Massachusetts Small Claims Court

Owed money in Massachusetts? 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.

Reflects current Massachusetts rules · 2026 Official source linked Free PDF · no signup · nothing uploaded

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.

Massachusetts small claims · as of 2026

Maximum claim: $7,000
Court: Small Claims sessions of the District Court, Boston Municipal Court, and Housing Court
Filing fee: Tiered with surcharge: $40 (claims to $500), $45 ($501-$2,000), $50 ($2,001-$5,000), $150 ($5,001-$7,000) — mass.gov confirms the $40-$150 range.
Lawyers at the hearing: Allowed but not required.

Source: Mass. Gen. Laws c. 218 § 21; Uniform Small Claims Rules · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Small Claims sessions of the District Court, Boston Municipal Court, and Housing Court clerk before filing.

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How to file in Massachusetts — 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 sessions of the District Court, Boston Municipal Court, and Housing Court where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: Tiered with surcharge: $40 (claims to $500), $45 ($501-$2,000), $50 ($2,001-$5,000), $150 ($5,001-$7,000) — mass.gov confirms the $40-$150 range..
Serve the defendant the way Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts small claims rules before filing.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I sue for in Massachusetts small claims court?

The limit is $7,000 (as of 2026). $7,000 base cap (G.L. c. 218 § 21) — but NO dollar limit for property damage caused by a motor vehicle; cities/towns may sue up to $15,000 (and for unpaid personal property taxes, any amount); double/treble damage awards (e.g., Ch. 93A consumer cases, security deposits) may exceed $7,000 as long as the base claim is within the cap. Source: Mass. Gen. Laws c. 218 § 21; Uniform Small Claims Rules. 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 Massachusetts, small claims cases are heard by the Small Claims sessions of the District Court, Boston Municipal Court, and Housing Court, generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: Tiered with surcharge: $40 (claims to $500), $45 ($501-$2,000), $50 ($2,001-$5,000), $150 ($5,001-$7,000) — mass.gov confirms the $40-$150 range.. Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.

Can I bring a lawyer?

In Massachusetts: Allowed but not required.. 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.

How Massachusetts compares

Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Massachusetts: Mass. Gen. Laws c. 218 § 21; Uniform Small Claims Rules ↗.

Small claims limit

Small claims limit: $7,000 — below the national median of $10,000 across the 51 states with a statutory rule.

Ranked #32 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 — Connecticut ($5,000), New Hampshire ($10,000), New York ($10,000), Rhode Island ($5,000), Vermont ($10,000).

The rest of what Massachusetts requires

The figures below are Massachusetts'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 Massachusetts page for that document.

Security deposit cap · as of 2026: 1 month's rent Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 §15B ↗
Deposit return deadline · as of 2026: 30 days after move-out Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 §15B ↗
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026: 30 days Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 §15B ↗
Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026: 14 days to pay or quit M.G.L. c. 186, §§ 11, 11A, 12 ↗
Rental application fee · as of July 2026: Application fees are prohibited Massachusetts AG advisory ↗
Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026: Not required Massachusetts RMV / DMV.ORG ↗
Power of attorney signing · as of 2026: Notarization recommended Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 190B §5-501/§5-502 ↗
LLC operating agreement · as of 2026: Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules M.G.L. ch. 156C, § 2(9) ↗
Recording a deed · as of 2026: Registry of Deeds (county/district; registered (Torrens) land goes through the Land Court registry districts) · no witnesses G.L. c. 183, § 29 ↗

Small claims guide in other states

More Massachusetts legal forms

Different state? See small claims rules by state →