Every state and the District of Columbia sets a dollar limit for small claims cases, or for the court that hears them: for an individual it runs from $2,500 in Kentucky to $25,000 in Delaware and Tennessee, and $10,000 is the most common limit (16 states). This page lists the small claims limit for all 50 states and the District of Columbia as of September 28, 2026, each checked against the state's court website or statute, and the checker below tells you whether your claim fits.
Enter the total you are asking for, such as car repair costs, a deductible or unpaid money.
Maximum amount an individual can sue for in small claims court, as of September 28, 2026. The notes column shows a different limit where a state sets one for businesses, for certain courts or for certain claims.
| State | Limit (individual) | Court | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $6,000 | Small claims court (district court) | - |
| Alaska | $10,000 | District court (small claims, district judge or magistrate) | State wage claims: up to $20,000. |
| Arizona | $5,000 | Small claims division (justice court) | No lawyers unless both sides agree. |
| Arkansas | $5,000 | Small claims division (district court) | No lawyers; collection agencies and money lenders cannot file. |
| California | $12,500 | Small claims court (superior court) | Businesses: $6,250. Since January 1, 2024. No more than two claims over $2,500 a year. |
| Colorado | $7,500 | Small claims court (county court) | You may file for more but can collect only $7,500. |
| Connecticut | $5,000 | Small claims session (Superior Court) | Home improvement or new home construction claims: up to $15,000. |
| Delaware | $25,000 | Justice of the Peace Court | A larger claim can be filed if you limit it to $25,000. |
| District of Columbia | $10,000 | Small Claims and Conciliation Branch (Superior Court) | For cases filed on or after December 14, 2016. A business that files must have a lawyer. |
| Florida | $8,000 | County court (small claims rules) | - |
| Georgia | $15,000 | Magistrate court | Magistrate court civil claims (the county courts call these small claims). |
| Hawaii | $5,000 | Small claims division (district court) | Also hears security deposit disputes. |
| Idaho | $5,000 | Small claims department (magistrate's division, district court) | No lawyer may appear with or for a party at a hearing. |
| Illinois | $10,000 | Circuit court (small claims) | Since January 1, 2006 (raised from $5,000). |
| Indiana | $10,000 | Small claims docket (circuit and superior courts) | Claims filed on or after July 1, 2021. Filing waives any amount over $10,000. |
| Iowa | $6,500 | District court sitting in small claims | For cases filed on or after July 1, 2018. |
| Kansas | $10,000 | District court (small claims procedure) | Raised from $4,000 on July 1, 2024. No lawyers before judgment. |
| Kentucky | $2,500 | Small claims division (district court) | No more than 25 small claims a year. |
| Louisiana | $5,000 | Small claims division (city courts); justice of the peace courts | City court small claims divisions and justice of the peace courts. |
| Maine | $10,000 | Small claims (District Court) | Raised from $6,000 on January 1, 2026. |
| Maryland | $5,000 | District Court (small claim actions) | Money claims only. |
| Massachusetts | $7,000 | District Court or Boston Municipal Court (small claims procedure) | No dollar limit for property damage caused by a motor vehicle. |
| Michigan | $7,000 | Small claims division (district court) | $7,000 since January 1, 2024 ($6,500 from 2021). |
| Minnesota | $20,000 | Conciliation court (district court) | Raised from $15,000 by a 2024 law. Consumer credit claims: $4,000. |
| Mississippi | $3,500 | Justice court | - |
| Missouri | $5,000 | Small claims court (associate circuit judge) | - |
| Montana | $7,000 | Small claims court (justice court) | - |
| Nebraska | $7,500 | Small claims court (county court) | Raised to $7,500 on July 1, 2025. No lawyers. |
| Nevada | $10,000 | Justice court (small claims) | - |
| New Hampshire | $10,000 | Circuit Court, District Division (small claims) | Since July 1, 2015. Claims over $5,000 go to mandatory mediation. |
| New Jersey | $5,000 | Small Claims Section, Special Civil Part (Superior Court) | - |
| New Mexico | $10,000 | Magistrate court (Metropolitan Court in Bernalillo County) | Same $10,000 limit in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. |
| New York | $10,000 | Small claims part (NYC Civil Court, city, district, town and village courts) | NYC $10,000; other city courts and Nassau and western Suffolk $5,000; town and village courts $3,000. |
| North Carolina | $10,000 | Small claims court (district court magistrates) | Varies by county from $5,000 to $10,000. |
| North Dakota | $15,000 | Small claims court (district court) | - |
| Ohio | $6,000 | Small claims division (municipal or county court) | Money claims only. |
| Oklahoma | $10,000 | District court (small claims procedure) | A claim or counterclaim over $10,000 moves the case to another docket unless both sides agree in writing. |
| Oregon | $10,000 | Small claims department (circuit court or justice court) | Claims of $750 or less must go to small claims. |
| Pennsylvania | $12,000 | Magisterial district courts (Philadelphia Municipal Court) | Claims over $12,000 go to the Court of Common Pleas. |
| Rhode Island | $5,000 | District Court (small claims procedure) | Contract and tax claims. |
| South Carolina | $7,500 | Magistrate court | Magistrates hear civil cases up to $7,500. |
| South Dakota | $12,000 | Small claims (circuit or magistrate court) | - |
| Tennessee | $25,000 | General sessions court | General sessions court civil cases. |
