New York Small Claims Court Guide
Here's how small claims court works in New York — what you can sue for, what it costs, where to file, and what actually happens on your hearing date.
New York quick facts
- Dollar limit
- $10,000 in New York CityCity courts outside NYC are typically $5,000, and town and village courts are typically $3,000.
- Typical filing fee
- $15 – $25Fees vary by county and by how much you're claiming. Service costs are usually extra.
- Where to file
- Small Claims Part of the City, Town, or Village CourtFile in the county where the defendant lives or does business — or, in many cases, where the deal was made or the damage happened.
- How long you have to file
- Written contracts: 6 years. Oral contracts: 6 years. Property damage: 3 years.These deadlines are general. The clock usually starts on the day you were harmed or the day payment was due.
How the process works in New York
- Send a demand letter first. Before you file, put your demand in writing: what happened, how much you're owed, and a deadline to pay. Many disputes settle here, and judges in New York like to see that you tried to resolve it.
- File your claim. Fill out the claim form at the Small Claims Part of the City, Town, or Village Court in the right county, name the defendant exactly as they're legally known (get the business's registered name if you're suing a company), and pay the filing fee — typically $15 – $25. Keep your claim at or under $10,000 in New York City; if you're owed more, you can waive the extra to stay in small claims.
- Serve the defendant. The court won't just take your word that they know about the case. Depending on the county, service is done by certified mail through the clerk, by the sheriff, or by a private process server. Do it well before your hearing date and file the proof of service with the court — cases get thrown out over bad service more than anything else.
- Show up prepared for the hearing. Bring three copies of everything: contracts, texts, photos, invoices, receipts, bank records. Hearings are short — often 15 minutes — so lead with what you're owed and why, in a couple of sentences, then walk the judge through your evidence in order. Lawyers usually aren't required, and in some New York courts they're limited.
- Collect — or appeal. If you lose, you generally have a short window (often 10 to 30 days) to appeal to a higher court in New York, and the appeal is usually a fresh hearing rather than a review of the transcript. Winning also isn't the same as getting paid — if they don't pay voluntarily, you may need to ask the court about garnishment or a lien.
Find your local courthouse
Court locations, hours, and contact information change — always confirm directly with your state's official court locator before filing.
Keep reading
How to Write a Demand Letter That Actually Gets Results
Before you file a small claims case, a demand letter is often the fastest and cheapest way to get paid — many disputes resolve here without ever…
How to Serve Someone Papers for Small Claims Court
Filing your claim is only half the process — the defendant has to be legally notified through a process called "service of process" before your…
What Evidence Actually Holds Up in Small Claims Court
If you're preparing for small claims court, the question isn't just "do I have a case?" — it's "do I have proof?" Judges in small claims court move fast, often…