{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Dataset","name":"Advottic US Small Claims Court Dataset","description":"Small claims court monetary limits, filing fees, attorney-representation rules, and appeal windows for all 50 US states.","version":"2026.05","datePublished":"2026-07-03","dateModified":"2026-05-11","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","creator":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Advottic","url":"https://advottic.com/"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Techno Optics LLC","url":"https://advottic.com/about"},"url":"https://advottic.com/resources/small-claims-rankings","distribution":[{"@type":"DataDownload","encodingFormat":"application/json","contentUrl":"https://advottic.com/open-data/small-claims.json"}],"keywords":["small claims court","small claims limit","filing fee","civil procedure","United States","legal data"],"states":[{"slug":"alabama","name":"Alabama","abbr":"AL","monetaryLimit":6000,"filingFee":"$50-$95","courtName":"Small Claims Division of District Court","statute":"Ala. R. Civ. P. SCS-1","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent either party.","appealWindowDays":14,"notes":null},{"slug":"alaska","name":"Alaska","abbr":"AK","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$50-$75","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"AS 22.15.040","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may appear for either side.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"arizona","name":"Arizona","abbr":"AZ","monetaryLimit":3500,"filingFee":"$26-$32","courtName":"Justice Court (Small Claims Division)","statute":"A.R.S. § 22-501","attorneysAllowed":"No","attorneysNote":"Attorneys are barred unless the other party agrees in writing.","appealWindowDays":0,"notes":"No appeals from small claims in Arizona."},{"slug":"arkansas","name":"Arkansas","abbr":"AR","monetaryLimit":5000,"filingFee":"$50-$80","courtName":"Small Claims Division of District Court","statute":"Ark. Code § 16-17-601","attorneysAllowed":"No","attorneysNote":"Attorneys generally not permitted.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"california","name":"California","abbr":"CA","monetaryLimit":12500,"filingFee":"$30-$75","courtName":"Small Claims Court (Superior Court)","statute":"Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 116.110","attorneysAllowed":"No","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may not represent parties at trial in small claims; may consult before and after.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":"Higher $6,500 cap if the plaintiff is a business; $12,500 for individuals. Only the defendant may appeal."},{"slug":"colorado","name":"Colorado","abbr":"CO","monetaryLimit":7500,"filingFee":"$31-$55","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"C.R.S. § 13-6-403","attorneysAllowed":"Limited","attorneysNote":"Attorneys allowed only if both parties consent.","appealWindowDays":14,"notes":null},{"slug":"connecticut","name":"Connecticut","abbr":"CT","monetaryLimit":5000,"filingFee":"$95","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":0,"notes":"No appeals from small claims in Connecticut."},{"slug":"delaware","name":"Delaware","abbr":"DE","monetaryLimit":25000,"filingFee":"$40-$100","courtName":"Justice of the Peace Court","statute":"10 Del. C. § 9301","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":15,"notes":null},{"slug":"florida","name":"Florida","abbr":"FL","monetaryLimit":8000,"filingFee":"$55-$300","courtName":"County Court (Small Claims)","statute":"Fla. R. Sm. Cl. P. 7.010","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties; many proceed without.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":"Pre-trial conference required in many counties."},{"slug":"georgia","name":"Georgia","abbr":"GA","monetaryLimit":15000,"filingFee":"$50-$100","courtName":"Magistrate Court","statute":"O.C.G.A. § 15-10-2","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"hawaii","name":"Hawaii","abbr":"HI","monetaryLimit":5000,"filingFee":"$35-$70","courtName":"Small Claims Division of District Court","statute":"HRS § 633-27","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":0,"notes":"No appeals except for jurisdictional issues."},{"slug":"idaho","name":"Idaho","abbr":"ID","monetaryLimit":5000,"filingFee":"$59","courtName":"Small Claims Department of Magistrate Court","statute":"Idaho Code § 1-2301","attorneysAllowed":"No","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may not represent parties unless they are the party.