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Created May 2026 · Reviewed and verified November 2026 All 50 States

Small Claims Court Limits by State 2026

Find out exactly how much you can sue for in small claims court — and whether your case qualifies — with our free state-by-state calculator.

$25,000
Highest limit (TN, KY)
$2,500
Lowest limit
2
States with $25K+ limit
50
States covered

Small Claims Court Limit Calculator

Select your state to see the maximum amount you can sue for and applicable statutes of limitation.

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· Limit:
How to File

Small Claims Limits — All 50 States

Click any state to see its full page including filing fees, court name, and local tips.

Claim Limit Map

Maximum claim amount by state
Maine: $10,000 ME $10k Vermont: $10,000 VT $10k New Hampshire: $10,000 NH $10k Washington: $10,000 WA $10k Idaho: $15,000 ID $15k Montana: $7,000 MT $7k North Dakota: $15,000 ND $15k Minnesota: $20,000 MN $20k Wisconsin: $10,000 WI $10k Michigan: $7,000 MI $7k New York: $10,000 NY $10k Massachusetts: $7,000 MA $7k Oregon: $10,000 OR $10k Utah: $20,000 UT $20k Wyoming: $6,000 WY $6k South Dakota: $12,000 SD $12k Iowa: $6,500 IA $7k Illinois: $10,000 IL $10k Indiana: $10,000 IN $10k Ohio: $6,000 OH $6k Pennsylvania: $12,000 PA $12k New Jersey: $5,000 NJ $5k Connecticut: $5,000 CT $5k California: $12,500 CA $13k Nevada: $10,000 NV $10k Colorado: $7,500 CO $8k Nebraska: $7,500 NE $8k Missouri: $5,000 MO $5k Kentucky: $2,500 KY $3k West Virginia: $20,000 WV $20k Virginia: $5,000 VA $5k Maryland: $5,000 MD $5k Delaware: $25,000 DE $25k Rhode Island: $5,000 RI $5k Arizona: $5,000 AZ $5k New Mexico: $10,000 NM $10k Kansas: $10,000 KS $10k Arkansas: $5,000 AR $5k Tennessee: $25,000 TN $25k North Carolina: $10,000 NC $10k South Carolina: $7,500 SC $8k District of Columbia: no data DC Oklahoma: $10,000 OK $10k Louisiana: $5,000 LA $5k Mississippi: $3,500 MS $4k Alabama: $6,000 AL $6k Georgia: $15,000 GA $15k Alaska: $10,000 AK $10k Texas: $20,000 TX $20k Florida: $8,000 FL $8k Hawaii: $5,000 HI $5k
$2,500
$25,000

Darker shading = higher claim limits. Click a state for its full page.

Claim Limit at a Glance

Sort:
Alabama
$6,000 Alaska
$10,000 Arizona
$5,000 Arkansas
$5,000 California
$12,500 Colorado
$7,500 Connecticut
$5,000 Delaware
$25,000 Florida
$8,000 Georgia
$15,000 Hawaii
$5,000 Idaho
$15,000 Illinois
$10,000 Indiana
$10,000 Iowa
$6,500 Kansas
$10,000 Kentucky
$2,500 Louisiana
$5,000 Maine
$10,000 Maryland
$5,000 Massachusetts
$7,000 Michigan
$7,000 Minnesota
$20,000 Mississippi
$3,500 Missouri
$5,000 Montana
$7,000 Nebraska
$7,500 Nevada
$10,000 New Hampshire
$10,000 New Jersey
$5,000 New Mexico
$10,000 New York
$10,000 North Carolina
$10,000 North Dakota
$15,000 Ohio
$6,000 Oklahoma
$10,000 Oregon
$10,000 Pennsylvania
$12,000 Rhode Island
$5,000 South Carolina
$7,500 South Dakota
$12,000 Tennessee
$25,000 Texas
$20,000 Utah
$20,000 Vermont
$10,000 Virginia
$5,000 Washington
$10,000 West Virginia
$20,000 Wisconsin
$10,000 Wyoming
$6,000

