SueYou
For Lawyers

Resources · Small Claims

Massachusetts Small Claims Court

Small claims session of the District Court, Boston Municipal Court or Housing Court, for claims up to $7,000.

Last checked November 1, 2026

The most you can ask for$7,000
LawyersLawyers allowed
Time to sue on a contract6 years
Good to know

Same limit for businesses, with extra requirements for trade or business debts. Property damage from a car accident can go above $7,000, and statutory damages such as consumer protection multiples can push an award above it. Cities and towns may claim up to $15,000, and any amount for unpaid personal property tax.

How it works in Massachusetts

  1. Check that your claim is $7,000 or less and get the exact legal name and address of each party.
  2. File online with Guide & File, or in person or by mail at the court where a plaintiff or defendant lives or works, or where a rental property is.
  3. Pay the filing fee. The court sends the Statement of Claim and Notice of Trial to the defendant.
  4. Come to trial with your contracts, receipts, photos and witnesses. A clerk-magistrate usually hears the case.
  5. If you win and are not paid, ask the clerk about a payment hearing or an execution.

What it costs

$40 to $150 depending on the claim amount, plus $7 if you e-file

How long you have to sue

Written contract6 years
Spoken agreement6 years
Damage to property3 years
Personal injury3 years

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, §§ 2, 2A. These are general limits. The clock can start late, pause or be much shorter, as it is for claims against a government agency.

If you lose

Only a defendant who appeared at trial can appeal, within 10 days of receiving written notice of the decision, for a new trial before a judge or jury, with a $25 fee and $100 bond; a plaintiff who loses cannot appeal.

No change to the $7,000 limit found as of 1 November 2026. A proposal to raise it to $20,000 (H.1860) appeared in search results as a bill, not law; the bill page was not opened. The Gardner and Winchendon District Courts have been consolidated into the Gardner District Court (St. 2025, c. 9).

Sources

Cities in Massachusetts

MassachusettsBostonBoston Municipal Court (Small Claims)

Have a dispute in Massachusetts?

A demand letter settles many disputes before court. Build one here, or compare lawyers and their prices.

Demand Letter BuilderHire a Lawyer

General information to help you get organized, last checked November 1, 2026. It isn't legal advice, and SueYou isn't a law firm. Laws change and every case is different, so confirm anything important with a lawyer or the court. No lawyer has reviewed this page yet.