Louisiana Small Claims Court
Owed money in Louisiana? 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.
Louisiana small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $5,000
- Court
- Justice of the Peace Court (rural wards) or the small claims division of a City Court
- Filing fee
- Set locally by each court under La. R.S. 13:2590; commonly ~$75-$150 including service. Ask the individual JP or city court clerk.
- Lawyers at the hearing
- Allowed but not required in both JP courts and city court small claims divisions.
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) · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Justice of the Peace Court (rural wards) or the small claims division of a City Court clerk before filing.
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How to file in Louisiana — 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 Justice of the Peace Court (rural wards) or the small claims division of a City Court where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: Set locally by each court under La. R.S. 13:2590; commonly ~$75-$150 including service. Ask the individual JP or city court clerk..
- Serve the defendant the way Louisiana 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 Louisiana small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in Louisiana small claims court?
The limit is $5,000 (as of 2026). $5,000 exclusive of interest, costs and attorney fees in Justice of the Peace Courts (La. C.C.P. arts. 4911-4912); city court small claims divisions carry the same $5,000 cap (La. R.S. 13:5200 et seq.). JP courts cannot hear suits against public bodies, title to real estate, or family matters; they can hear evictions regardless of amount. 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). 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 Louisiana, small claims cases are heard by the Justice of the Peace Court (rural wards) or the small claims division of a City Court, generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: Set locally by each court under La. R.S. 13:2590; commonly ~$75-$150 including service. Ask the individual JP or city court clerk.. Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In Louisiana: Allowed but not required in both JP courts and city court small claims divisions.. 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Louisiana compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Louisiana: La. C.C.P. art. 4911; La. R.S. 13:5200 et seq. (city court small claims); La. R.S. 13:2590 (JP fees) ↗.
- 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 — Arkansas ($5,000), Mississippi ($3,500), Texas ($20,000).
The rest of what Louisiana requires
The figures below are Louisiana'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 Louisiana page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit La. Rev. Stat. §9:3251 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out La. Rev. Stat. §9:3251 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 10 days La. Rev. Stat. §9:3251 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 5 days to pay or quit La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701; La. Civ. Code art. 2728 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Louisiana Laws ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Required to transfer a vehicle title Louisiana OMV ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization not-required La. Civ. Code arts. 2989 & 2993 ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules La. R.S. 12:1301(A)(16) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- Clerk of Court, ex officio parish recorder of conveyances and mortgages (La. R.S. 13:750; in Orleans Parish the clerk of civil district court is parish recorder, La. R.S. 44:181) · 2 witnesses La. Civ. Code arts. 1833, 1839, 2502 ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More Louisiana legal forms
Different state? See small claims rules by state →