Which court hears your claim, how much it can award, and what filing costs - answered in ten seconds. New York's small claims limits changed in recent years and most advice online is stale.
Filing fees shown are the commonly published amounts; confirm the current fee with your court's clerk - it changes by court and claim size. Corporations, partnerships, and LLCs generally cannot file in small claims (they use commercial claims parts) but can be sued there. General information, not legal advice. Attorney Advertising.
| Court | Dollar limit | Filing fee |
|---|---|---|
| NYC Civil Court - Small Claims Part (all five boroughs) | $10,000 | $15 / $20 |
| District Courts - Nassau & Suffolk | $5,000 | ~$15 / $20 |
| City Courts outside NYC | $5,000 | ~$10 / $15 |
| Town & Village Justice Courts | $3,000 | ~$10 / $15 |
Small claims works, but it costs you a filed case, service on the defendant, at least one court appearance (often at night), and then collecting on the judgment - which is its own fight. A certified attorney demand letter costs a flat fee and resolves many disputes in days, because the other side can read the same statutes you can. If it doesn't, nothing is lost: the letter becomes Exhibit A, and the judge sees you acted reasonably. Our side-by-side guide walks the decision; the Small Claims Filing Kit covers you when filing is the right move.
Run your dispute through the free case checker - statute, deadline, and damages math in 60 seconds - before you spend a fee on anything.
Check my case free →Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Verified against the NY court system's published materials as of August 2026 by Hochman Law PC. More free NY tools →