The paperwork is the part of small claims court that stops most people before they start. The good news: small claims forms are deliberately short and written for people without lawyers, and the official versions are free. This page walks through the forms a typical case uses, where to get the right ones for your state, and links to our state-by-state guides.
Go straight to your state. The directory below covers all 50 states and Washington, D.C. — each row gives the claim limit, the court that hears the case, and the name of the form that opens it: jump to small claims forms by state →
Official forms are always free. Download them from your state court's website or pick them up from the small claims clerk. You never have to pay for the forms themselves — only the court's filing fee and, if needed, a service fee.
Not ready to file yet? Start with our free tools: generate a free demand letter (the step to take before suing), check whether your case is worth filing after fees, and confirm your filing deadline hasn't passed.
What Forms Do You Need to File a Small Claims Case?
Form names and numbers change from state to state, but almost every small claims case uses the same handful of documents. Here's what each one does:
📝 The claim (complaint) form
The document that opens your case. Depending on the state it's called a Statement of Claim, Plaintiff's Claim, Complaint, Affidavit, or Petition. It names the plaintiff and defendant, states the exact amount you're claiming, and gives a short factual account of the dispute. This is the one form every case needs.
📬 Proof of service (service of process)
After filing, the defendant must be formally notified. The proof of service form documents how and when that happened — by certified mail, sheriff, or a process server. Courts won't hold your hearing until valid proof of service is on file.
⚖️ Request for default judgment
If the defendant was properly served but doesn't respond or show up, you can ask the court to enter a judgment in your favor by default. Many states have a dedicated form or short affidavit for this.
💵 Fee waiver (in forma pauperis)
If you can't afford the filing or service fee, most courts let you apply to have it waived using a financial-hardship form. Filing this alongside your claim keeps cost from being a barrier.
🧾 Judgment & collection forms
Winning doesn't automatically collect the money. To enforce a judgment you may file forms such as an abstract of judgment, a writ of execution, or a wage-garnishment or bank-levy request. The available tools and their form names depend on your state.
↩️ Defendant & counterclaim forms
If you've been sued, you may file an answer and, where you have your own claim against the plaintiff, a counterclaim. Deadlines for responding are short, so check your paperwork the day you're served.
Where to Get Official Small Claims Forms
Use your state's own official forms — a form from another state, or an out-of-date version, can get your filing rejected. There are three reliable sources:
- Your state judicial branch website. Most states publish fillable small claims forms and a self-help center online. Search for your state's name plus "small claims forms" and look for the official .gov court site.
- The small claims clerk's office. The clerk at your local courthouse has the current forms and can tell you exactly which ones your court requires and how to submit them.
- Court self-help centers. Many courts run a self-help center or law library that provides forms and plain-language instructions at no charge.
Always use the current version. Courts update form editions periodically. Before you file, confirm you have the latest official form and check whether your county has any local variations.
Small Claims Forms by State
Small claims rules — the court that hears your case, the form that opens it, the filing fee and the dollar cap — are set state by state. The directory below covers every U.S. state plus Washington, D.C., and links a dedicated forms guide for each. Always download the official form from your own state court (see above) before you file, and get the current filing fee from that court rather than from any directory.
Scroll the table sideways to see the court, claim form and statute columns.
