Small Claims Court: How It Works, Limits by State and UK Rules

Last updated: 30 October 2026. This guide draws on official court and legislature sources for each state listed, including the California Courts Self-Help Guide, the Texas State Law Library, the New York State Unified Court System, the Florida Small Claims Rules, the Washington Attorney General, Michigan, Ohio and North Carolina statutes, and, for England and Wales, the Civil Procedure Rules and HM Courts and Tribunals Service guidance on GOV.UK. Limits and fees change, and this is general information, not legal advice.

Short answer: Small claims court is a simplified part of the civil courts for lower-value money disputes, such as unpaid bills, lost deposits and minor property damage. Each US state sets its own limit: among the states we checked, they run from $3,000 in New York town courts to $20,000 in Texas justice courts. In England and Wales, the small claims track normally handles claims of up to £10,000.

Key takeaways

• Limits vary widely: California allows individuals to claim up to $12,500 (businesses $6,250), New York City allows $10,000, Florida $8,000 and Texas justice courts $20,000.
• Some states keep lawyers out of the hearing. California does not allow a lawyer to represent you in small claims court, and Michigan and Washington exclude attorneys from small claims cases unless an exception applies.
• Winning does not mean the court collects for you. You usually need further steps, such as wage garnishment, a bank levy or a property lien, if the other side does not pay.
• In England and Wales, defended claims of £10,000 or less are referred to free court-organised telephone mediation, and the court fee to issue a claim ranges from £35 to £455 on that track.

What is small claims court?

Small claims court is not usually a separate building. It is a division or procedure within a state’s lower civil courts, such as a county court, district court, justice court or magistrate court, designed so that ordinary people can resolve modest disputes without a lawyer. The rules of evidence are relaxed, forms are short, hearings are quick and a judge or magistrate decides the case without a jury.

Typical cases include a landlord refusing to return a security deposit, a contractor who took payment and did poor work, an unpaid personal loan, damage to a car or property, and disputes with a business over faulty goods. Most small claims courts can only award money. They generally cannot order someone to do something, and many exclude certain claims, such as defamation or claims against the state. Our guide on when a landlord can keep a security deposit covers one of the most common disputes.

What are the small claims limits by state?

The table shows limits we confirmed from official court, legislature or state government sources. Check the court’s own website before filing, because limits are raised from time to time and some courts have exceptions.

Sources include the California Courts Self-Help Guide, the Texas State Law Library on Rule 500.3, the New York courts’ small claims pages and the Washington Attorney General’s small claims guide, together with Florida Small Claims Rule 7.010, Michigan Compiled Laws section 600.8401, Ohio Revised Code section 1925.02 and North Carolina General Statutes section 7A-210.

If your claim is above the limit, you can usually either file in the regular civil court or give up the excess to stay in small claims. Michigan’s statute, for example, lets a person with a larger claim sue in small claims but not recover more than the limit.

How do you file a small claims case?

The steps are similar in most states:

1. Ask for payment first. Send a clear written demand setting out what you are owed and a deadline. Some courts expect this, and it often settles the matter. Our guide to cease and desist letters explains how formal demand letters work.
2. Check the deadline. Statutes of limitations apply in small claims court too. Our state-by-state personal injury limitation guide shows how much the periods vary.
3. Choose the right court. You normally file where the defendant lives or does business, or where the problem happened.
4. Use the defendant’s correct legal name. For a business, check the state’s business register so the judgment can be enforced.
5. File the claim form and pay the fee. If you cannot afford it, ask for a fee waiver.
6. Serve the defendant. Depending on the state, service may be by certified mail, the sheriff, a process server or another adult who is not a party.
7. Prepare your evidence. Bring contracts, receipts, photos, texts, emails, repair estimates and any witnesses, with copies for the judge and the other side.

For a wider view of lawsuits outside small claims, see our guide on how to sue someone.

How much does small claims court cost?

Filing fees are modest compared with regular civil court but differ by state and by the amount claimed. In California the fee is $30 to $100. Expect extra costs for serving the papers and, if you win, for enforcement steps such as a writ of execution. If you have a low income, you can ask the court for a fee waiver.

Can you bring a lawyer to small claims court?

It depends on the state. California says you can get legal advice before court but a lawyer cannot represent you at the hearing. Michigan’s statute says an attorney may not take part in small claims litigation except on their own behalf. Washington excludes attorneys and paralegals unless the judge gives permission, and in Arizona a party who wants a lawyer must transfer the case out of small claims. Other states, including Texas, allow representation by an attorney in justice court, although most people represent themselves.

Even where lawyers are barred from the hearing, many people pay for a short consultation to check their claim, their evidence and the correct defendant.

What happens if you win, and how do you collect?

A judgment is a court order that the other side owes you money. It is not a cheque. If the debtor does not pay after the time to appeal has passed, you must use the court’s enforcement tools. California’s self-help guide lists the main ones: wage garnishment and bank levies through a writ of execution, a lien on real estate by recording an abstract of judgment, and a debtor’s examination in which the debtor must answer questions about income and assets. A California judgment expires after 10 years unless it is renewed.

If you are the defendant, do not ignore the case. A default judgment can be entered against you and enforced in the same ways. Our guide on what happens if you ignore a lawsuit explains the risks.

Can you appeal a small claims decision?

Appeal rights are limited and vary a great deal. In California, a plaintiff who loses generally cannot appeal their own claim, but a defendant can, and must file within 30 days. The appeal is a new trial with a different judge, and both sides may have a lawyer at that stage. In Washington, no appeal is allowed if the amount claimed was under $250, and a claimant who wants to appeal must have claimed more than $1,000. Arizona small claims judgments cannot be appealed at all.

How does the small claims track work in England and Wales?

England and Wales has no separate small claims court. Money claims are issued in the County Court, often online, and defended claims are allocated to a track. Under CPR rule 26.9, the small claims track is the normal track for claims worth up to £10,000, with lower limits for some claims:

• personal injury claims are on the small claims track only if damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity are not more than £1,500, or £5,000 for most road traffic accident injuries;
• housing disrepair claims by residential tenants qualify only if repairs are estimated at no more than £1,000 and other damages are no more than £1,000.

The court fee to issue a money claim is £35 up to £300, £50 up to £500, £70 up to £1,000, £80 up to £1,500, £115 up to £3,000, £205 up to £5,000 and £455 up to £10,000. If your claim is £10,000 or less and is defended, GOV.UK says you must attend free mediation organised by the court, usually by phone and lasting up to one hour. A judge can sanction a party who does not attend, including by striking out the claim. Our guide to settling in or out of court explains the trade-offs of an agreed outcome.

You can represent yourself, pay a solicitor or barrister, or ask someone to speak for you with the court’s permission. Legal costs are largely not recoverable on this track: CPR 27.14 limits what the loser pays to fixed issue costs, court fees, reasonable travel expenses, capped sums for lost earnings and expert fees, and further costs only where a party has behaved unreasonably. GOV.UK says an appeal must be made within 21 days of the decision. Enforcement options include a warrant of control (bailiffs), an attachment of earnings order, a third party debt order and a charging order on property.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum you can sue for in small claims court?

It depends on the state. Among the states we checked, limits run from $3,000 in New York town and village courts to $20,000 in Texas justice courts. In England and Wales, the small claims track normally covers claims worth up to £10,000, with lower limits for personal injury.

Can a business sue in small claims court?

Often yes, but with limits. California caps business claims at $6,250 and Washington at $5,000 for non-individuals. In New York, corporations, partnerships and associations cannot use small claims court, although New York City and Long Island have a separate commercial small claims procedure.

Do I need a lawyer for small claims court?

No. Small claims procedures are built for people representing themselves. Some states, including California and Michigan, bar lawyers from representing parties at the hearing, while others allow them. A short paid consultation before filing can still help you frame the claim and evidence.

What happens if the defendant does not show up?

The judge will usually enter a default judgment for the plaintiff if the claim is properly proved and the defendant was properly served. In England and Wales, a party who missed the hearing can apply within 14 days to set the judgment aside, but must show a good reason and a reasonable prospect of success.

How long does a small claims judgment last?

It varies by state. In California, a small claims judgment expires after 10 years unless renewed before the deadline. Interest may also be added in some states, so check your local court’s guidance on renewal and enforcement before the judgment runs out.

Can you sue someone in another state in small claims court?

Usually you must file where the defendant lives or does business, or where the dispute arose, and the court must have jurisdiction over the defendant. That can mean filing in another state and travelling to the hearing, so weigh the cost against the amount you are owed.

This article is general information about small claims procedures in selected US states and in England and Wales. It is not legal advice. Court limits, fees and rules change, and local courts may have their own requirements, so check the official court website or speak to a qualified lawyer before you file or respond to a claim.