| Texas | $20,000 | Justice court (justice of the peace) | Since September 1, 2020. |
| Utah | $20,000 | Small claims court (justice court or district court) | $20,000 from January 1, 2025 through 2029; rises to $25,000 on January 1, 2030 under current law. |
| Vermont | $10,000 | Superior Court, civil division (small claims procedure) | A larger claim cannot be split into smaller claims. |
| Virginia | $5,000 | Small claims court (general district court) | No lawyers. |
| Washington | $10,000 | Small claims department (district court) | Businesses: $5,000. No lawyers unless the judge allows. |
| West Virginia | $20,000 | Magistrate court | Raised to $20,000 on July 7, 2025. |
| Wisconsin | $10,000 | Circuit court (small claims procedure) | Personal injury and other tort claims: $5,000. |
| Wyoming | $6,000 | Circuit court (small claims procedure) | - |
The most common limit is $10,000, used in 16 states. The highest and lowest limits for an individual are:
The table gives the limit for an individual. A few states set a different figure depending on who files, what the claim is about, or which court hears it:
Many property losses from a car accident are small enough for small claims court: a repair bill, the deductible your own insurer charged you, a rental car, or the loss in value of a repaired car. If the at-fault driver's insurer will not pay what you are owed, a small claims case lets a judge decide. The diminished value calculator helps you put a number on lost value, and property damage versus personal injury claims explains how the two kinds of claims differ. For a crash with no injuries, see car accident settlements with no injuries.
An injury claim is different. Medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering can add up past a small claims limit, and some states have special rules for accident claims: Wisconsin limits personal injury and other tort claims to $5,000, while Massachusetts sets no dollar limit for property damage caused by a motor vehicle. Before you file an injury claim in small claims court, estimate it with the car accident settlement calculator and read the pros and cons of negotiating without a lawyer.
Whether you can bring a lawyer also depends on the state. Several states keep lawyers out of small claims court or limit them: Arizona (not unless both parties agree), Arkansas (no lawyers may take part), California (advice before court only; you can't have a lawyer with you in court), Idaho (no lawyer may appear at a hearing), Kansas (no lawyers before judgment), Nebraska (lawyers may not participate), Oregon (not without the judge's permission), Virginia (parties may not be represented by lawyers) and Washington (not unless the judge gives permission). Others allow a lawyer but do not require one. The notes column and the checker show the rule where the state court or statute states it.
For each state and the District of Columbia we read the small claims page on the state court website, the statute that sets the limit, or both, and recorded the exact words that state the limit. Every figure in the table appears in that wording, and the sources are listed below. Where a state website did not answer our server, we read an archived copy of the same official page. Some states hear small claims in a magistrate, justice or justice of the peace court rather than a separate small claims court; the court column names it.
The table shows the limits as of September 28, 2026. Next scheduled review: January 1, 2027.
It depends on the state. As of September 28, 2026 the limit for an individual runs from $2,500 in Kentucky to $25,000 in Delaware and Tennessee, and $10,000 is the most common limit (16 states). Use the checker above to test your amount.
The highest limits are $25,000 in Delaware and Tennessee; $20,000 in Minnesota, Texas, Utah and West Virginia; $15,000 in Georgia and North Dakota. Some of these states hear small claims in a justice, magistrate or justice of the peace court rather than a separate small claims court.
Not for the full amount. Colorado's courts say you may file a small claims case for a larger amount, but you will only be able to collect $7,500 if you win. Indiana's small claims manual says filing there waives any claim above the $10,000 limit, and Vermont law says parties may not split a claim of more than $10,000 into two or more small claims. Massachusetts is an exception for property damage caused by a motor vehicle, which has no dollar limit there.
Usually yes, but some states set a lower limit or extra rules for businesses. California allows up to $6,250 when you sue on behalf of a business, Washington allows $5,000 for any plaintiff other than an individual, and in the District of Columbia a business that files a small claim must have a lawyer.
Usually not. Several states keep lawyers out of small claims court or limit them: Arizona (not unless both parties agree), Arkansas (no lawyers may take part), California (advice before court only; you can't have a lawyer with you in court), Idaho (no lawyer may appear at a hearing), Kansas (no lawyers before judgment), Nebraska (lawyers may not participate), Oregon (not without the judge's permission), Virginia (parties may not be represented by lawyers) and Washington (not unless the judge gives permission). Others allow a lawyer but do not require one.
Often, for vehicle damage, a deductible or a small injury claim that fits under the state limit, since small claims courts hear claims for money. Watch for special rules: Wisconsin limits personal injury and other tort claims to $5,000, while Massachusetts sets no dollar limit for property damage caused by a motor vehicle. For a larger injury claim, compare the value with the car accident settlement calculator first.