| State | Claim limit | Filing fee | Court | Claim form | Guide | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $6,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Small Claims Court (District Court div.) | Statement of Claim (Complaint) — statewide AOC eForm | Alabama forms | |
| Alaska | $10,000 | $50 (≤$2,500) / $100 (>$2,500) † | District Court (Small Claims) | SC-100 Small Claims Complaint | Alaska forms | |
| Arizona | $5,000 | $25 statutory base filing / $15 answer (A.R.S. 22-281) + county surcharges — e.g. $58/$46 in Maricopa † | Justice Court, Small Claims Division | Per-precinct Small Claims Complaint (AOC generic exists) | Arizona forms | A.R.S. § 22-503(A) |
| Arkansas | $5,000 | ~$65 † | District Court, Small Claims Division | District Court small claims complaint (statewide) | Arkansas forms | |
| California | $12,500business/entity plaintiff: $6,250 | $30 / $50 / $75 (≤$1.5k / ≤$5k / >$5k) | Superior Court — Small Claims Division | SC-100 Plaintiff's Claim (+SC-104 service series, FW-001 fee waiver) | California forms | |
| Colorado | $7,500 | $31 (≤$500) / $55 (>$500) † | Small Claims Court (County Court div.) | JDF 250 Notice, Claim and Summons | Colorado forms · Denver | |
| Connecticut | $5,000 | $95 | Superior Court, Small Claims Session | JD-CV-40 Small Claims Writ and Notice of Suit | Connecticut forms | |
| Delaware | $25,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Justice of the Peace Court (civil) | JP Court civil complaint (Form 50) | Delaware forms | |
| District of Columbia | $10,000 | $5 / $10 / $45 (≤$500 / ≤$2.5k / >$2.5k) † | DC Superior Court, Small Claims & Conciliation Branch | Statement of Claim (Small Claims Form 1) | District of Columbia forms | |
| Florida | $8,000 | $55 / $80 / $175 / $300 by amount tier † | County Court (Small Claims Rules) | Statement of Claim 7.330–7.335 (picked by claim type); clerk issues 7.322 Notice to Appear | Florida forms | |
| Georgia | $15,000 | ~$45–$60 + ~$50/defendant service † | Magistrate Court | County Statement of Claim (common template, county headers/versions) | Georgia forms | |
| Hawaii | $5,000 | $35 + service † | District Court, Small Claims Division | Per-circuit Statement of Claim | Hawaii forms | |
| Idaho | $15,000 | $69 † | Magistrate Div., Small Claims Dept. | CAO SC 1-1 Small Claims Complaint | Idaho forms | Idaho Code § 1-2301 |
| Illinois | $10,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Circuit Court (Small Claims, SCR 281–289) | CS-C 702.1 Small Claims Complaint (+CS-S 705.1 summons, ATJ 601.9 fee waiver) | Illinois forms | |
| Indiana | $10,000Marion County township courts: $8,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Small claims docket (Circuit/Superior; Marion Co. township courts) | Notice of Claim (state template; county variants) | Indiana forms | |
| Iowa | $6,500 | $115 † | District Court, Small Claims | Original Notice (generated in mandatory eFile flow) | Iowa forms | |
| Kansas | $4,000 | $47.50 (≤$500) / $67 (>$500) † | District Court (small claims procedure) | Judicial Council Small Claims Petition | Kansas forms | |
| Kentucky | $2,500 | ~$71 † | District Court, Small Claims Division | AOC-175 Small Claims Complaint | Kentucky forms | |
| Louisiana | $5,000 | Confirm with the clerk | City Court (Small Claims) / Parish Court / JP Court | Per-court petition (uniform city/parish forms exist; JP courts vary) | Louisiana forms | |
| Maine | $6,000 | $70 † | District Court (Small Claims) | SC-001 Statement of Claim | Maine forms | |
| Maryland | $5,000 | Confirm with the clerk | District Court of Maryland (small claims) | DC-CV-001 Complaint | Maryland forms | |
| Massachusetts | $7,000auto-accident property damage: no cap | $40 / $50 / $100 / $150 by amount † | District Court / BMC / Housing Court, Small Claims Session | Statement of Small Claim and Notice of Trial | Massachusetts forms · Boston | |
| Michigan | $7,000 | $30 / $50 / $70 by amount † | District Court, Small Claims Division | DC 84 Affidavit and Claim | Michigan forms | |
| Minnesota | $20,000 | $65–$85 by county † | Conciliation Court (District Court div.) | Statement of Claim and Summons | Minnesota forms | |
| Mississippi | $3,500 | Confirm with the clerk | Justice Court | Per-county Declaration/Complaint (statewide samples exist) | Mississippi forms | |
| Missouri | $5,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Small Claims Court (Circuit Court assoc. div.) | Small Claims Petition (state template; circuit variants) | Missouri forms | |
| Montana | $7,000 | $30 † | Justice Court, Small Claims Division (City Court in some cities) | Small claims complaint (statewide template) | Montana forms | MCA 25-35-502 |
| Nebraska | $7,500 | $58.00 total (official fee schedule) | County Court, Small Claims division | CC 4:1 Plaintiff's Claim and Notice to Defendant | Nebraska forms | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2802(4) |
| Nevada | $10,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Justice Court (small claims) | Per-court Small Claims Complaint/Affidavit | Nevada forms | |
