Educational purposes only. This information does not constitute legal advice.
Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State
Know how much you can sue for in small claims court before filing.
Two separate numbers
Florida lists the highest small-claims filing-fee ceiling at $300 among 10 covered states, separate from the dollar-limit table below.
- $300
- highest listed filing fee
- $20
- lowest listed filing fee
- 10
- covered states
The dollar limit below (how much you can sue for) and the filing fee here (what it costs to file) come from different fields, never confuse one for the other.
What is Small Claims Court?
Small claims court is a simplified legal process designed to handle disputes involving smaller dollar amounts without requiring formal legal procedures or attorneys. It's faster, cheaper, and less formal than regular civil court.
Dollar Limits by State
| State | Dollar Limit | Filing Fee | Attorneys? |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $12,500 (individuals) | $30–$75 | Not allowed |
| Texas | $20,000 | $46–$112 | Allowed |
| Florida | $8,000 | $55–$300 | Allowed |
| New York | $10,000 (City Courts) | $20–$35 | Allowed |
| Illinois | $10,000 | $89–$264 | Allowed |
| Pennsylvania | $12,000 | $60–$120 | Allowed |
| Ohio | $6,000 | $35–$75 | Allowed |
| Georgia | $15,000 | $50–$150 | Allowed |
| North Carolina | $10,000 | $96–$150 | Rarely appear |
| Michigan | $7,000 | $30–$75 | Not allowed |
Dollar limits above are the maximum you can sue for. The filing-fee comparison below is a separate, PlainCivil state-court-record figure, what it costs to open the case.
Start with the range, then open your state record.
This is a comparison of 10 covered states, not a nationwide legal rule. Fees, timing, and forms can vary within a state, so the linked state record is the place to begin verifying a filing.
Covered states
10
state court records
Filing-fee range
$20 to $300
across this dataset
Recorded waiting period
Varies
where the source records one
Small Claims listed fee ceiling
Listed fee ceilings, same rows as the table
Waiting-period coverage
0 of 10 records include a waiting period
| State | Filing fee | Waiting period | Source timing note | Open record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $30 to $75 | Not listed | 30-70 days from filing to hearing | State record |
| Florida | $55 to $300 | Not listed | 4-8 weeks to pretrial hearing; trial 2-4 weeks after | State record |
| Georgia | $50 to $150 | Not listed | 3-8 weeks to hearing | State record |
| Illinois | $89 to $264 | Not listed | 4-12 weeks to hearing | State record |
| Michigan | $30 to $75 | Not listed | 3-6 weeks to hearing | State record |
| New York | $20 to $35 | Not listed | 4-8 weeks to hearing | State record |
| North Carolina | $96 to $150 | Not listed | 1-3 weeks to hearing in magistrate court | State record |
| Ohio | $35 to $75 | Not listed | 3-6 weeks to hearing | State record |
| Pennsylvania | $60 to $120 | Not listed | 3-6 weeks to hearing | State record |
| Texas | $46 to $112 | Not listed | 2-4 weeks to hearing after filing | State record |
Source basis: linked state court and legal-aid records in each state page, last verified 2026-03. Figures are a starting point, not legal advice.
What Cases Can You Bring to Small Claims?
- Security deposit disputes with landlords
- Property damage (car accidents, etc.)
- Unpaid loans between individuals
- Breach of contract for services
- Defective merchandise or services
- Unpaid wages (in some states)
What Cases Cannot Be Filed in Small Claims?
- Criminal matters
- Divorce or custody disputes
- Claims above the dollar limit
- Cases requiring injunctive relief (in most states)
Tips for Success in Small Claims Court
- Document everything: Keep receipts, contracts, photos, texts, emails
- Send a demand letter first: Courts like to see you tried to resolve it
- File in the right court: Typically where defendant lives or where the transaction occurred
- Bring witnesses: Anyone who can corroborate your story
- Be organized: Bring copies of all documents for the judge and defendant
What to do with this comparison
Confirm the dollar limit AND the filing fee for your own state before deciding where to file.
- The dollar limit (how much you can sue for) and the filing fee (what it costs to file) are two separate numbers. A higher limit does not mean a higher fee, check both before deciding where to file. Compare small claims records
- Florida lists the highest small-claims filing-fee ceiling in this comparison, $300. Florida record
- Send a demand letter and keep every receipt, contract, and message before filing, courts want to see you tried to resolve the dispute first. Compare other process guides
Filing-fee figures come from the same process rows as the chart above. Dollar limits and fee schedules change, verify both with the court before filing.
| Publisher | PlainCivil |
| Sources | Public state court datasets and federal civil-justice records |