Max Claim Limit — 2026 · Official state government sources

Browse by State

Alabama
$6,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Alaska
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 3 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court District Court
Arizona
$5,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court Justice Court
Arkansas
$5,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 5 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court Small Claims Division
California
$12,500
Max claim limit
Written SOL 4 yrs
Oral SOL 2 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Colorado
$7,500
Max claim limit
Written SOL 3 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court County Court
Connecticut
$5,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Delaware
$25,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 3 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court Justice of the Peace Court
Florida
$8,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 5 yrs
Oral SOL 4 yrs
Court County Court
Georgia
$15,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 4 yrs
Court Magistrate Court
Hawaii
$5,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Division
Idaho
$15,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 5 yrs
Oral SOL 4 yrs
Court Small Claims Department
Illinois
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 5 yrs
Oral SOL 5 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Indiana
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 10 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Iowa
$6,500
Max claim limit
Written SOL 5 yrs
Oral SOL 5 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Kansas
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 5 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Kentucky
$2,500
Max claim limit
Written SOL 5 yrs
Oral SOL 5 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Louisiana
$5,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 10 yrs
Oral SOL 10 yrs
Court City Court / Justice of the Peace
Maine
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court District Court
Maryland
$5,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 3 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court District Court
Massachusetts
$7,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Session
Michigan
$7,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Division
Minnesota
$20,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Conciliation Court
Mississippi
$3,500
Max claim limit
Written SOL 3 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court Justice Court
Missouri
$5,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 5 yrs
Oral SOL 5 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Montana
$7,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 8 yrs
Oral SOL 5 yrs
Court Justice Court
Nebraska
$7,500
Max claim limit
Written SOL 5 yrs
Oral SOL 4 yrs
Court County Court
Nevada
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 4 yrs
Court Justice Court
New Hampshire
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 3 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court District Court
New Jersey
$5,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Special Civil Part
New Mexico
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 4 yrs
Court Magistrate Court
New York
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
North Carolina
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 3 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court Magistrate Court
North Dakota
$15,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Ohio
$6,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Division
Oklahoma
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 5 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Oregon
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Department
Pennsylvania
$12,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 4 yrs
Oral SOL 4 yrs
Court Magisterial District Court
Rhode Island
$5,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 10 yrs
Oral SOL 10 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
South Carolina
$7,500
Max claim limit
Written SOL 3 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court Magistrate Court
South Dakota
$12,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Tennessee
$25,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court General Sessions Court
Texas
$20,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 4 yrs
Oral SOL 4 yrs
Court Justice Court
Utah
$20,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 4 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Vermont
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Virginia
$5,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 5 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court General District Court
Washington
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 3 yrs
Court Small Claims Department
West Virginia
$20,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 10 yrs
Oral SOL 5 yrs
Court Magistrate Court
Wisconsin
$10,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 6 yrs
Oral SOL 6 yrs
Court Small Claims Court
Wyoming
$6,000
Max claim limit
Written SOL 8 yrs
Oral SOL 8 yrs
Court Circuit Court

How Small Claims Court Limits Work

Small claims court is a simplified legal process designed for disputes involving relatively small amounts of money. Each state sets its own maximum dollar limit — the highest amount a plaintiff can sue for in small claims court. If your case exceeds the limit, you may need to file in a higher court such as district, superior, or circuit court.

Limits range from as low as $2,500 (Kentucky) to $25,000 in Tennessee and Delaware (Georgia joins them for cases filed from January 1, 2027). Many states set the limit at $10,000–$12,500.

Statutes of Limitation

Beyond the dollar limit, your claim must also be filed within the statute of limitations — the legal deadline to sue. Written contract claims typically allow 4–6 years; oral contract claims are usually shorter at 2–4 years. Property damage and personal injury claims have their own separate deadlines.

Can You Reduce Your Claim to Fit the Limit?

Yes — in most states you can voluntarily reduce (waive) the excess amount to bring your claim within the small claims limit. For example, if you're owed $11,000 in a state with a $10,000 limit, you can file for $10,000 and waive the remaining $1,000. This is often worth it to avoid the higher cost and complexity of a regular civil court case.

Kansas Small Claims Limit: $10,000 Since July 2024, With a 20-Claim Cap

Kansas raised its small claims limit from $4,000 to $10,000 for cases filed on or after July 1, 2024 (2024 Kansas session laws, chapter 22). If an older article, a court handout or a forum post still says $4,000, it predates that change. K.S.A. 61-2703 now defines a small claim as one that does not exceed $10,000.

Two other rules in the same chapter matter before you file. The docket fee under K.S.A. 61-2704 is $35 for claims up to $500 and $55 above that, and a state court surcharge and local add-ons come on top: when we read Johnson County District Court's small claims page in October 2026, it showed totals of $49 and $69 once the $12.50 surcharge and a $1.50 law library fee were included. The statute also says no one may file more than 20 small claims in the same court in a calendar year, which affects landlords, collectors and anyone who files in volume.

