Small Claims Court Limits: How Much Can You Sue For?
Your landlord kept your deposit. Your friend ghosted you after borrowing $2,000. Hiring a lawyer costs too much. This is where Small Claims Court shines. It is the “Judge Judy” style court where you represent yourself. But each state has a different limit.
State-by-State Limits (2026)
Before you file, check the ceiling. If you are owed $15,000 but your state limit is $10,000, you have to waive the extra $5,000 to sue here.
| State Tier | Limit (Approx) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| High Limit | $15k – $25k | TN, DE, GA |
| Medium Limit | $7k – $12k | CA, TX, NY, FL |
| Low Limit | $2.5k – $5k | KY, RI, AZ |
1. Sue in Civil Court: Hire a lawyer (Expensive).
2. Sue for the Max: Forget the excess amount and just take the Small Claims max (Cheap & Fast).
3 Steps to Justice
1. Send a “Demand Letter”
Before going to court, you must prove you tried to solve it nicely. Send a certified letter: “Pay me $5,000 by Friday or I will sue.” Keep the receipt. The judge will ask for this.
2. File in the Correct County
Trap Alert: You generally must file in the county where the Defendant lives or where the incident happened, NOT where you live.
(If you live in NY but the guy who owes you money lives in NJ, you have to go to NJ to sue him).
3. “Serve” the Papers
You cannot hand the lawsuit to them yourself. You must hire a Sheriff or a Process Server to hand it to them. This proves they know about the court date.
Pro Tip: Winning is Not Collecting
The judge says “You Win!” and bangs the gavel. Does the defendant write a check? Usually no.
How to Actually Get Paid
1. Wage Garnishment: Ask the court to take money directly from their paycheck.
2. Bank Levy: Ask the Sheriff to freeze and seize their bank account.
3. Lien: Put a lien on their house or car. They can’t sell it until they pay you.
(Note: You can’t get blood from a stone. If they are broke, you get nothing).