Minnesota calls small claims conciliation court. You generally file in the county where the defendant is located, so a defendant outside Hennepin County usually means the wrong court. Exceptions include bad checks (where tendered), deposit and rent claims (where the property is), and cases where at least one of several defendants is in the county.
| Limit | $20,000 |
|---|---|
| Court | Hennepin County District Court, Conciliation Court |
| Address | Civil Division - Conciliation Court, 300 S. 6th Street, 3rd Floor Courts Tower, Minneapolis, MN 55487 |
| Phone | (612) 348-6000 |
| Hours | Court help line staffed 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| File online | Minnesota Guide & File, or eFile and eServe (eFS), both linked from https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin/hennepincivilcourt/conciliation-court |
| Fees | $70 for a claim up to $20,000. Using eFile and eServe adds a $5.00 processing fee. Fees changed 1 July 2025. |
| Timing | The court says the hearing is set about 90 days after you file. State rules require at least 28 days from the mailing or service of the summons. |
| Serving papers | If the claim is $2,500 or less and the defendant is in Minnesota, the court mails the summons. Above $2,500, you must serve by certified mail and file proof within 60 days of the summons, or the case is dismissed without prejudice. Defendants outside Minnesota are your job to serve. |
Hennepin County District Court, Conciliation Court small claims page
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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.
