A company owing you a few thousand dollars doesn't need to end in "not worth it, a lawyer costs more than I'd recover." Every US state has a small claims court built specifically for this — no attorney required, low fees, and a hearing usually scheduled within weeks, not years. The catch: the dollar limit and rules are entirely state-specific, unlike the UK's single £10,000 threshold.
The limits vary more than most people expect
As of 2026, limits range from $2,500 in the lowest states up to $25,000 in Tennessee and Delaware. Five commonly cited examples:
- California: $12,500 for individuals, but only $6,250 if you're filing as a business. Lawyers are generally not permitted to represent either side at the hearing itself.
- Texas: $20,000, one of the highest limits nationally, handled in Justice of the Peace courts. Attorneys are allowed but optional.
- New York: this is worth getting exactly right — it's $10,000 in New York City Civil Court, but drops to $5,000 (and in some town/village courts, as low as $3,000) outside the city. Confirm which court type covers your specific location before assuming the higher figure applies.
- Florida: $8,000, filed in County Court's small claims division.
- Illinois: $10,000, filed in Circuit Court's small claims division.
These figures change periodically as state legislatures update them — confirm the current number with your specific court before filing.
The filing process, step by step
- File in the county where the defendant lives, where the dispute occurred, or where the contract was signed.
- Pay the filing fee (commonly $15-$100, scaled to your claim amount) — fee waivers are generally available if you can't afford it.
- Formally serve the defendant — required by law, usually through certified mail, a sheriff, or a licensed process server depending on your state. Get this wrong procedurally and a judge can dismiss the case regardless of merit.
- If your claim exceeds your state's limit, you can either waive the excess amount permanently to stay in small claims court, or file in regular civil court instead (slower, more formal, usually needs an attorney).
Winning the judgment is only half the process
The court doesn't collect the money for you — if the defendant doesn't pay voluntarily after losing, you generally need to go back to court to enforce it, commonly through wage garnishment or a bank account levy. One important state-specific exception worth knowing if you're in Texas: Texas does not permit wage garnishment for most consumer debts, so a bank levy or property lien is the realistic enforcement route there instead — don't assume every state's collection tools are identical.
See also: if your dispute is bigger than small claims can handle, how to find a verified, licensed attorney through your state bar — including the low-cost referral services many state bars run.