| New Hampshire | $10,000 | $90 (≤$5k) / $132 (>$5k) † | Circuit Court, District Division (Small Claims) | NHJB-2370-DE Small Claim Complaint (mandatory e-file) | New Hampshire forms | |
| New Jersey | $3,000security deposit claim: $5,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Superior Court, Special Civil Part, Small Claims Section | Small Claims complaint packet (statewide CN forms) | New Jersey forms | |
| New Mexico | $10,000 | $77 † | Magistrate Court (Bernalillo: Metropolitan Court) | 4-201 Civil Complaint (magistrate) | New Mexico forms | |
| New York | $10,000 (NYC Civil Court)city & Nassau/Suffolk district courts $5,000 · town & village justice courts $3,000 | $15 (≤$1k) / $20 (>$1k); town/village differ | NYC Civil Court / City Court / Town & Village Justice Court | No self-filed form — clerk prepares statement/notice of claim in person | New York forms | |
| North Carolina | $10,000 | $96 + $30/defendant sheriff service † | Small Claims Court (District Court div., magistrate) | AOC-CVM-200 (money owed) / CVM-201 (recover property) / CVM-202 (ejectment); CVM-100 summons | North Carolina forms | |
| North Dakota | $15,000 | $10 † | Small Claims Court (District Court branch) | Small Claims Claim Affidavit (Form 2) | North Dakota forms | |
| Ohio | $6,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Small Claims Division, Municipal/County Court | Per-court Small Claims Complaint | Ohio forms | |
| Oklahoma | $10,000 | ~$58 + service † | District Court, Small Claims Division | Small Claims Affidavit (statutory form, 12 O.S. §1758) | Oklahoma forms | |
| Oregon | $10,000 | $55 (≤$2.5k) / $102 (>$2.5k) † | Circuit Court, Small Claims Dept. | Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim | Oregon forms | |
| Pennsylvania | $12,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Magisterial District Court (Philadelphia: Municipal Court) | MDJ Civil Complaint (statewide) / Phila. Municipal Court Statement of Claim | Pennsylvania forms | |
| Rhode Island | $5,000 | $75.75 (official instructions; 2026 legislation may have adjusted — confirm) † | District Court, Small Claims Division | DC-SC-1 Small Claims Notice of Suit — Complaint (rev. Jan 2025) | Rhode Island forms | R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-16-1 |
| South Carolina | $7,500 | $80 | Magistrate Court (civil) | SCCA Magistrate Complaint | South Carolina forms | |
| South Dakota | $12,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Magistrate Court (Small Claims), UJS | UJS Statement of Claim | South Dakota forms | |
| Tennessee | $25,000 | ~$90–$225 by county † | General Sessions Court (civil) | Civil Warrant (county-issued; AOC-approved templates) | Tennessee forms | |
| Texas | $20,000 | ~$54 + $75–$100/defendant service † | Justice Court (JP) | Per-precinct Small Claims Petition — NO statewide numbered form | Texas forms | |
| Utah | $20,000 | $60 ≤$2,000 / $100 $2,000–$7,500 / $185 ≥$7,500 (Utah Code 78A-2-301) | Justice Court (District Court in Cache County) | Small Claims Affidavit and Summons (statewide) | Utah forms | Utah Code § 78A-8-102(1)(a)(i)(B) |
| Vermont | $10,000 | $65 ≤$1,000 / $90 >$1,000 (32 V.S.A. § 1431(c)(1)) | Superior Court, Civil Division (small claims) | Small Claims Complaint (instructions form 100-00257) | Vermont forms | 12 V.S.A. § 5531(a) |
| Virginia | $5,000 | $36 + ~$12/defendant sheriff † | General District Court, Small Claims Division | Warrant in Debt (DC-402) filed in Small Claims Division | Virginia forms | |
| Washington | $10,000plaintiff that is not an individual: $5,000 | $35–$50 by county † | District Court, Small Claims Dept. | Notice of Small Claim (statewide) | Washington forms | |
| West Virginia | $20,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Magistrate Court | Magistrate Court Civil Complaint (statewide) | West Virginia forms | W. Va. Code § 50-2-1 |
| Wisconsin | $10,000 | $94.50–$114.50 † | Circuit Court (Small Claims, ch. 799) | SC-500 Summons and Complaint | Wisconsin forms | |
| Wyoming | $6,000 | Confirm with the clerk | Circuit Court (small claims) | SC-01 Small Claims Affidavit | Wyoming forms |
Where this table comes from. Every cell is read from our own jurisdiction dataset (data/jurisdictions.seed.json, data version 2026-08-04) — the same dataset the document generator uses, so the site and the product cannot drift apart. Claim limits, court names, claim-form names and official form links were verified against official state-court sources on 1 July 2026. On 9 July 2026 the limits for Arizona, Montana, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia were re-checked at statute level; those citations appear in the Statute column. On 4 August 2026 Idaho's limit was corrected from $5,000 to $15,000 (S1330, 2026 Session Laws ch. 196, effective 1 July 2026) — the earlier figure was read off the state court's self-help page on the very day the new law took effect, before that page was updated. Idaho's new figure is pending verification against the statute text: we have confirmed the law was enacted and took effect, but have not yet read the amended section itself, so its Statute cell is deliberately blank and our document generator declines Idaho until that read is done.
