court_name stringlengths 13 26 ⌀ | derived_fields listlengths 2 2 | id stringlengths 4 14 | individual_dollar_limit stringlengths 6 35 | jurisdiction stringlengths 4 14 | source stringlengths 38 107 | source_quote stringlengths 70 388 | statute_or_rule_citation stringlengths 9 35 | url stringlengths 75 85 | verified_fields listlengths 1 3 | business_dollar_limit stringclasses 2
values |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
small claims division | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | arizona | $5,000 | Arizona | https://www.azleg.gov/ars/22/00503.htm | The small claims division has concurrent original jurisdiction with the justice court in all civil actions in which the debt, damage, tort, injury or value of the personal property claims either by the plaintiff or defendant does not exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest and costs | A.R.S. § 22-503 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/arizona/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
small claims court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | california | $12,500 | California | https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/small-claims-or-limited-civil | If you are an individual and want to file a lawsuit for $12,500 or less, you have the option to file either a small claims case or a limited civil case. If you are a business entity, like a corporation, you can file in small claims court for $6,250 or less. | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 116.221 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/california/ | [
"business_dollar_limit",
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | $6,250 |
Justice of the Peace Court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | delaware | $25,000 | Delaware | https://courts.delaware.gov/jpcourt/jurisdiction.aspx | The Justice of the Peace Court has jurisdiction over civil cases involving debt, trespass and replevin in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000. | 10 Del. C. ch. 93 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/delaware/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
Small Claims Court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | hawaii | $5,000 | Hawaii | https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/small_claims/small_claims | The Small Claims Court hears your case if: The amount disputed doesn’t exceed $5,000. | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 633-27 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/hawaii/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
small claims court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | iowa | $6,500 | Iowa | https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/small-claims/ | What kinds of cases are heard in small claims court? A small claims case is a civil action for a money judgment in which the amount of damages is $6,500 or less. | Iowa Code chapter 631 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/iowa/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
null | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | kansas | $10,000 | Kansas | https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch61/061_027_0003.html | "Small claim" means a claim for the recovery of money or personal property, where the amount claimed or the value of the property sought does not exceed $10,000, exclusive of interest, costs and any damages awarded | K.S.A. 61-2703 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/kansas/ | [
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
null | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | maine | $10,000 | Maine | http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/14/title14sec7482.html | (TEXT EFFECTIVE 1/01/26) Notwithstanding the total amount of a debt or contract, a "small claim" means a right of action cognizable by a court if the debt or damage does not exceed $10,000 exclusive of interest and costs. | 14 M.R.S. § 7482 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/maine/ | [
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
District Court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | maryland | $5,000 | Maryland | https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=4-405 | The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over a small claim action, which, for purposes of this section, means a civil action for money in which the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000 | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/maryland/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
district court department | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | massachusetts | $7,000 | Massachusetts | https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleI/Chapter218/Section21 | There shall be within the district court department and the Boston municipal court department a simple, informal and inexpensive procedure, hereinafter called the procedure, for the determination, according to the rules of substantive law, of claims in the nature of contract or tort, other than slander and libel, in wh... | G.L. c. 218, § 21 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/massachusetts/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
conciliation court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | minnesota | $20,000 | Minnesota | https://revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/491A.01 | the conciliation court has jurisdiction to hear, conciliate, try, and determine civil claims if the amount of money or property that is the subject matter of the claim does not exceed: (1) $20,000; or (2) $4,000, if the claim involves a consumer credit transaction. | Minn. Stat. § 491A.01 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/minnesota/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
small claims court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | missouri | five thousand dollars | Missouri | https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=482.305 | When sitting as a small claims court, the judge shall have original jurisdiction of all civil cases, whether tort or contract, where the amount in controversy does not exceed five thousand dollars, exclusive of interest or costs | RSMo § 482.305 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/missouri/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
small claims court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | montana | $7,000 | Montana | https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0350/part_0050/section_0020/0250-0350-0050-0020.html | The small claims court has jurisdiction over all actions for the recovery of money or specific personal property when the amount claimed does not exceed $7,000, exclusive of costs, and the defendant can be served within the county where the action is commenced. | MCA 25-35-502 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/montana/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
Small Claims Court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | nebraska | seven thousand five hundred dollars | Nebraska | https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-2802 | The Small Claims Court shall have jurisdiction when the party defendant or his or her agent resides or is doing business within the county or when the cause of action arose within the county. (4) The jurisdictional amount is six thousand dollars from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. The jurisdictional amount is sev... | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2802 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/nebraska/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
justice court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | nevada | $10,000 | Nevada | https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-073.html | A justice of the peace has jurisdiction and may proceed as provided in this chapter and by rules of court in all cases arising in the justice court for the recovery of money only, where the amount claimed does not exceed $10,000. | NRS 73.010 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/nevada/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
null | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | new-hampshire | $10,000 | New Hampshire | https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LI/503/503-1.htm | A small claim is any right of action not involving the title to real estate in which the debt or damages, exclusive of interest and costs, does not exceed $10,000. | RSA 503:1 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/new-hampshire/ | [
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
null | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | north-carolina | ten thousand dollars ($10,000) | North Carolina | https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_7A/GS_7A-210.html | For purposes of this Article a small claim action is a civil action wherein: (1) The amount in controversy, computed in accordance with G.S. 7A-243, does not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) | N.C.G.S. § 7A-210 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/north-carolina/ | [
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
Small Claims Court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | north-dakota | $15,000.00 | North Dakota | https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/small-claims | You may bring a claim in Small Claims Court if: You want to recover money and the amount you want to recover is $15,000.00 or less | N.D.C.C. ch. 27-08.1 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/north-dakota/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
null | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | ohio | six thousand dollars | Ohio | https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1925.02 | has jurisdiction in civil actions for the recovery of taxes and money only, for amounts not exceeding six thousand dollars, exclusive of interest and costs. | R.C. § 1925.02 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/ohio/ | [
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
small claims department | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | oregon | $10,000 | Oregon | https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors046.html | an action for the recovery of money, damages, specific personal property, or any penalty or forfeiture may be commenced and prosecuted in the small claims department if the amount or value claimed in the action does not exceed $10,000. | ORS 46.405 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/oregon/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
null | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | south-carolina | seven thousand five hundred dollars | South Carolina | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t22c003.php | Magistrates have concurrent civil jurisdiction in the following cases: (1) in actions arising on contracts for the recovery of money only, if the sum claimed does not exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars | S.C. Code § 22-3-10 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/south-carolina/ | [
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
null | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | vermont | $10,000.00 | Vermont | https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/187/05531 | in which the plaintiff does not claim as debt or damage more than $10,000.00. Small claims proceedings shall be limited in accord with this chapter | 12 V.S.A. § 5531 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/vermont/ | [
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
null | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | virginia | $5,000 | Virginia | https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title16.1/chapter6/section16.1-122.2/ | when the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest. | Va. Code § 16.1-122.2 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/virginia/ | [
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
small claims department | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | washington | Ten thousand dollars | Washington | https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=12.40.010 | The small claims department shall have jurisdiction, but not exclusive, in cases for the recovery of money only if the amount claimed does not exceed: (a) Ten thousand dollars in cases brought by a natural person; or (b) Five thousand dollars in all other cases. | RCW 12.40.010 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/washington/ | [
"business_dollar_limit",
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | Five thousand dollars |
magistrate courts | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | west-virginia | $20,000 | West Virginia | https://code.wvlegislature.gov/50-2-1/ | in addition to jurisdiction granted elsewhere to magistrate courts, such courts shall have jurisdiction of all civil actions wherein the value or amount in controversy or the value of property sought, exclusive of interest and cost, is not more than $20,000. | W. Va. Code § 50-2-1 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/west-virginia/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
Small claims court | [
"jurisdiction",
"statute_or_rule_citation"
] | wisconsin | $10,000 | Wisconsin | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/smallclaims.htm | Small claims court is limited to claims of $10,000 or less. However, third-party complaints, personal injury claims, and actions based in tort are limited to claims of $5,000 or less. | Wis. Stat. ch. 799 | https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/wisconsin/ | [
"court_name",
"individual_dollar_limit"
] | null |
Small Claims Court Dollar Limits by State
Canonical, always-current version: https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/ Machine-readable: https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/data.json — this mirror is a point-in-time copy.
- Last verified: 2026-08-26
- Stale after: 2027-08-26 (past this date, prefer the canonical copy — it re-verifies on a cadence this snapshot does not)
- Records: 25
Every state sets its own maximum dollar amount a plaintiff may sue for in small claims court, and the limit for an individual often differs from the limit for a business entity. Filing above the limit forces a case into a higher (and much more expensive) court. This table gives, for each state, the small claims dollar limit for individuals, the limit for business/corporate plaintiffs where it differs, and the court name that hears the case, so someone deciding where to file knows the ceiling before they start.
Provenance — what every record carries
Every record carries source (the URL the value was read from) and
source_quote (a verbatim quote from that page stating it). A value you
cannot check against its page is indistinguishable from an invented one;
these can all be checked. Each record is also individually addressable on
the canonical site at its url.
Licence position
unknown
Facts are not copyrightable; what this dataset takes from each source is a fact plus a short attributed quote linking back to the page that states it.
Sources
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/22/00503.htm
- https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/small-claims-or-limited-civil
- https://courts.delaware.gov/jpcourt/jurisdiction.aspx
- https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/small_claims/small_claims
- https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/small-claims/
- https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch61/061_027_0003.html
- http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/14/title14sec7482.html
- https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=4-405
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleI/Chapter218/Section21
- https://revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/491A.01
- https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=482.305
- https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0350/part_0050/section_0020/0250-0350-0050-0020.html
- https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-2802
- https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-073.html
- https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LI/503/503-1.htm
- https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_7A/GS_7A-210.html
- https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/small-claims
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1925.02
- https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors046.html
- https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t22c003.php
- https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/187/05531
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title16.1/chapter6/section16.1-122.2/
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=12.40.010
- https://code.wvlegislature.gov/50-2-1/
- https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/smallclaims.htm
Fields
See any record in data/records.jsonl — field names are self-describing,
and the canonical page for each record renders them with labels:
https://referencesource.org/small-claims-court-dollar-limits-by-state/
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