Sources: K.S.A. 61-2703 and 61-2704 (Kansas Legislature), Kansas docket fees (Shawnee County District Court) (checked November 2026)

Maryland's $5,000 Limit: What Counts Toward It

Maryland's District Court handles small claims, and the limit comes from Courts and Judicial Proceedings section 4-405: a small claim is a civil action for money where the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest, costs and attorney's fees. The wording matters. The $5,000 is measured on the amount you claim, with those add-ons left out of the count, so a claim for $5,000 plus interest does not by that fact leave the small claims track.

The Maryland Courts small claims help page says the same thing in plain terms: your claim is for $5,000 or less. We found no 2025 or 2026 bill that raises the amount, so $5,000 is the figure to plan around.

Source: Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings 4-405 (checked November 2026)

Where Your State Falls in the 50-State Table

Looking at the full table, the middle limit is $10,000: 15 states sit at exactly that figure, and 14 states set the limit at $5,000 or below. Kentucky is the lowest at $2,500, followed by Mississippi at $3,500. Tennessee and Delaware are the highest at $25,000, and Georgia joins them for cases filed on or after January 1, 2027, when its limit rises from $15,000.

Check the date before you plan around a limit. Several states have changed theirs recently (Kansas in July 2024, for example), and the number a friend or an old article quotes may not apply to a case you file today. Each state row above links to the statute or court rule we checked.

Source: Kentucky Revised Statutes (small claims division) (checked November 2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the limit for small claims court?
Small claims court limits vary by state, ranging from $2,500 (Kentucky) to $25,000 (Tennessee and Delaware). About half of states set the limit between $7,500 and $15,000. Use the calculator above to find the exact limit in your state.
What is the maximum amount I can sue for in small claims court?
The maximum you can sue for depends entirely on your state. The highest limits are $25,000, in Tennessee and Delaware. The lowest is $2,500, in Kentucky. The median across the 50 states is $10,000. Always verify your state's current limit before filing.
How does small claims court work?
Small claims court is a simplified civil court for disputes involving modest amounts of money. You file a claim, pay a filing fee, serve the defendant, then attend a hearing where a judge rules. There are no juries and the rules of evidence are relaxed — most people represent themselves without a lawyer.
How much does it cost to file a small claims case?
Filing fees for small claims court typically range from $30 to $100 depending on your state and claim amount. Most states use a tiered fee structure — smaller claims cost less to file. Use our Small Claims Filing Fees calculator for the exact fee in your state.
Can I reduce my claim to fit under the small claims limit?
Yes — in most states you can voluntarily reduce (waive) the excess to bring your claim within the limit. For example, if you're owed $11,500 in a state with a $10,000 limit, you can file for $10,000 and waive the $1,500 difference. This is often worth it to avoid the higher cost and complexity of regular civil court.
What is the statute of limitations for small claims court?
Statutes of limitations vary by state and claim type. Written contract claims are typically 4–6 years; oral contracts are usually 2–4 years. Property damage claims follow their own deadlines. Always file before the deadline — a court cannot hear a time-barred claim regardless of its merits.
Do I need a lawyer for small claims court?
No — small claims court is specifically designed for self-represented parties. In fact, some states restrict attorney appearances in small claims hearings. The process is straightforward: file, serve the defendant, and present your case to a judge. Our how-to guides walk you through each step by state.
What happens if I win but the defendant doesn't pay?
Winning a judgment doesn't guarantee payment. If the defendant ignores the judgment, you can enforce it using wage garnishment, bank account levies, or property liens — but specific options depend on your state. See our Collect a Judgment guides for step-by-step state-specific instructions.
What types of cases can be filed in small claims court?
Small claims court handles monetary disputes such as unpaid debts, security deposit disputes, property damage, contractor disputes, minor auto accidents, and returned check claims. It cannot handle criminal matters, family law (divorce, custody), or claims above the state dollar limit.

Ready to File? Get the Right Paperwork

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More Small Claims Resources

Filing Fees by State
Exact court fees to open your case
Fee Waiver Guide
Waive fees if you can't afford them
How to File — All States
Step-by-step filing instructions
Collect a Judgment
Enforce your win after court
How to Sue — By Entity Type
Businesses, LLCs, landlords, individuals
Can I Sue My Employer?
Unpaid wages and wage theft claims
Compare States
Side-by-side limits across all states

Related Legal Cost Calculators

Small Claims Filing Fees Look up the exact court filing fees to start a small claims case in your state.
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Our mission is to educate. We give everyone the most accurate, complete legal cost information available online, free.

Keeping it accurate takes real work. Fees change across all 50 states and 530+ counties, so we check every official source monthly and review every state each quarter.

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