Arkansas Small Claims Court
Owed money in Arkansas? Here's the dollar limit, the court that hears it, what filing costs — and a free demand letter to send first, which resolves many disputes without a case. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
Arkansas small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $5,000
- Court
- Small Claims Division of the District Court
- Filing fee
- $65 statewide ($50 filing fee + $15 technology fee, Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-705, 21-6-416); sheriff or certified-mail service costs extra
- Lawyers at the hearing
- not allowed - if any party appears through an attorney the case is transferred to the district court's regular civil docket
Source: Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-601 to -613 (attorney bar at §16-17-606) · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Small Claims Division of the District Court clerk before filing.
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How to file in Arkansas — the short version
- Demand first. Send the letter above by a trackable method and keep proof — judges expect it, and it often gets you paid without a case.
- File with the Small Claims Division of the District Court where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: $65 statewide ($50 filing fee + $15 technology fee, Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-705, 21-6-416); sheriff or certified-mail service costs extra.
- Serve the defendant the way Arkansas rules require (clerk, sheriff, certified mail, or process server — ask the clerk). Bad service is the #1 way cases get thrown out.
- Bring evidence: contracts, invoices, photos, messages, this demand letter and its delivery proof, and any witnesses.
- Collect. If you win and they don't pay, ask the clerk about garnishment, levy, and liens.
Check the current Arkansas small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in Arkansas small claims court?
The limit is $5,000 (as of 2026). $5,000 exclusive of interest and costs in the small claims division of District Court. Source: Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-601 to -613 (attorney bar at §16-17-606). If you're owed more, you can sue in the regular civil court instead — or waive the excess and stay in small claims, which is usually faster and cheaper.
Where do I file?
In Arkansas, small claims cases are heard by the Small Claims Division of the District Court, generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: $65 statewide ($50 filing fee + $15 technology fee, Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-705, 21-6-416); sheriff or certified-mail service costs extra. Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In Arkansas: not allowed - if any party appears through an attorney the case is transferred to the district court's regular civil docket. Either way, small claims procedure is deliberately informal — you present your story, your documents, and your witnesses directly to the judge.
What happens if I win but they don't pay?
A judgment isn't a check — if the defendant doesn't pay voluntarily, you enforce it: wage garnishment, bank levy, or property liens, depending on Arkansas law. The court clerk can point you to the forms. Judgments also accrue interest and stay enforceable for years, so a stubborn debtor doesn't run out the clock quickly.
How does Arkansas compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Arkansas compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Arkansas: Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-601 to -613 (attorney bar at §16-17-606) ↗.
- Small claims limit
Small claims limit: $5,000 — well under the national median of $10,000 across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 10 other states.
Small claims limit in neighboring states — Louisiana ($5,000), Mississippi ($3,500), Missouri ($5,000), Oklahoma ($10,000), Tennessee ($25,000), Texas ($20,000).
The rest of what Arkansas requires
The figures below are Arkansas's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Arkansas page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- 2 months' rent Ark. Code §18-16-305 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 60 days after move-out Ark. Code §18-16-305 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Ark. Code §18-16-305 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 3 days to pay or quit Ark. Code § 18-60-304; § 18-17-701; § 18-17-704 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 14 days Ark. Code § 18-60-304; § 18-17-701; § 18-17-704 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Arkansas Code ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Arkansas DFA / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization recommended Ark. Code §28-68-105 (form §28-68-301) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Ark. Code Ann. § 4-38-102(13) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Recorder — the Circuit Clerk serves ex officio as recorder in most counties (county clerk in a few) · no witnesses Ark. Code Ann. § 18-12-104 ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More Arkansas legal forms
Different state? See small claims rules by state →