Suffolk County Small Claims Court (NY): District Court and Town Justice Courts
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Suffolk County: small claims filing guide
Filing in Suffolk County? See a filled-in sample first.
The court, cost and filing information on this page is free. The Small Claims Playbook adds a filled-in sample of a New York claim form (the NYC Civil Court's Statement of Claim, CIV-SC-50), using a made-up case, with a box-by-box guide. Suffolk courts don't use that form: Suffolk County District Court uses form DC-283, and in an eastern Suffolk town Justice Court you get the form from the court clerk. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.
Which Suffolk County small claims court do I use?
Suffolk is split in two. The court depends on the town where the defendant lives, works, does business, or owns the rental property:
- Western Suffolk (Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown): Suffolk County District Court, up to $5,000.
- Eastern Suffolk (East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton, Southold): that town's Justice Court, up to $3,000.
See the New York overview for how New York courts are split.
At a glance
| Item | Western Suffolk: District Court | Eastern Suffolk: Town Justice Court |
|---|---|---|
| Limit | $5,000 | $3,000 |
| Filing fee | $15 (up to $1,000) / $20 (up to $5,000) | $10 to $15 (2024 court guide; confirm with the court) |
| Who can file a small claim | Individuals 18 or older | Individuals 18 or older only |
| Commercial claims (businesses) | Yes, up to $5,000 | No |
| Form | DC-283 | Get it from that court's clerk |
| How to file | In person, or by mail (notarized) | |
| Who decides | An arbitrator | |
| Court days and hours | Night Court in Ronkonkoma on certain Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. | |
| Statute of limitations | Generally 6 years for contracts, 3 years for property damage or injury (CPLR 213, 214). Exceptions apply; see the full guide. | Generally 6 years for contracts, 3 years for property damage or injury (CPLR 213, 214). Exceptions apply; see the full guide. |
A. Western Suffolk: Suffolk County District Court
Limit $5,000 (Suffolk District Court instructions page; NY Courts small claims page). You must be 18 or older, and the defendant must live, work, or do business in one of the five western towns.
Filing
- Form DC-283 (small claim / commercial claim / consumer transaction complaint): PDF. Use black ink. Don't give a P.O. box alone for the defendant. Choose Day or Night Court on the form.
- File in person or by mail at any of the District Courts. Mail filings must be notarized (court guide p. 24).
- Night Court is in Ronkonkoma on certain Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. (Suffolk District Court instructions page). Confirm the date with the court.
District Court locations
From the court guide for NYC, Nassau, and Suffolk (updated July 2024, p. 24). Call before you go.
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| First District Court (night court only) and Fifth District Court | 3105 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Ronkonkoma | 631-381-6000 |
| Second District Court | 30 East Hoffman Ave., Lindenhurst | 631-381-6025 |
| Third District Court | 1850 New York Ave., Huntington Station | 631-381-6070 |
| Fourth District Court | North County Complex, Bldg. C-158, Veterans Memorial Hwy., Hauppauge | 631-381-6075 |
| Sixth District Court | 150 West Main St., Patchogue | 631-381-6100 |
Filing costs
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Small claim, up to $1,000 | $15 |
| Small claim, over $1,000 up to $5,000 | $20 |
| Commercial claim | $25 filing, plus $10.02 mailing per defendant |
Small-claim fees are from the court guide (p. 4). Western Suffolk accepts personal checks and credit cards in the courthouse. Commercial-claim amounts are from the DC-283 commercial instructions (revised 7/20/26, fees "as of July 12, 2026").
Hearings
In western Suffolk, an arbitrator decides small-claims cases (court guide p. 11).
B. Eastern Suffolk: Town Justice Courts
Limit $3,000. Individuals 18 or older only. There are no commercial small claims in eastern Suffolk, so a corporation or other business has to start a regular civil case (court guide p. 25). The fee is $10 to $15; get the claim form from that court's clerk (court guide p. 25).
Town Justice Court forms, days, and hours aren't posted online in one uniform way. Call the court before you go, and confirm the fee.
| Town Justice Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Riverhead | 210 Howell Ave., Riverhead | 631-727-3200 x229 |
| East Hampton | 159 Pantigo Rd. | 631-324-4134 |
| Shelter Island | 46 N. Ferry Rd. | 631-749-8989 |
| Southold | 53095 Route 25 | 631-765-1852 |
| Southampton | 32 Jackson Ave., Hampton Bays | 631-702-2997 |
Lawyer required?
No (court guide).
Businesses / companies filing
| Who is suing | Western Suffolk (District Court) | Eastern Suffolk (Town Justice Court) |
|---|---|---|
| Person doing business under a d/b/a | Ordinary small claims form | |
| Corporation | Commercial claims | No commercial small claims; start a regular civil case |
| Association | Commercial claims | No commercial small claims; start a regular civil case |
| Partnership | ||
| Sole proprietor |
Western Suffolk commercial claims: limit $5,000, and a corporation, partnership, or association must have its principal office in New York State (DC-283 commercial instructions). More detail: New York small claims for businesses.
Suffolk County small claims checklist
- Find the town where the defendant lives, works, or does business: western towns go to District Court ($5,000), eastern towns go to that Town Justice Court ($3,000).
- Western Suffolk: fill out DC-283 and file in person or by notarized mail. Eastern Suffolk: get the form from the town court clerk.
- Bring the fee: $15 or $20 in District Court; $10 to $15 in a Town Justice Court.
- Businesses: commercial claims are only in western Suffolk District Court.
- Call the court to confirm days, hours, and fees before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Which Suffolk County small claims court do I file in: District Court or a Town Justice Court?
If the defendant lives, works or has a business in Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip or Smithtown, file in Suffolk County District Court. If the defendant is in one of the eastern towns, file in that town's Justice Court. Use the court locator at https://www.nycourts.gov/court-locator or call the town clerk.
Where are the Suffolk County District Court small claims locations?
Suffolk County District Court has five locations: 1st and 5th Districts (the 5th covers Islip): 3105 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Ronkonkoma, 631-381-6000. 2nd District (Babylon): 30 E Hoffman Ave, Lindenhurst, 631-381-6025. 3rd District (Huntington): 1850 New York Ave, Huntington Station, 631-381-6070. 4th District (Smithtown): North County Complex, Bldg C-158, Hauppauge, 631-381-6075. 6th District (Brookhaven): 150 W Main St, Patchogue, 631-381-6100.
Related guides
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.
Nearby counties
- Queens County small claims guide
- Bronx County small claims guide
- New York County (Manhattan) small claims guide
- Kings County (Brooklyn) small claims guide
- All county small claims guides
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.
You do the work. The Playbook hands you the plays.
This page covers where and how to file in Suffolk County. The Playbook coaches you from filing to hearing day: your New York Playbook section, step-by-step prep guides, and a filled-in sample of a New York claim form (the NYC Civil Court's Statement of Claim, CIV-SC-50). Suffolk courts don't use that form: Suffolk County District Court uses form DC-283, and in an eastern Suffolk town Justice Court you get the form from the court clerk. One membership covers every state.