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Velvet Digest

What is the limit for small claims court in Missouri?

Author

Sophia Koch

Updated on June 25, 2026

Small Claims Dollar Limit in Missouri Circuit Court In Missouri, it's limited to $5,000. If you want more, you'll have to go to another court. But it might not be worth it because of the complicated rules and costs of hiring an attorney.

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Similarly one may ask, how much does it cost to file in small claims court in Missouri?

Bring one check with you. In the Small Claims Division the filing fee is $17.00. The cost of serving the summons (the official notice to appear in court) to the party you sue, is $36.00 for each defendant if service is by the St.

Similarly, how do I make a small claim in court? If you've decided to go to small claims court, you'll need to start the process by finding the name and contact information of the defendant. Then obtain the court paperwork and file your case in the county small claims court with jurisdiction over your case. Next, you'll need to attend a scheduled hearing.

Considering this, what is the maximum amount you can file for in small claims court?

Small claims courts have an upper limit on the amount of money that a party can claim. You can sue for up to $10,000, if you are an individual or a sole proprietor. Corporations and other entities are limited to $5,000.

How much is small claims?

There's a $30 filing fee for a case asking for up to $1,500; $50 for a claim over $1,500 and up to $5,000; and $75 for a claim over $5,000. If you file more than 12 cases in a year, subsequent cases will cost $100 to file.

Related Question Answers

How do I take someone to small claims court in Missouri?

To bring your case in small claims court in Missouri, you must be seeking to recover $5,000 or less. If you want to sue for more than the limit, you have to go to a different court, which may not be worth it given the complicated rules and costs of hiring an attorney.

Where do I go to file small claims court?

Go to your county clerk's office and let them know you'd like to file a small claim. The clerk's office will give you paperwork to fill out with basic information for your case: your name (the plaintiff), the name of the person or business you're suing (the defendant) and the amount you're asking for.

How many days before a court date do you have to be served in Missouri?

Under Missouri's new rule, a subpoena to a non party for the production of documents and things shall be served no fewer than ten (10) days before the time specified for compliance.

Is small claims court binding?

If there was a contract that is deemed legally binding, cases are usually very quick to remedy. Cases that do not have a contract may have their values changed if the judge sees fit. As a plaintiff, the maximum amount of money that can be received in small claims court will be the county limit plus any court fees.

How do I drop a small claims case?

  1. Fill out your court forms. Fill out a Request for Dismissal (Form CIV-110 ).
  2. File your forms at the courthouse where you filed your claim.
  3. Serve the other side with a copy of the dismissal.
  4. File the Notice of Entry of Dismissal and Proof of Service (Form CIV-120).

How do I file a counterclaim in a civil suit?

File your counterclaim. Give the clerk of courts a copy of your complaint at the same location where the plaintiff filed the original complaint. You may file the counterclaim at the same time you file your answer. Make sure that you keep a copy of the counterclaim for you records.

What is small claims court?

Small claims court is a special court where disputes are resolved quickly and inexpensively. In small claims court, the rules are simplified and the hearing is informal. Attorneys are generally not allowed. The person who files the claim is called the plaintiff.

How do I file a small claims suit in St Louis County?

Small Claims cases must be filed in person at the Small Claims Office in the Courts Building, unless you reside out of state. The Small Claims pamphlet is intended to assist you in filing a Small Claims case in the St. Louis County Circuit Court.

Is it worth it to sue in small claims court?

The dollar amount that you can sue for in small claims court varies depending where you live. If your dispute is for slightly more than the limit, it may still be worth it to file a small claims suit. You won't be able to sue for the full amount, but you'll avoid the expense of a regular lawsuit.

Can I sue someone for $200?

You can sue anyone for anything, but whether it makes sense and whether you will win are different questions. It will cost you right around $200 to file your lawsuit and have her served, so the making sense part is iffy at best.

How long do you have to sue someone for money owed?

The length of the statute of limitations depends on whether the person owes you money under a written contract or an oral contract. Typically you have much longer, as much as 10 years, to file suit regarding a written contract. However, you must sue to enforce an oral contract within one or two years.

Can you sue for emotional distress in small claims court?

Christopher Daniel Leroi. As a former county court judge that also presided over small claims cases, you can't sue for intentional infliction of emotional distress or negligent infliction of emotional distress in small claims court.

What kind of damages can you sue for in small claims court?

In small claims court, you can sue for money or the return of personal property valued at $35,000 or less, not including interest and costs.

What evidence do I need for small claims court?

Both parties will need evidence to prove their case, such as pay slips, bank statements, contracts and calculations, and must give copies to the other party to consider before court. It is a good idea to prepare some notes of what you want to say and bring extra copies of your documents.

How long does a small claims court take?

It depends on the County. Smaller counties will probably give you the court date when the complaint is filed. Some will need to be processed. Your court date is generally within 45 days (as stated earlier) and you will get notice of it within a week or two.

What happens when you lose in small claims court?

When you win your case in small claims court, the judge will issue a judgment against the other party for payment to you and for court costs. The losing party will likely be reluctant to pay, but you do have some options for collecting the money awarded to you.

Do you need an attorney for Small Claims Court?

You don't need a lawyer to go to Small Claims Court. You can also learn about the court process by reading the Small Claims Court: Guides to Procedures on the Ministry of the Attorney General website. A plaintiff is the person who is suing and a defendant is the person being sued. You're the defendant.

Do I need lawyer for small claims court?

In some states, the small claims rules prohibit you from having an attorney as the plaintiff but require the defendant as a corporation to have a lawyer. If you're the person bringing the case to court and don't get an attorney when you're required to have one, your case will be dismissed.

What happens if you sue someone and they don't have money?

Unfortunately, there is no good answer—if someone has little income and few assets, they are effectively “judgment proof” and even if you win against them in court, you effectively lose: you spent the time and money to sue and receive nothing in return. Someone who has no assets now may have assets later.