Lackawanna County Small Claims: Magisterial District Court
Home › States › Pennsylvania › Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County: small claims filing guide
Filing in Lackawanna 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 Pennsylvania's Magisterial District Court Civil Complaint (AOPC 308A), using a made-up case, with a box-by-box guide. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.
Which magisterial district court hears small claims in Lackawanna County?
Magisterial District Courts serving Lackawanna County. Civil claims where the sum demanded does not exceed $12,000 (exclusive of interest and costs) are within magisterial district judge jurisdiction under 42 Pa.C.S. § 1515(a)(3). This is a standard magisterial-district-court county (Philadelphia's Municipal Court process does not apply here).
Lackawanna County's court page describes ten district judges plus one centralized district court, with civil jurisdiction up to $12,000 (Magistrates).
How to find the right magisterial district
Lackawanna County has multiple magisterial districts. You must file in a district that has venue under Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 302 — for an individual: where they can be served, where the claim arose, or where the transaction/occurrence happened; businesses have their own options (e.g., where they regularly conduct business). Not simply "any office in the county."
Official lookup tools:
- Interactive Magisterial District Court Map (from UJS Minor Courts)
- Magisterial District Judges directory
- County page: Magistrates
County-specific filing notes
- Central Court at the Lackawanna County Courthouse handles misdemeanor/felony preliminary hearings and DUI court cases — not a civil small-claims filing office, per the county page. File civil complaints with the district office that has venue.
- The county page's forms link points to an old URL (courts.state.pa.us); use the current UJS Forms for the Public instead.
- Office hours: call the district court office before you go.
- We did not find a published local fee schedule that replaces the statewide 2026 MDJ costs.
District court offices
Office towns below are from the UJS Magisterial District Judges directory (checked 2026-10-08) unless marked. Street addresses and phone numbers are on the linked official pages; call the office before you go — county and UJS listings do not always match exactly.
| District | Office town | Listed on |
|---|---|---|
| 45-1-01 | Old Forge | UJS directory |
| 45-1-02 | Scranton | UJS directory |
| 45-1-03 | Scranton | UJS directory |
| 45-1-05 | Scranton | UJS directory |
| 45-1-06 | Dunmore | UJS directory |
| 45-1-08 | Dickson City | UJS directory |
| 45-3-01 | Chinchilla | UJS directory |
| 45-3-02 | Moscow | UJS directory |
| 45-3-03 | Carbondale | UJS directory |
| 45-3-04 | Archbald | UJS directory |
Forms
- Civil Complaint (AOPC 308A) — statewide form, UJS Forms for the Public (PDF). UJS note: one copy with original signature for the magisterial district judge; filing and service costs are charged when you file; do not change the form's content or format.
- Authorization of Representative (AOPC 317) — needed only if someone other than you (or a business's own officer/partner) will appear for a party (PDF).
Ready to fill in your own form?
The steps above are free. The Playbook helps you do each one: a filled-in sample of Pennsylvania's Magisterial District Court Civil Complaint (AOPC 308A) with every box explained, plus your Pennsylvania Playbook section on serving the other side, hearing day, appeals to the Court of Common Pleas, and collecting a judgment.
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.
How much does it cost to file with a magisterial district judge?
From 204 Pa. Code § 29.402 (calendar year 2026; checked 2026-10-08):
| Civil action amount | Cost |
|---|---|
| $500 or less | $68.50 |
| More than $500 but not more than $2,000 | $91.00 |
| More than $2,000 but not more than $4,000 | $114.00 |
| Between $4,001 and $12,000 | $171.00 |
These costs do not include postage/registered mail, which the plaintiff pays. Service (mail vs. constable or sheriff) can add separate costs — ask the district court office.
Lawyer required?
No. Under Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 207(A)(1) individuals may represent themselves in magisterial district court. District court staff cannot give legal advice (stated on, e.g., the Cumberland and Washington County court FAQs). Whether you should hire a lawyer depends on your case.
Businesses / companies filing
Same process as individuals — no separate business track in magisterial district court (statewide rule, Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 207, checked 2026-10-08):
- Partnerships: a lawyer, a partner, or an employee/authorized agent with personal knowledge and written authorization from a partner.
- Corporations or similar entities: a lawyer, an officer, or an employee/authorized agent with personal knowledge and written authorization from an officer.
- A non-lawyer representative must file written verification of personal knowledge and the written authorization before acting (Rule 207(B)); authorization is case-by-case, not blanket (Official Note).
- Sole proprietorship: may be represented the same way as an individual (Rule 207 Official Note).
- LLCs: Rule 207 does not name LLCs; the statewide Authorization of Representative (AOPC 317) form lists "a manager of the limited liability company that is the party" as someone who may sign the authorization.
- County-specific business rule: none found on the official county pages we checked. Use the statewide rule above.
Free section summary
- Confirm your claim fits the $12,000 limit (exclusive of interest and costs).
- Find the right magisterial district with the official map, directory, or county lookup above — venue rules decide where you can file.
- Download the statewide Civil Complaint form.
- Budget for filing costs using the 2026 statewide table, plus service and postage.
- Call the district court office to confirm hours, payment methods, and costs before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Is small claims court in Lackawanna County a magisterial district court?
Yes. Small claims in Lackawanna County are filed with a magisterial district judge at the Magisterial District Court for the right magisterial district.
Who hears my case?
A magisterial district judge (MDJ).
Which magisterial district court do I file in?
Under Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 302, you can sue an individual "in and only in a magisterial district where: (1) the individual may be served, or (2) the cause of action arose, or (3) a transaction or occurrence took place out of which the cause of action arose." Businesses, partnerships, insurers and government bodies have their own versions of the rule. Check with the court for the defendant's area to confirm it's the right office.
What form do I use to file?
A civil complaint, filed with the magisterial district court.
How do I look up a magisterial district court docket?
Search the UJS portal at https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch.
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
- Luzerne County small claims guide
- Monroe County small claims guide
- Lehigh County small claims guide
- Northampton County small claims guide
- Berks County small claims guide
- Bucks County small claims guide
- Montgomery County small claims guide
- Chester County 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 Lackawanna County. The Playbook coaches you from filing to hearing day: a filled-in sample of Pennsylvania's Magisterial District Court Civil Complaint (AOPC 308A), your Pennsylvania Playbook section, and step-by-step prep guides. One membership covers every state.