Colorado Small Claims Court
Owed money in Colorado? 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.
Colorado small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $7,500
- Court
- Small Claims Court (a division of County Court)
- Filing fee
- $31 (claims up to $500) / $55 ($500.01-$7,500) per the Colorado Judicial Branch fee schedule (JDF 1)
- Lawyers at the hearing
- generally not allowed - an attorney may appear only when representing themselves or their own business (as full-time employee, officer, general partner or member), or after a party files notice of representation, which then entitles the other side to counsel too (C.R.S. §13-6-407)
Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-6-403 (limit); §13-6-407 (attorneys) · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Small Claims Court (a division of County Court) clerk before filing.
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How to file in Colorado — 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 Court (a division of County Court) where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: $31 (claims up to $500) / $55 ($500.01-$7,500) per the Colorado Judicial Branch fee schedule (JDF 1).
- Serve the defendant the way Colorado 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 Colorado small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in Colorado small claims court?
The limit is $7,500 (as of 2026). $7,500 exclusive of interest and costs; a larger claim cannot be split into multiple small claims cases (filing waives the excess). Claims of $7,500-$25,000 go on the County Court civil docket. Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-6-403 (limit); §13-6-407 (attorneys). 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 Colorado, small claims cases are heard by the Small Claims Court (a division of County Court), generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: $31 (claims up to $500) / $55 ($500.01-$7,500) per the Colorado Judicial Branch fee schedule (JDF 1). Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In Colorado: generally not allowed - an attorney may appear only when representing themselves or their own business (as full-time employee, officer, general partner or member), or after a party files notice of representation, which then entitles the other side to counsel too (C.R.S. §13-6-407). 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 Colorado 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 Colorado compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Colorado compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Colorado: Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-6-403 (limit); §13-6-407 (attorneys) ↗.
- Small claims limit
Small claims limit: $7,500 — below the national median of $10,000 across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
Ranked #29 of 51 states (tied with 2) — higher means larger disputes can use the small claims process.
2 other states use the same figure.
Small claims limit in neighboring states — Arizona ($5,000), Kansas ($10,000), Nebraska ($7,500), New Mexico ($10,000), Oklahoma ($10,000), Utah ($20,000), Wyoming ($6,000).
The rest of what Colorado requires
The figures below are Colorado'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 Colorado page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- 2 months' rent C.R.S. §38-12-102.5 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out C.R.S. §38-12-102.5 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 21 days C.R.S. §38-12-102.5 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 10 days to pay or quit Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-104; § 13-40-107 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 10 days Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-104; § 13-40-107 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- Limited to the actual cost of screening Colorado General Assembly (HB19-1106) ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Colorado DMV (Form DR 2173) ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization recommended Colo. Rev. Stat. §15-14-705 (form §15-14-741) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Colo. Rev. Stat. § 7-80-102(11)(a) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Clerk and Recorder · no witnesses C.R.S. § 38-30-113 ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More Colorado legal forms
Different state? See small claims rules by state →