Small Claims DeskSmall Claims Forms, NY

New York · New York City Civil Court, Small Claims Part

New York Small Claims Forms

New York small claims cases are filed in New York City Civil Court, Small Claims Part, and each county uses its own current forms. The New York State Unified Court System publishes official small claims forms used statewide in the NYC Civil Court — the Statement of Claim (CIV-SC-50), Instructions for Filing a Small Claims/Commercial Claims Action, and a Guide to Small Claims. In NYC the clerk may also take the claimant's statement of claim orally and reduce it to a concise written form (CCA §1803). NOTE: New York's small claims dollar limit varies by court type — $10,000 in the NYC Civil Court (which serves Kings/Brooklyn and the other four NYC counties), $5,000 in city courts outside NYC, and $3,000 in town and village justice courts. This record captures the NYC Civil Court regime that governs Kings County.

The forms you need

To open a small claims case in New York you file the court's claim form and a service/summons form:

Terminology and layout vary by county in New York. The blank forms are free; getting the wording right is what keeps your case from being sent back. We supply your county's current forms, completed with your claim.

Get your county's forms

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.

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Common questions

What forms do I need for small claims in New York?

The court's claim form plus a summons/service form, filed in New York City Civil Court, Small Claims Part. Some counties add a return-of-service form.

What is the New York small claims form called?

It depends on the county and court — often a Statement of Claim, Complaint, or Petition. We use your court's exact term.

Where do I get New York small claims forms?

From the county court that will hear your case. We keep the current version for each supported county.

Your small claims filing packet — $49

Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:

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Answer a few questions first. See your claim written out before you pay anything.

Related tools

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.