What it costs to sue in small claims court
Pick your state and how much you're owed. You'll see the two fees every case starts with: the court's charge to open it, and the cost of getting the papers to the other side. Each figure is read from the court's own fee list, with a link to it.
Last reviewed September 2026 · 8 states · Free, no sign-up
Claim of $2,500
In California, suing for $2,500 costs $65 before anything else: $50 to file, plus $15 to get the papers to the other side by certified mail (court-arranged).
Read from California Courts Self-Help Guide.
Your state's full cost sheet
One page per state: what it costs to file, serve, and collect, with every figure linked to where it came from.
The costs, in the order you'll meet them
A small claims case has three stretches, and each one has its own fees. Every calculator here belongs to one of them.
Before you file
Check the claim fits, then pay the court to open it.
Serving and going to court
The other side has to be handed the papers, and calling a witness costs money too.
After the judgment
Winning is a piece of paper. Collecting it, renewing it, or appealing it each has a price.
Read before you file
How the process works, step by step, with what it costs at each one.
- How to File a Small Claims Case: Step by StepThe process for filing a small claims case, from checking eligibility to collecting a judgment — with what it costs at each step.
- How Small Claims Filing Fees WorkFiling fees usually scale with your claim amount, but not always — how the tiers work, why some states charge a flat rate, and what the fee doesn't include.
- How Service of Process Works in Small Claims CourtWho can serve a defendant, which methods each state recognizes, and what happens if service fails — before your case can get a hearing date.
- Why Some States Have No Single Small Claims Filing FeeSome states set one small claims filing fee; others leave it to each county or court. See how the four structures differ, with examples from CA, FL, NC, OH, WA.
This site adds up court fees. It does not give legal advice, and it covers 8 states so far. Fees change without much notice, so the court's own page, linked beside every figure, is the final word.