Guide
What It Costs to Start a Small Claims Case: Filing Plus Service, State by State
The filing fee plus the service fee for a $1,000 small claim in eight states, from $15 in New York City to $210 in Florida, cited to each court's own schedule.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-30
What does it cost to start a small claims case, counting both the court's filing fee and the fee to have the defendant served? In the eight states this site covers, the combined start-up figure for a $1,000 claim runs from $15 in New York City to $210 in Florida, before any mileage charges. The two fees are set by different rules, so neither one alone tells you the total.
The two fees that make up the start-up cost
A small claims case starts with two separate charges. The first is the filing fee, which the court charges to accept your complaint. The second is the service fee, which pays for getting the papers to the defendant, either through the clerk, a sheriff, a constable or another court officer.
Each has its own statute or fee schedule, and they vary independently. For how each works on its own, see How Small Claims Filing Fees Work and How Service of Process Works in Small Claims Court.
What a $1,000 claim costs to start, state by state
The table below assumes a $1,000 claim and one defendant, and shows the filing fee for a $3,000 claim alongside to show how much the claim amount moves it. The service column uses the court-clerk or officer fee named in each row, not the cheapest route in every case. Totals are the $1,000 filing fee plus that service fee, and the states marked "plus mileage" charge travel on top that depends on the distance to the defendant.
| State | Filing fee, $1,000 claim | Filing fee, $3,000 claim | Service fee and method | Start-up total, $1,000 claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $30 | $50 | $50 sheriff or marshal, per person served | $80 |
| Florida | $170 | $295 | $40 sheriff, per summons | $210 |
| New York (NYC Civil Court) | $15 | $20 | $0, clerk mails it, bundled into the filing fee | $15 |
| Pennsylvania | $81 | $81 | $13 constable base + $2.50 return of service | $96.50, plus mileage |
| North Carolina | $96 | $96 | $30 sheriff, per item served | $126 |
| Michigan | $45 | $65 | $26 court officer, per defendant | $71, plus mileage |
| New Jersey | $35 | $35 | $10 clerk-mailed notice, per defendant | $45 |
| Washington | $35 or $50, by county | $35 or $50, by county | $10 sheriff for one defendant | $45 or $60, plus $0.35 per mile |
Filing fees come from each state's own schedule: California's Self-Help Guide, Fla. Stat. §34.041, NYC Civil Court Act §1803, the Pennsylvania Magisterial District Judge cost table, N.C. Gen. Stat. §7A-305, MCL §600.8371, New Jersey Courts and Washington State Courts. Service fees come from Cal. Gov. Code §26721.2, Fla. Stat. §30.231, the NYC Bar small claims FAQ, 44 Pa.C.S. §7161, N.C. Gen. Stat. §7A-311, MCL 600.2559, New Jersey Courts and RCW 36.18.040. Every source is linked at the bottom.
Where the money goes differently
In Florida the filing fee is the bigger piece: $170 of the $210. In North Carolina it is $96 of $126, and in New Jersey $35 of $45. In California it runs the other way: the $50 sheriff fee is larger than the $30 filing fee for a $1,000 claim, so service is $50 of the $80.
The claim amount matters most where the fee is tiered. A $3,000 claim in Florida carries a $295 filing fee against $170 for a $1,000 claim, and Michigan's goes from $45 to $65. Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New Jersey do not change between the two claim sizes.
Choices that change the service line
Some states offer more than one way to serve, and the fee differs. California lists a $15 flat clerk fee for court-arranged certified mail, where a court offers it, against the $50 sheriff fee. New Jersey charges $10 per defendant for clerk-mailed notice, and $10 for the first defendant served personally by a Special Civil Part Officer plus $12 for each additional one. The table uses the sheriff fee for California, so a California filer whose court offers mail service would see a lower figure.
Adding a defendant also moves the service line in several states. That effect is covered in Does Adding a Second Defendant Raise Your Small Claims Filing Fee?.
What this table leaves out
These are the costs to start a case. They do not include witness fees, collection costs after a judgment, or appeal fees, each of which has its own tool and guide on this site. Fees can change without notice, and Washington's filing fee already depends on the county. This site only states figures for California, Florida, New York (NYC Civil Court), Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, New Jersey and Washington, so no other state is summed here.
Pennsylvania, Michigan and Washington also charge mileage on top of the base service fee, so those totals are a floor, not a final figure.
Run your own numbers
The Total Cost to Sue Calculator adds the filing fee and the service fee for your state and claim amount in one place, cited to each court's own fee schedule. It looks up the filing fee for your claim amount, then adds a service fee for the method you choose, or the lowest one if you pick none.
This is informational only, not legal advice — confirm current rules and fees with your court clerk before filing. Last reviewed: September 2026. Written by Eric, DocketClear founder.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total cost to start a small claims case?
It is the filing fee plus the service fee. For a $1,000 claim with one defendant, the combined figure in the eight states this site covers ranges from $15 in New York City to $210 in Florida, before mileage.
Is the filing fee or the service fee the larger cost?
It depends on the state. The filing fee is the larger piece in Florida ($170 of $210) and North Carolina ($96 of $126), while in California the $50 sheriff fee is larger than the $30 filing fee for a $1,000 claim. New York City bundles service into the filing fee, so its service line is $0.
Does the claim amount change the start-up cost?
Only where the filing fee is tiered. Florida's rises from $170 to $295 between a $1,000 and a $3,000 claim. Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New Jersey charge the same at both amounts.
Why do Pennsylvania, Michigan and Washington totals say "plus mileage"?
Their service fees include a per-mile charge that depends on how far the officer travels to the defendant, so the table shows only the fixed part.
Where can I calculate the total for my own claim?
Use the Total Cost to Sue Calculator, which adds the filing and service fees for your state and claim amount.
Informational only, not legal advice; confirm current rules and fees with your court clerk before filing.