      "id": "missouri",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/missouri/",
      "source": "https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=482.305",
      "source_quote": "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",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Montana",
      "court_name": "small claims court",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$7,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "MCA 25-35-502",
      "id": "montana",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/montana/",
      "source": "https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0350/part_0050/section_0020/0250-0350-0050-0020.html",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Nebraska",
      "court_name": "Small Claims Court",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "seven thousand five hundred dollars",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "Neb. Rev. Stat. \u00a7 25-2802",
      "id": "nebraska",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/nebraska/",
      "source": "https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-2802",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Nevada",
      "court_name": "justice court",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$10,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "NRS 73.010",
      "id": "nevada",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/nevada/",
      "source": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-073.html",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "New Hampshire",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$10,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "RSA 503:1",
      "id": "new-hampshire",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/new-hampshire/",
      "source": "https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LI/503/503-1.htm",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "North Carolina",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "ten thousand dollars ($10,000)",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7A-210",
      "id": "north-carolina",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/north-carolina/",
      "source": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_7A/GS_7A-210.html",
      "source_quote": "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)",
      "verified_fields": [
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "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",
      "id": "north-dakota",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/north-dakota/",
      "source": "https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/small-claims",
      "source_quote": "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",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Ohio",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "six thousand dollars",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "R.C. \u00a7 1925.02",
      "id": "ohio",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/ohio/",
      "source": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1925.02",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Oregon",
      "court_name": "small claims department",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$10,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "ORS 46.405",
      "id": "oregon",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/oregon/",
      "source": "https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors046.html",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "South Carolina",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "seven thousand five hundred dollars",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "S.C. Code \u00a7 22-3-10",
      "id": "south-carolina",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/south-carolina/",
      "source": "https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t22c003.php",
      "source_quote": "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",
      "verified_fields": [
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Vermont",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$10,000.00",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "12 V.S.A. \u00a7 5531",
      "id": "vermont",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/vermont/",
      "source": "https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/187/05531",
      "source_quote": "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",
      "verified_fields": [
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Virginia",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$5,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "Va. Code \u00a7 16.1-122.2",
      "id": "virginia",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/virginia/",
      "source": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title16.1/chapter6/section16.1-122.2/",
      "source_quote": "when the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "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",
      "id": "washington",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/washington/",
      "source": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=12.40.010",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "business_dollar_limit",
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "West Virginia",
      "court_name": "magistrate courts",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$20,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "W. Va. Code \u00a7 50-2-1",
      "id": "west-virginia",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/west-virginia/",
      "source": "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/50-2-1/",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "Wisconsin",
      "court_name": "Small claims court",
      "individual_dollar_limit": "$10,000",
      "statute_or_rule_citation": "Wis. Stat. ch. 799",
      "id": "wisconsin",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/wisconsin/",
      "source": "https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/smallclaims.htm",
      "source_quote": "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.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "court_name",
        "individual_dollar_limit"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "jurisdiction",
        "statute_or_rule_citation"
      ]
    }
  ]
}