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"illinois","name":"Illinois","abbr":"IL","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$60-$170","courtName":"Circuit Court (Small Claims)","statute":"Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 281","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"indiana","name":"Indiana","abbr":"IN","monetaryLimit":8000,"filingFee":"$76-$87","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"Ind. Code § 33-29-2-4","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"iowa","name":"Iowa","abbr":"IA","monetaryLimit":6500,"filingFee":"$95","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"Iowa Code § 631.1","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":20,"notes":null},{"slug":"kansas","name":"Kansas","abbr":"KS","monetaryLimit":4000,"filingFee":"$39-$78","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"K.S.A. § 61-2702","attorneysAllowed":"No","attorneysNote":"Attorneys generally not permitted in small claims.","appealWindowDays":14,"notes":null},{"slug":"kentucky","name":"Kentucky","abbr":"KY","monetaryLimit":2500,"filingFee":"$60-$80","courtName":"Small Claims Division of District Court","statute":"KRS § 24A.230","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":10,"notes":null},{"slug":"louisiana","name":"Louisiana","abbr":"LA","monetaryLimit":5000,"filingFee":"$80-$200","courtName":"City Court (Small Claims)","statute":"La. R.S. 13:5200","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":10,"notes":null},{"slug":"maine","name":"Maine","abbr":"ME","monetaryLimit":6000,"filingFee":"$60","courtName":"District Court (Small Claims)","statute":"14 M.R.S. § 7481","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"maryland","name":"Maryland","abbr":"MD","monetaryLimit":5000,"filingFee":"$36-$55","courtName":"District Court (Small Claims)","statute":"Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"massachusetts","name":"Massachusetts","abbr":"MA","monetaryLimit":7000,"filingFee":"$40-$150","courtName":"Small Claims Session of District Court","statute":"M.G.L. c. 218 § 21","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":10,"notes":null},{"slug":"michigan","name":"Michigan","abbr":"MI","monetaryLimit":7000,"filingFee":"$30-$70","courtName":"Small Claims Division of District Court","statute":"MCL § 600.8401","attorneysAllowed":"No","attorneysNote":"Attorneys cannot represent parties in Michigan small claims.","appealWindowDays":21,"notes":"Filing in small claims waives right to attorney representation and jury trial."},{"slug":"minnesota","name":"Minnesota","abbr":"MN","monetaryLimit":15000,"filingFee":"$70-$80","courtName":"Conciliation Court","statute":"Minn. Stat. § 491A.01","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":20,"notes":null},{"slug":"mississippi","name":"Mississippi","abbr":"MS","monetaryLimit":3500,"filingFee":"$50-$100","courtName":"Justice Court","statute":"Miss. Code § 9-11-9","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"missouri","name":"Missouri","abbr":"MO","monetaryLimit":5000,"filingFee":"$26-$58","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"RSMo § 482.305","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":10,"notes":null},{"slug":"montana","name":"Montana","abbr":"MT","monetaryLimit":7000,"filingFee":"$30-$50","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"MCA § 25-35-501","attorneysAllowed":"Limited","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may not represent parties unless both parties have attorneys.","appealWindowDays":10,"notes":null},{"slug":"nebraska","name":"Nebraska","abbr":"NE","monetaryLimit":3900,"filingFee":"$25-$50","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2802","attorneysAllowed":"No","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may not represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":"Limit adjusts every 5 years for inflation."},{"slug":"nevada","name":"Nevada","abbr":"NV","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$25-$110","courtName":"Justice Court (Small Claims)","statute":"NRS § 73.010","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":5,"notes":null},{"slug":"new-hampshire","name":"New Hampshire","abbr":"NH","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$90-$145","courtName":"Circuit Court (Small Claims)","statute":"RSA 503:1","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"new-jersey","name":"New Jersey","abbr":"NJ","monetaryLimit":5000,"filingFee":"$15-$30","courtName":"Special Civil Part (Small Claims Section)","statute":"N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":45,"notes":null},{"slug":"new-mexico","name":"New Mexico","abbr":"NM","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$77","courtName":"Magistrate Court","statute":"NMSA § 35-3-3","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":15,"notes":null},{"slug":"new-york","name":"New York","abbr":"NY","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$15-$20","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"NY UCCA § 1801","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":"NYC limit $10,000; town and village courts often $3,000."