- Claim limit
- $10,000
- Court
- New York City Civil Court, Small Claims Part
- File online
- Yes (statewide)
- Appeal window
- 30 days
Common questions
Step 1 — Which court do I file in?
New York small claims cases go to New York City Civil Court, Small Claims Part in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose. Pick your county below.
Step 2 — What form do I file?
Your county's claim form (Statement of Claim, Complaint, or Petition). We complete it with your claim in the language the court expects.
Step 3 — What does it cost?
A filing fee set by your county, plus a small service fee. Your county page shows the current amounts.
Step 4 — How is the defendant served?
The court clerk. After the claim is filed the clerk mails the notice of claim to the defendant; the person suing (the claimant) does not arrange or pay for personal service of a summons.
Step 5 — What happens at the hearing?
New York uses a Trial. Bring your documents and be ready to explain what happened. We give you a checklist of what to bring.
Serving the defendant
The court clerk. After the claim is filed the clerk mails the notice of claim to the defendant; the person suing (the claimant) does not arrange or pay for personal service of a summons.
- Clerk mails the notice of claim by ordinary first-class mail (CCA §1803)
- Clerk mails the notice of claim by certified mail, return receipt requested (CCA §1803)
If the post office cannot deliver the mailed notice (for example, the defendant moved without leaving a forwarding address), the clerk sets a new hearing date and the claimant must supply a correct address before the case can proceed.
Pick your county to start
Small claims is filed at the county level. Pick your county for its court, fee, and forms — or start your claim and we'll ask where you'd sue.
Start my claimYour small claims filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your court's own forms, with your claim written in the language the court expects
- A demand letter built from the same facts
- A filing checklist with your court's address, hours, and fee
- What to bring to your hearing
Answer a few questions first. See your claim written out before you pay anything.
Reviewed by Small Claims Desk · Last reviewed 2026-08-20 · Sourced from New York judiciary self-help resources and each county's clerk of court and N.Y.C. Civil Court Act, Article 18 — Small Claims (§§ 1801-1814): §1801 (defines a small claim; $10,000 ceiling, exclusive of interest and costs), §1803 (commencement; $15 fee for claims of $1,000 or less and $20 for claims over $1,000; clerk serves notice of claim by ordinary first-class and certified mail), §1804 (informal, simplified procedure — court does substantial justice and is not bound by rules of practice, procedure, pleading or evidence), §1807 (review — either party may appeal only on the ground that substantial justice was not done). See how we verify.