A note on Idaho. The $15,000 was read off Idaho Code § 1-2301 itself, whose amendment history ends at am. 2026, ch. 196 — S1330, effective 1 July 2026 — so it carries a Statute citation like the rest. It is worth knowing that legal databases still serving the 2025 edition of the Idaho Code show $5,000, and their amendment histories stop in 2006. A stale edition is not a second opinion, and that is precisely how the superseded figure survived here for a month.
Why some cells are blank. A blank Statute cell means we have not personally verified a statute citation for that state — not that none exists. We would rather leave a cell empty than publish a legal figure we cannot stand behind.
How to read the filing-fee column. Filing fees are set per county or per court in most states, so this column reports only what we can source, and says so where we cannot. A figure shown plainly is one we verified against an official fee schedule or the statute itself — that applies to 7 of the 51 jurisdictions. A figure marked † is our best sourced reading but has not been confirmed at statute or fee-schedule level; treat it as an estimate and confirm the current amount with the clerk before you file. Where a jurisdiction reads Confirm with the clerk, we hold a figure but rated our own confidence in it too low to print — 15 jurisdictions stand there, and we would rather show nothing than send you to the counter with the wrong amount. This is the same rule the document generator applies: it suppresses any fee it cannot stand behind rather than guessing. For the fee detail with the confidence attached to each figure, use our cost-to-sue tool, and check the official court link on your state's guide page for the current amount.
Some states set a different cap for business plaintiffs, for particular counties or court tiers, or for particular claim types. Where that applies it is noted directly under the limit. Limits and fees change — confirm with your court before you file.
After You Have the Forms
Getting the right forms is step one. From there, the process is the same across most states: fill out the claim, file it and pay the fee, serve the defendant, and prepare your evidence for the hearing. Two guides cover the rest in detail:
- How to file a small claims court case — the full step-by-step process, including how to fill out the claim form.
- Evidence for small claims court — what to gather and how to present it once your forms are filed.
- How to prepare for your hearing — what to bring, what to expect, and what to say to the judge.
Generate Your Small Claims Forms in Minutes
SmallClaimsHelper turns 10 plain-English questions into a completed, state-specific complaint and a judge script — ready to file for $19.
Start My Claim — $19This page is general information, not legal advice. Small claims forms, fees, and procedures vary by state and county — always use the current official forms and verify requirements with your local court before you file.
Frequently asked questions
What is the small claims complaint form called?
It depends on the state. Common names include Statement of Claim, Plaintiff's Claim, Complaint, Affidavit, or Petition. Whatever it is called, it is the document that opens your case by identifying the plaintiff and defendant, the amount claimed, and the basic facts of the dispute.
Are small claims forms the same in every state?
No. Small claims procedure is set by each state, so the form names, numbers, layouts, and filing rules differ — even between counties in the same state. The information the forms ask for is broadly similar (parties, amount, and a short statement of the claim), but you must use your own state's official forms to file.
Are small claims court forms free?
Yes. The forms themselves are free to download from your state court or pick up from the clerk. What you pay is the court's filing fee (commonly $30–$100 depending on the state and claim amount) and any fee for serving the defendant. If you cannot afford the filing fee, most courts have a fee waiver form you can submit.
Where can I get small claims court forms?
Official small claims forms come from your state court. Most state judicial branches publish fillable forms on their website or self-help center, and your local small claims clerk's office can give you the current paper forms and tell you which ones your court requires. Always use the current official version from your court, because form editions and required fields change over time.
What forms do I need to file a small claims case?
Most small claims cases start with one core form — the complaint, often called a Statement of Claim, Plaintiff's Claim, or Affidavit — which names the parties, states the amount you are claiming, and briefly explains why you are owed the money. After filing, you typically use a proof of service (service of process) form to show the defendant was notified. Depending on how the case goes, you may also need a request for default judgment, a fee waiver, or judgment-enforcement forms. The exact names and numbers vary by state.