SueYou
For Lawyers

Resources · Small Claims

New York Small Claims Court

Small Claims Part of NYC Civil Court, City Courts, District Courts, and Town and Village Justice Courts, for claims up to $10,000.

Last checked November 1, 2026

The most you can ask for$10,000
LawyersCheck with your court
Time to sue on a contract6 years
Good to know

$10,000 applies only in New York City. The limit is $5,000 in other City Courts and in the Nassau and western Suffolk District Courts, and $3,000 in Town and Village Courts. Only individuals can sue. Corporations, partnerships, associations and assignees can't, but in New York City a business can use Commercial Claims, which has the same cap.

How it works in New York

  1. Check that you're suing for money only. Small claims can't order someone to do something or award pain and suffering.
  2. Be 18 or older, or have a parent or guardian sue for you. Businesses can't sue in small claims.
  3. Pick the court, generally in the county where the defendant lives, and check that court's limit.
  4. Use the court finder and read that court's own small claims page for local steps.
  5. File your claim and pay the fee.

What it costs

$15 for claims of $1,000 or less and $20 above that in NYC Civil, City and District Courts; $10 and $15 in Town and Village Courts.

How long you have to sue

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

N.Y. C.P.L.R. 213(2), 214(4), 214(5). 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

Either party can appeal, but only on the ground that substantial justice was not done under the law; the general deadline is 30 days from service of the judgment with notice of entry.

No change to any limit found. The current text of each section still shows $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000. The Uniform City Court Act § 1801 revision dated 5 January 2024 keeps $5,000. A commercial site mentioned a bill to raise the Town and Village limit to $10,000. I found nothing official confirming it, and § 1801 still says $3,000.

Sources

Cities in New York

New YorkNew YorkNew York City Civil Court, Small Claims Part

Have a dispute in New York?

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.