},{"slug":"north-carolina","name":"North Carolina","abbr":"NC","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$96","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"N.C.G.S. § 7A-210","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":10,"notes":null},{"slug":"north-dakota","name":"North Dakota","abbr":"ND","monetaryLimit":15000,"filingFee":"$25","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"N.D.C.C. § 27-08.1","attorneysAllowed":"No","attorneysNote":"Attorneys generally not permitted.","appealWindowDays":0,"notes":"No appeals from small claims judgments."},{"slug":"ohio","name":"Ohio","abbr":"OH","monetaryLimit":6000,"filingFee":"$50-$100","courtName":"Small Claims Division","statute":"R.C. § 1925.02","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"oklahoma","name":"Oklahoma","abbr":"OK","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$58-$135","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"12 O.S. § 1751","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"oregon","name":"Oregon","abbr":"OR","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$50-$135","courtName":"Small Claims Department of Circuit Court","statute":"ORS § 46.405","attorneysAllowed":"No","attorneysNote":"Attorneys not permitted without court approval.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"pennsylvania","name":"Pennsylvania","abbr":"PA","monetaryLimit":12000,"filingFee":"$60-$140","courtName":"Magisterial District Court","statute":"42 Pa.C.S. § 1515","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"rhode-island","name":"Rhode Island","abbr":"RI","monetaryLimit":5000,"filingFee":"$55-$80","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-16-1","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":2,"notes":"Two-day appeal window is the shortest in the country."},{"slug":"south-carolina","name":"South Carolina","abbr":"SC","monetaryLimit":7500,"filingFee":"$80","courtName":"Magistrate Court","statute":"S.C. Code § 22-3-10","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"south-dakota","name":"South Dakota","abbr":"SD","monetaryLimit":12000,"filingFee":"$30-$50","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"SDCL § 15-39-45","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":0,"notes":"No appeals from small claims."},{"slug":"tennessee","name":"Tennessee","abbr":"TN","monetaryLimit":25000,"filingFee":"$100-$200","courtName":"General Sessions Court","statute":"T.C.A. § 16-15-501","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":10,"notes":"Tied with Delaware for the highest small-claims limit in the country."},{"slug":"texas","name":"Texas","abbr":"TX","monetaryLimit":20000,"filingFee":"$54-$103","courtName":"Justice Court (Small Claims Docket)","statute":"Tex. R. Civ. P. 500-507","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":21,"notes":null},{"slug":"utah","name":"Utah","abbr":"UT","monetaryLimit":15000,"filingFee":"$60-$185","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"Utah Code § 78A-8-102","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"vermont","name":"Vermont","abbr":"VT","monetaryLimit":5000,"filingFee":"$65-$90","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"12 V.S.A. § 5531","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"virginia","name":"Virginia","abbr":"VA","monetaryLimit":5000,"filingFee":"$36-$80","courtName":"General District Court (Small Claims Division)","statute":"Va. Code § 16.1-122.1","attorneysAllowed":"No","attorneysNote":"Attorneys not permitted in small claims division.","appealWindowDays":10,"notes":null},{"slug":"washington","name":"Washington","abbr":"WA","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$50","courtName":"Small Claims Department of District Court","statute":"RCW § 12.40.010","attorneysAllowed":"No","attorneysNote":"Attorneys not permitted without judicial approval.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null},{"slug":"west-virginia","name":"West Virginia","abbr":"WV","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$60","courtName":"Magistrate Court","statute":"W. Va. Code § 50-2-1","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":20,"notes":null},{"slug":"wisconsin","name":"Wisconsin","abbr":"WI","monetaryLimit":10000,"filingFee":"$22-$94","courtName":"Small Claims Court","statute":"Wis. Stat. § 799.01","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":45,"notes":null},{"slug":"wyoming","name":"Wyoming","abbr":"WY","monetaryLimit":6000,"filingFee":"$10-$50","courtName":"Small Claims Court (Circuit Court)","statute":"Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-201","attorneysAllowed":"Yes","attorneysNote":"Attorneys may represent parties.","appealWindowDays":30,"notes":null}]}