Which state has the highest small claims limit?

Delaware, Tennessee at $25,000. Recent increases have reshaped the top: West Virginia doubled its limit to $20,000 in July 2025, Utah reached $20,000 in January 2025, and Minnesota's conciliation court has been at $20,000 since August 2024 — many published guides still show the old figures.

Which state has the lowest limit?

Kentucky at $2,500 — a 10× gap against the top states. New York is also low outside NYC: town and village courts cap at $3,000.

In which states are lawyers not allowed?

California, Kansas, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Nebraska, Michigan, Montana, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho restrict or prohibit attorney representation at small claims hearings (details and cites in each row) — the process is designed for people to represent themselves.

What if I’m owed more than my state’s limit?

You can sue in the regular civil court, or waive the excess and stay in small claims — which is usually faster and far cheaper. For amounts slightly over the limit, waiving often wins on legal costs alone.

Study · statute-sourced · 2026

Small Claims Court Limits in All 50 States

The most you can sue for without a lawyer, a jury, or years of litigation: from$2,500 in Kentucky to$25,000 in Delaware, Tennessee — a 10× spread.Every figure is cited to statute or the state judiciary.

$25k

the ceiling (Delaware, Tennessee)

$2.5k

the floor (Kentucky)

states restrict lawyers at the hearing

jurisdictions compared, all cited

Maximum claim, state by state — highest first

Tap a state for its full guide: court, filing fee, lawyer rules and a free demand letter.

Delaware$25,000

$25,000 · source: 10 Del. C. §9301

Tennessee$25,000

$25,000 · source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501

Minnesota$20,000

$20,000 · source: Minn. Stat. § 491A.01; Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 512 (representation)

Texas$20,000

$20,000 · source: Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031; Tex. R. Civ. P. 500-507

Utah$20,000

$20,000 · source: Utah Code § 78A-8-102

West Virginia$20,000

$20,000 · source: W. Va. Code § 50-2-1 (as amended by HB 2761, eff. July 7, 2025)

Georgia$15,000

$15,000 · source: O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(5)

North Dakota$15,000

$15,000 · source: N.D.C.C. ch. 27-08.1

California$12,500

$12,500 (individuals) / $6,250 (entities) · source: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§116.220, 116.221

Pennsylvania$12,000

$12,000 · source: 42 Pa.C.S. § 1515(a)(3); 42 Pa.C.S. § 1123(a)(4) (Philadelphia)

South Dakota$12,000

$12,000 · source: SDCL 16-12C-13 (jurisdictional limit); SDCL ch. 15-39 (small claims procedure)

Alaska$10,000

$10,000 · source: Alaska Stat. §22.15.040; Alaska District Court Civil Rules 8-22

District of Columbia$10,000

$10,000 · source: D.C. Code §11-1321

Illinois$10,000

$10,000 · source: Ill. Sup. Ct. Rules 281-289; 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (fees)

Indiana$10,000

$10,000 · source: IC 33-29-2-4; IC 33-28-3-4; IC 33-34-3-2 (Marion County); Indiana Small Claims Rules

Kansas$10,000

$10,000 · source: K.S.A. 61-2703 (limit); 61-2707 (attorneys); 61-4001 (fees)

Maine$10,000

$10,000 · source: 14 M.R.S. § 7482 (as amended by PL 2025, c. 261); Maine Rules of Small Claims Procedure

Nevada$10,000

$10,000 · source: Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 73 (NRS 73.010)

New Hampshire$10,000

$10,000 · source: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. (RSA) 503:1

New Mexico$10,000

$10,000 · source: NMSA 1978 § 35-3-3 (Magistrate Court); NMSA 1978 § 34-8A-3 (Metropolitan Court)

New York$10,000

$10,000 · source: NYC Civil Court Act § 1801; UCCA § 1801; UJCA § 1801

North Carolina$10,000

$10,000 · source: N.C.G.S. § 7A-210

Oklahoma$10,000

$10,000 · source: 12 O.S. § 1751; fees: 28 O.S. § 152

Oregon$10,000

$10,000 · source: ORS 46.405, 46.415(4) (circuit court); ORS 55.011, 55.090 (justice court)

