Wisconsin small claims Playbook
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The Playbook coaches you as you organize and present your own case. Members: the prep guides that work in any state are in Part 1 of the Playbook below, and Part 2 covers Wisconsin's forms, filing steps, service and hearing. For the basics, see the Wisconsin overview.
What forms do I need in Wisconsin?
Use SC-500, Summons and Complaint (Small Claims), or SC-500I, the same form with instructions printed beside each section. Spanish versions are available, and the court's online forms assistant can fill it in from an interview. The complaint doesn't need to be notarized. Wisconsin small claims forms.
Can a business sue in Wisconsin small claims?
Businesses use the same court, form, limits, and fee. No lawyer is required. A business can appear through:
- an LLC member,
- an agent, or
- an authorized employee,
or through a Wisconsin-licensed lawyer. Someone suing on an assigned claim can't appear through a full-time employee unless that employee is a Wisconsin lawyer. Source: Wis. Stat. § 799.06, checked 2026-10-25.
What happens after you file in Wisconsin?
Filing is only the first step. After the clerk accepts your claim, the other side has to be formally told about the case, you show up on your hearing date with your proof, and the judge decides. If you win, collecting the money is a separate step, and either side may have a limited chance to appeal. Deadlines and methods differ from court to court, so when something below isn't spelled out, check your court's rules.
For what it means when a court can order only money, or something else, see What Judges Can Actually Order.
New to this? Our plain-language guides walk through each stage: how to fill out and file your claim form, how to serve small claims papers, and what to say on hearing day.
How much should I ask for in Wisconsin small claims?
Ask for what you can prove: receipts, invoices, estimates and a simple running total. Wisconsin's small claims limit is $10,000 for most money claims ($15,000 starting Jan 1, 2027) and $5,000 for tort and personal injury claims (Wis. Stat. § 799.01(1)). If your loss is bigger, look closely at your options before filing, because what happens to the extra amount depends on your court's rules. Our guide to how much you can sue for in small claims explains the basics, and the damages calculator (free quick total; the itemized version is in your Playbook) helps you add up your numbers.
Where should I start?
If you're not sure whether small claims fits your problem, begin with Start Here. It points you to the right path whether you're ready to sue, just got sued, or already won. Need a different state? See every state guide.
Wisconsin small claims checklist
Before you file
- Your claim type and the limit that applies to it
- The right county (ask the clerk)
- SC-500 or SC-500I
- The filing fee ($22 through Oct 31, 2026; $39 starting Nov 1, 2026), plus mailing or service costs
- Whether your county allows service by mail
For court
- Contracts, receipts, photos, and messages, with copies
- Your witnesses
- A one-page list of each amount you're asking for
Wisconsin small claims timeline and deadlines
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Filing day | You pay the fee and the clerk issues the summons with a return date. |
| At least 8 days before the return date | The defendant has to be served. |
| Return date: 8 to 30 days after the summons is issued (at least 20 for an out-of-state defendant) | Your first court date. Either side who appears can ask for at least 7 more days. |
| Within 20 days after the verdict | A motion for a new trial generally has to be made and heard. |
| Within 15 days after a money judgment | Unless it's paid, the person who owes it has to fill out and deliver a statement of their assets on SC-506B, Financial Disclosure Statement (Small Claims). SC-506A is the Order for Financial Disclosure (Small Claims). |
| Within 12 months after a default judgment | The defendant can ask the court to reopen it for good cause. A default judgment can't be appealed. |
| Appeal deadline | If a court commissioner decided your case, you first ask for a new hearing before a judge: file a demand for trial and mail it to the other side within 10 days of an oral decision, or 15 days after a written decision was mailed (Wis. Stat. § 799.207(3)(c)). To appeal a judge's final judgment to the Court of Appeals, file within 45 days of its entry if written notice of entry was given within 21 days, or within 90 days if not (Wis. Stat. § 808.04(1)). Eviction appeals: 15 days (§ 799.445). Ask the clerk which deadline applies to your judgment. |
| Statute of limitations | Generally 6 years for a claim on a contract or other obligation (Wis. Stat. § 893.43) and 3 years for personal injury (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)). Other claims can have different deadlines, so check your court's rules if unsure. |
Sources: Wis. Stat. §§ 799.255 to 799.30; Wis. Stat. ch. 799. Checked 2026-10-25.
What's in the Wisconsin Playbook section
- Part 1: Prep guides that work in any state
- Part 2: Wisconsin specifics
- How to file a small claim in Wisconsin, step by step (made-up example)
- What to expect at your Wisconsin small claims hearing
- Collecting after you win in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin day-of plan
Want the whole game plan for Wisconsin? The Wisconsin Playbook takes you from filing to hearing day: what to gather, how to label your exhibits, a one-page timeline, and a day-of plan for your hearing. One yearly membership covers every state guide. See the Playbook
Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer — but if your situation is complicated, does not fit our samples, or a deadline is close, you may want to call a lawyer.
Small Claims Coach uses public information to build the Playbook, which coaches you as you organize and present your own case. We are not your lawyer, there is no attorney-client relationship, and we don't want the details of your case.
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice.