New York Small Claims Court: Limits, Fees, Forms, and Where to File

How small claims works in New York: which court, the limit, the fee, the forms, and the basic steps. Checked 2026-10-08.

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New York small claims: your free guide.

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Quick answer: New York small claims limits depend on the court: $10,000 in NYC Civil Court, $5,000 in District and City Courts, and $3,000 in Town and Village Courts. Filing costs $10 to $20 for an individual, and the clerk mails notice of your claim to the other side. You don't need a lawyer.

New York small claims summary card: up to $10,000 in NYC Civil Court ($5,000 in District and City Courts, $3,000 in Town and Village Courts), fees of $10 to $20, and filing in the local court where the defendant lives, works or does business (rules vary by court).
New York small claims at a glance.

Filing in New York? See a filled-in sample first.

Everything on this page is free. The Small Claims Playbook adds a filled-in sample of the NYC Civil Court Statement of Claim (CIV-SC-50), using a made-up case, with a box-by-box guide. Outside New York City, get the claim form from that court's clerk. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

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How small claims works in New York

New York small claims lets you sue for money only, without a lawyer, in the court that matches where the person or business you're suing lives, works, or does business. The limit is $10,000 in NYC Civil Court, $5,000 in District and City Courts, and $3,000 in Town and Village Courts.

Checked October 2026. Sources: official sources are linked in each section and under Official links below.

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What is the small claims limit in New York, and which court?

It depends on where the defendant is:

  • New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn/Kings, Manhattan/New York, Queens, Staten Island/Richmond): Small Claims Part, Civil Court of the City of New York. Limit $10,000. Fee $15 up to $1,000, $20 over $1,000.
  • Nassau County (except Long Beach and Glen Cove) and the five western Suffolk towns: Nassau or Suffolk County District Court. Limit $5,000. Fee $15 / $20.
  • A city outside NYC (for example Buffalo, Long Beach, Glen Cove): City Court small claims part. Limit $5,000. Fee $15 / $20.
  • A town or village, including the five eastern Suffolk towns: Town or Village Justice Court. Limit $3,000. Fee $10 up to $1,000, $15 over $1,000.

Where do I file a small claim in New York?

  • New York City: the defendant must live, work, or have a business address in NYC. You can file in the NYC county where either of you lives; if neither of you lives in NYC, where either of you works or has a business address. If you live outside the city and are suing someone in it, you can file by mail. The court's small claims pages don't describe online filing for small claims. Plan to file in person, or by mail if you live outside the city, and check with the clerk before you go.
  • Outside NYC: if the defendant is in a town or village, you can sue in that Town or Village Court (up to $3,000) or in any City Court in that county (up to $5,000).
  • Nassau: Long Beach and Glen Cove defendants go to that City Court. Everywhere else in Nassau goes to Nassau County District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead.
  • Suffolk: the five western towns go to Suffolk District Court. The five eastern towns (East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton, Southold) go to that town's Justice Court, up to $3,000.
  • If the defendant isn't in New York State at all, you can't use New York small claims.

How to file in New York: the basic steps

  1. Find the right court for where the defendant is, using the list above.
  2. Get the defendant's correct legal name and street address (no P.O. boxes). You can check a business name with the County Clerk or the NY Department of State.
  3. Fill out that court's claim form.
  4. File in person, or by mail where allowed, and pay the fee. Payment methods vary: NYC doesn't take personal checks.
  5. The clerk mails notice of your claim to the defendant and gives you a hearing date.
  6. Get your proof together. For repair costs, the court guides say to bring two signed, itemized written estimates.
  7. At the hearing, a judge or an arbitrator decides, depending on the court.

Ready to do these steps yourself?

Small details are easy to miss: the right court depends on where the defendant is, in NYC the court guide lists cash or money order for the fee, and for repair costs the court guides say to bring two signed, itemized written estimates. The steps above are free. The Playbook helps you do each one, with a filled-in sample of CIV-SC-50 and every box explained, plus your New York Playbook section: a step-by-step filing walkthrough (made-up example), how the other side gets served, what to bring to your hearing plus a talking-point outline, collecting a judgment, and how to appeal.

You also get prep guides that work in any state: a document checklist, exhibit labels, a prep timeline and a hearing-day outline. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

See what's inside →

Do I need a lawyer for small claims in New York?

No. The court says: "Small Claims Court is a special part of the court where you can sue for money without a lawyer."

Small claims court by New York county

The ten largest counties, largest first (2020 Census). Fees are for an individual filer, from the statewide court guides.

CountyFiling feeCourts (limit)
Kings (Brooklyn)$15–$20NYC Civil Court ($10,000)
Queens$15–$20NYC Civil Court ($10,000)
New York (Manhattan)$15–$20NYC Civil Court ($10,000)
Suffolk$15–$20 District; $10–$15 TownDistrict Court ($5,000, west); Town Courts ($3,000, east)
Bronx$15–$20NYC Civil Court ($10,000)
Nassau$15–$20District Court or Long Beach / Glen Cove City Courts ($5,000)
Westchester$15–$20 City; $10–$15 Town/VillageCity Courts ($5,000); Town/Village ($3,000)
Erie$15–$20 City; $10–$15 Town/VillageCity Courts ($5,000); Town/Village ($3,000)
Monroe$15–$20 City; $10–$15 Town/VillageCity Court ($5,000); Town/Village ($3,000)
Richmond (Staten Island)$15–$20NYC Civil Court ($10,000)

New York county guides

Know your court? Next, get your proof in order.

You can present your own case. The Playbook's exhibit-label guide and hearing-day outline help you put your documents in order and explain them clearly, step by step. General legal information, not advice about your case.

See how the Playbook works →

New York small claims FAQ

What is the small claims limit in New York?

$10,000 in NYC Civil Court, $5,000 in Nassau and Suffolk District Courts and City Courts, and $3,000 in Town and Village Justice Courts.

How much does it cost to file small claims in New York?

For an individual, $15 up to $1,000 and $20 over $1,000 in NYC Civil Court, District Courts and City Courts, and $10 up to $1,000 and $15 over $1,000 in Town and Village Courts.

Where do I file small claims in New York?

In the court that covers where the person or business you're suing lives, works, or does business. If the defendant isn't in New York State, you can't use New York small claims.

Can I file small claims online in New York City?

The court's small claims pages don't describe online filing for small claims. Plan to file in person, or by mail if you live outside the city, and check with the clerk before you go.

Do I need a lawyer for small claims in New York?

No. You don't need a lawyer to sue in Small Claims Court, but you may have one.

Related guides: Ready to sue · Just got sued · Small claims court basics · 10 things to do before you sue · How to save text messages as evidence · Sued in small claims? What to do next · Suing as or against a business in New York

Other states: pick your state on the map. Free: the Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists). Go deeper: preview the Playbook.

What's in the New York Playbook section

  • How to file a small claim in New York, step by step (made-up example)
  • How the other side gets served, and what happens if mail service fails
  • Counterclaims: the window and the fee
  • What to bring to your hearing, plus a talking-point outline
  • Collecting a judgment after you win
  • How to appeal, and which decisions can't be appealed
  • Common mistakes and a printable checklist

You do the work. The Playbook hands you the plays.

This page covers the New York rules. The Playbook coaches you from filing to hearing day: a filled-in sample of CIV-SC-50, your New York Playbook section, and step-by-step prep guides. Every state and DC has a filled-in sample claim (for Mississippi, Oklahoma and Wyoming it's a sample layout we made, so you'd get the real form from the court clerk). One membership covers every state.

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.