Small Claims Court Calculator

Small claims court is a simplified legal process for resolving disputes involving relatively small amounts of money. The rules are designed for people without lawyers — hearings are informal, there is no jury, and cases are usually decided the same day. Amount limits range from $2,500 (Kentucky) to $25,000 (Tennessee, Delaware). Filing fees are typically $25-$150.

In most cases, no — in 13 states (including California, Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, and Washington), attorneys are actually prohibited from representing parties in small claims court. The court is designed for self-representation. However, in states that allow lawyers, one side having an attorney can put the other at a disadvantage.

The statute of limitations is the deadline for filing a claim after an event occurs. It varies by state and claim type. For example, Kentucky gives you only 1 year for personal injury claims, while Maine allows 6 years. Written contracts usually have longer deadlines (3-15 years) than personal injury claims (1-6 years). Missing this deadline means your case is dismissed.

You have three options: (1) reduce your claim to the small claims limit and waive the rest, (2) file in regular civil court (more expensive and complex), or (3) in some states, split the claim into multiple cases (though many states prohibit this). If the excess is small relative to civil court costs, option 1 is usually the best choice.

It depends on your state. Most states allow either party to appeal, usually within 10-30 days. California and Massachusetts only allow the defendant to appeal. Arizona does not allow small claims appeals at all. Appeals are usually "trial de novo" (a brand-new trial) in a higher court.

Almost always in the county or district where the defendant lives or does business, or where the incident occurred (where the contract was signed, where the property was damaged, etc.). Filing in the wrong location can result in dismissal.

Highest: Tennessee and Delaware ($25,000), Texas and Utah ($20,000), Georgia, Minnesota, and North Dakota ($15,000). Lowest: Kentucky ($2,500), Arizona and Mississippi ($3,500), Nebraska ($3,900), Kansas ($4,000). California allows $12,500 for individuals but only $6,250 for businesses.

It typically takes 30-75 days from filing to the hearing. The hearing itself usually takes 15-60 minutes, and you get a decision that day or within a few days. If you win, collecting the judgment can take longer — the court does not collect it for you.