New York Small Claims Court
Owed money in New York? 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.
New York small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $10,000
- Court
- Small Claims Part of NYC Civil Court / City Court / Town or Village Justice Court
- Filing fee
- NYC Civil Court and City Courts: $15 for claims of $1,000 or less, $20 over $1,000 (CCA § 1803; UCCA § 1803). Town and Village Courts: $10 up to $1,000, $15 over (UJCA § 1803).
- Lawyers at the hearing
- Allowed but rarely used. Corporations, partnerships and associations cannot file as small claims plaintiffs (CCA § 1809) — businesses use the separate Commercial Claims part — but they can be sued and may defend through an attorney or an authorized officer, director, or employee.
Source: NYC Civil Court Act § 1801; UCCA § 1801; UJCA § 1801 · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Small Claims Part of NYC Civil Court / City Court / Town or Village Justice Court clerk before filing.
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How to file in New York — 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 Part of NYC Civil Court / City Court / Town or Village Justice Court where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: NYC Civil Court and City Courts: $15 for claims of $1,000 or less, $20 over $1,000 (CCA § 1803; UCCA § 1803). Town and Village Courts: $10 up to $1,000, $15 over (UJCA § 1803)..
- Serve the defendant the way New York 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 New York small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in New York small claims court?
The limit is $10,000 (as of 2026). Limit depends on the court: Small Claims Part of NYC Civil Court — $10,000 (NYC Civil Court Act § 1801, raised from $5,000 in 2021); City Courts outside NYC — $5,000 (UCCA § 1801); Town and Village Justice Courts — $3,000 (UJCA § 1801). Money-only claims, exclusive of interest and costs. Source: NYC Civil Court Act § 1801; UCCA § 1801; UJCA § 1801. 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 New York, small claims cases are heard by the Small Claims Part of NYC Civil Court / City Court / Town or Village Justice Court, generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: NYC Civil Court and City Courts: $15 for claims of $1,000 or less, $20 over $1,000 (CCA § 1803; UCCA § 1803). Town and Village Courts: $10 up to $1,000, $15 over (UJCA § 1803).. Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In New York: Allowed but rarely used. Corporations, partnerships and associations cannot file as small claims plaintiffs (CCA § 1809) — businesses use the separate Commercial Claims part — but they can be sued and may defend through an attorney or an authorized officer, director, or employee.. 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 New York 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 New York compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How New York compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for New York: NYC Civil Court Act § 1801; UCCA § 1801; UJCA § 1801 ↗.
- Small claims limit
Small claims limit: $10,000, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 15 other states.
Small claims limit in neighboring states — Connecticut ($5,000), Massachusetts ($7,000), New Jersey ($5,000), Pennsylvania ($12,000), Vermont ($10,000).
The rest of what New York requires
The figures below are New York'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 New York page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- 1 month's rent N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 14 days after move-out N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 14 days to pay or quit N.Y. Real Prop. Acts. Law § 711(2); N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 226-c ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- Capped at $20 (or actual cost, whichever is less) NY Senate — Real Property Law ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required New York DMV (Form MV-912) ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required · 2 witnesses N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §5-1501B (form §5-1513) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Required by statute N.Y. LLC Law § 417 (written operating agreement required; 90-day window) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Clerk (in the four NYC boroughs other than Staten Island, the NYC City Register) · no witnesses NY Real Property Law § 291 ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More New York legal forms
Different state? See small claims rules by state →