Question 1 of 8. The fee above is the court's; ours is $49 for the paperwork.
- Filing fee
- $15–$20
- Claim limit
- $10,000
- Service per defendant
- Set by the server
- Pay online
- At the counter
What New York County charges to file
Source: New York City Civil Court, New York County - Small Claims Part fee schedule
| Your claim | You pay |
|---|---|
| Up to $1,000 | $15 |
| $1,000.01 – $10,000 | $20 |
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 646-386-5484 before you file.
The costs that are not the filing fee
Filing is the first charge, not the only one. New York County also charges:
- Counterclaim to a small claim: $5
None of these are optional once the case is moving, and all of them are recoverable in the judgment if you win. They are simply not quoted at the counter when you ask what it costs to file.
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 646-386-5484 before you file.
How this clerk takes payment
New York City Civil Court, New York County - Small Claims Part accepts:
- Cash (exact change only)
- Certified check payable to "Clerk of the Civil Court"
- Money order payable to "Clerk of the Civil Court"
- Bank check payable to "Clerk of the Civil Court"
- Personal checks are NOT accepted
Common questions
How much does it cost to file a small claims case in New York County?
$15–$20 to file, depending on how much you are suing for. Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 646-386-5484 before you file.
Can I get the filing fee back if I win?
Court costs, including the filing fee and service, are normally included in the judgment you ask for. Getting them back still depends on collecting the judgment.
What if I cannot afford the filing fee in New York County?
Courts have a fee-waiver application for filers below an income threshold. New York County's self-help center can point you at it. We cannot tell you whether you qualify.
How do I pay the New York County filing fee?
New York City Civil Court, New York County - Small Claims Part takes 5 forms of payment, listed above.
The New York County filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your New York County filing forms, completed with your claim in the language the court expects
- A demand letter built from the same facts
- A filing checklist with New York City Civil Court, New York County - Small Claims Part's address, hours, and the current 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 2026-08-23 · Sourced from nycourts.gov (NYC Civil Court fees, NYC Small Claims Court pages, New York County Civil Court Directory, NYC Small Claims Forms, New York County Civil and Housing Court Virtual Help Center) and nysenate.gov (NYC Civil Court Act, Article 18) 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.