SMALL CLAIMS COURT;
COURTS - SMALL CLAIMS;
July 18, 2003 |
2003-R-0544 | |
SMALL CLAIMS COURT FEES | ||
| ||
By: Christopher Reinhart, Associate Attorney | ||
You asked about states that charge different small claims court filing fees based on the amount of the claim, states that charge fees for counterclaims, and the affect of these fees.
We surveyed various states and found several that charge different small claims court filing fees depending on the amount of the claim. We also found some states with fees for counterclaims. In Florida and Illinois, fees vary by county and we have included examples from each state.
We could not find any studies on the affect of a fee system that charges different amounts based on the amount of the claim or the affect of counterclaim fees.
The table below shows fees in several states for small claims courts.
Small Claims Court Filing Fees | ||
Amount of Claim |
Fee | |
Colorado* |
Up to $ 500 $ 500-$ 7,500 |
$ 15 $ 39 |
D. C. |
Up to $ 500 $ 500-$ 2,500 $ 2,500-$ 5,000 |
$ 5 $ 10 $ 45 |
Florida Lee County |
Up to $ 100 $ 100-$ 2,500 $ 2,500-$ 5,000 |
$ 26. 50 $ 41. 50 $ 59. 50 |
-Continued-
Small Claims Court Filing Fees | ||
Amount of Claim |
Fee | |
Florida Manatee County* |
Up to $ 100 $ 100-$ 2,500 $ 2,500-$ 5,000 |
$ 53 $ 86. 50 $ 113. 50 |
Florida Palm Beach County |
Up to $ 100 $ 100-$ 2,500 $ 2,500-$ 5,000 |
$ 45 $ 85 $ 200 |
Florida St. Lucie County |
Up to $ 100 $ 100-$ 2,500 $ 2,500-$ 5,000 |
$ 37. 50 $ 57. 50 $ 81. 50 |
Illinois Lake County |
Up to $ 250 $ 250-$ 500 $ 500-$ 2,500 $ 2,500-$ 5,000 |
$ 53 $ 63 $ 73 $ 118 |
Illinois Ogle County |
Up to $ 500 $ 500-$ 5,000 |
$ 45 $ 60 |
Illinois Rock Island County |
Up to $ 500 $ 500-$ 5,000 |
$ 58 $ 73 |
Massachusetts |
Up to $ 500 $ 500-$ 2,000 |
$ 10 $ 15 |
Michigan |
Up to $ 600 $ 600 -$ 3,000 |
$ 17 $ 32 |
New York |
Up to $ 1,000 $ 1,000-$ 3,000 |
$ 10 $ 15 |
Oregon |
Up to $ 1,500 $ 1,500-$ 5,000 |
$ 42 $ 81 |
Vermont |
Up to $ 500 $ 500-$ 3,500 |
$ 25 $ 50 |
*Fee also include other charges.
The table below shows fees for counterclaims in small claims courts in several states.
Counterclaim Fees | |
Colorado* |
Depending on the amount of the plaintiff’s claim: $ 15 or $ 30 |
Illinois (for the counties listed above) |
The filing fee minus any appearance fee paid. |
New York |
$ 3 |
*Fee also includes other charges.
CR: ts