January 18, 2013 |
2013-R-0070 | |
SMALL CLAIMS COURT LIMITS | ||
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By: Christopher Reinhart, Chief Attorney | ||
You asked when Connecticut last increased the limit for small claims court actions and the limits in other states.
Connecticut last increased its limit for small claims actions in 2005, when PA 05-42 increased the limit from $3,500 to $5,000. A higher limit applies in cases involving housing security deposits (CGS § 51-15(d)).
We compiled information on small claims courts in other states. These courts use different names in different states. Regardless of name, we looked at the court with the lowest jurisdictional limit in each state. We also focused on the general limit imposed on the court's jurisdiction, although states may have exceptions with higher or lower limits for specific types of claims.
Based on our survey, small claims court limits range from $2,500 in Rhode Island to $25,000 in Tennessee. Twenty-four states have a limit higher than Connecticut's. Connecticut and 16 other states have a $5,000 limit. Nine states have a limit lower than Connecticut's. Table one displays the limits in each state, organized from highest to lowest.
Table 1: Small Claims Court Limits in Each State
From Highest to Lowest
State |
Limit |
State |
Limit |
State |
Limit |
Tennessee |
$25,000 |
Oklahoma |
$7,500 |
New York |
$5,000 |
Delaware |
$15,000 |
South Carolina |
$7,500 |
North Carolina |
$5,000 |
Georgia |
$15,000 |
Massachusetts |
$7,000 |
North Dakota |
$5,000 |
Pennsylvania |
$12,000 |
Montana |
$7,000 |
Vermont |
$5,000 |
South Dakota |
$12,000 |
Indiana |
$6,000 |
Virginia |
$5,000 |
Alaska |
$10,000 |
Maine |
$6,000 |
Washington |
$5,000 |
California |
$10,000 |
Wyoming |
$6,000 |
West Virginia |
$5,000 |
Illinois |
$10,000 |
Arkansas |
$5,000 |
Kansas |
$4,000 |
Minnesota* |
$10,000 |
Connecticut |
$5,000 |
Mississippi |
$3,500 |
New Mexico |
$10,000 |
Florida |
$5,000 |
Nebraska |
$3,500 |
Oregon |
$10,000 |
Hawaii |
$5,000 |
Alabama |
$3,000 |
Texas |
$10,000 |
Idaho |
$5,000 |
New Jersey |
$3,000 |
Utah |
$10,000 |
Iowa |
$5,000 |
Ohio |
$3,000 |
Wisconsin |
$10,000 |
Louisiana |
$5,000 |
Arizona |
$2,500 |
Colorado |
$7,500 |
Maryland |
$5,000 |
Kentucky |
$2,500 |
Nevada |
$7,500 |
Michigan** |
$5,000 |
Rhode Island |
$2,500 |
New Hampshire |
$7,500 |
Missouri |
$5,000 |
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*Minnesota's small claims court limit will increase to $15,000 in August
2014.
**Michigan's small claims court limit will increase to $5,500 in 2015,
$6,000 in 2018, $6,500 in 2021, and $7,000 in 2024.
CR:mp