Minnesota Small Claims Court
Owed money in Minnesota? 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.
Minnesota small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $20,000
- Court
- Conciliation Court (a division of the District Court)
- Filing fee
- $65 statutory filing fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.022) plus county law-library and other surcharges — commonly ~$75-$95 total, varies by county.
- Lawyers at the hearing
- Allowed — Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 512(d): parties may be represented by a Minnesota-licensed lawyer, who participates at the judge's discretion. Corporations may appear through officers or employees.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 491A.01; Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 512 (representation) · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Conciliation Court (a division of the District Court) clerk before filing.
Need the document itself?
Fill in a Minnesota small claims and download a print-ready PDF — free, no signup, and it runs entirely in your browser.
Open the generator →The generator opens with Minnesota already selected.
How to file in Minnesota — 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 Conciliation Court (a division of the District Court) where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: $65 statutory filing fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.022) plus county law-library and other surcharges — commonly ~$75-$95 total, varies by county..
- Serve the defendant the way Minnesota 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 Minnesota small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in Minnesota small claims court?
The limit is $20,000 (as of 2026). $20,000 since August 1, 2024 (raised from $15,000) — one of the highest small claims caps in the country. Claims involving a consumer credit transaction are capped separately at $4,000 (Minn. Stat. § 491A.01, subd. 3a). Source: Minn. Stat. § 491A.01; Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 512 (representation). 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 Minnesota, small claims cases are heard by the Conciliation Court (a division of the District Court), generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: $65 statutory filing fee (Minn. Stat. § 357.022) plus county law-library and other surcharges — commonly ~$75-$95 total, varies by county.. Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In Minnesota: Allowed — Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 512(d): parties may be represented by a Minnesota-licensed lawyer, who participates at the judge's discretion. Corporations may appear through officers or employees.. 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Minnesota compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Minnesota: Minn. Stat. § 491A.01; Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 512 (representation) ↗.
- Small claims limit
Small claims limit: $20,000 — about 2× the national median of $10,000 across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
Ranked #3 of 51 states (tied with 3) — higher means larger disputes can use the small claims process.
3 other states use the same figure.
Small claims limit in neighboring states — Iowa ($6,500), North Dakota ($15,000), South Dakota ($12,000), Wisconsin ($10,000). Minnesota's $20,000 is the longest among its neighbors.
The rest of what Minnesota requires
The figures below are Minnesota'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 Minnesota page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit Minn. Stat. §504B.178 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 21 days after move-out Minn. Stat. §504B.178 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Minn. Stat. §504B.178 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 14 days to pay or quit Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.321 subd. 1a, 504B.135 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Minnesota Revisor ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Minnesota DVS / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required Minn. Stat. §523.23 ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Minn. Stat. § 322C.0102, subd. 17 (definition); § 322C.0110 (scope/function) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Recorder (abstract land); Registrar of Titles for registered/Torrens land · no witnesses Minn. Stat. § 507.24 ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More Minnesota legal forms
Different state? See small claims rules by state →