Vermont$10,000

$10,000 · source: 12 V.S.A. § 5531

Washington$10,000

$10,000 · source: RCW ch. 12.40 (limit at RCW 12.40.010)

Wisconsin$10,000

$10,000 · source: Wis. Stat. § 799.01

Florida$8,000

$8,000 · source: Fla. Small Claims Rule 7.010; Fla. Stat. §34.041

Colorado$7,500

$7,500 · source: Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-6-403 (limit); §13-6-407 (attorneys)

Nebraska$7,500

$7,500 · source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-2801 to 25-2807 (limit: § 25-2802); Neb. Ct. R. § 6-1462

South Carolina$7,500

$7,500 · source: S.C. Code Ann. § 22-3-10 (jurisdiction); § 8-21-1010 (fees)

Massachusetts$7,000

$7,000 · source: Mass. Gen. Laws c. 218 § 21; Uniform Small Claims Rules

Michigan$7,000

$7,000 · source: MCL 600.8401 (limit); MCL 600.8408 (no attorneys); MCL 600.8420 (fees)

Montana$7,000

$7,000 · source: Mont. Code Ann. § 25-35-502

Iowa$6,500

$6,500 · source: Iowa Code § 631.1; § 631.6 (fees)

Alabama$6,000

$6,000 · source: Ala. Code §12-12-31

Ohio$6,000

$6,000 · source: O.R.C. ch. 1925 (limit: § 1925.02)

Wyoming$6,000

$6,000 · source: Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-201

Arizona$5,000

$5,000 · source: Ariz. Rev. Stat. §22-503 (limit); §22-512 (attorneys)

Arkansas$5,000

$5,000 · source: Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-601 to -613 (attorney bar at §16-17-606)

Connecticut$5,000

$5,000 (up to $15,000 for home-improvement claims) · source: Conn. Gen. Stat. §51-15; Conn. Practice Book §§24-1 et seq.

Hawaii$5,000

$5,000 · source: Haw. Rev. Stat. §633-27 (jurisdiction); §633-28 (no appeal; representation)

Idaho$5,000

$5,000 · source: Idaho Code §1-2301 (limit); §1-2307 (attorney bar — pre-2000 numbering was §1-2308)

Louisiana$5,000

$5,000 · source: La. C.C.P. art. 4911; La. R.S. 13:5200 et seq. (city court small claims); La. R.S. 13:2590 (JP fees)

Maryland$5,000

$5,000 · source: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405; Md. Rule 3-701 (procedure)

Missouri$5,000

$5,000 · source: § 482.305 RSMo; Mo. Sup. Ct. Rules 140-155 (small claims rules)

New Jersey$5,000

$5,000 · source: N.J. Ct. R. 6:1-2(a)(2)

Rhode Island$5,000

$5,000 · source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-16-1 (ch. 10-16, Small Claims and Consumer Claims)

Virginia$5,000

$5,000 · source: Va. Code § 16.1-122.1 et seq.

Mississippi$3,500

$3,500 · source: Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-9

Kentucky$2,500

$2,500 · source: KRS 24A.230; KRS 24A.270 (fee)

How to read these numbers (methodology)

Figures are the general maximum for a small claims case as of 2026, using the base cap where a state splits limits by plaintiff type (individuals vs businesses) or by court (New York City vs town courts) — the split is noted under each bar. Several limits changed recently (WV 7/2025, UT 1/2025, ME 1/2026, WI rising to $15,000 in 2027): the cited statute on each row is authoritative. This is a comparison, not legal advice.

This study is free to cite and reproduce (CC BY 4.0) — we only ask for a link tohttps://sealforms.com/us/small-claims-limits/.

Ready to act? Each state guide includes a free demand letter generator — the step judges expect before you file. See also the eviction notice periods study.