SueYou
For Lawyers

Resources · Small Claims

Pennsylvania Small Claims Court

Magisterial District Court (Philadelphia Municipal Court in Philadelphia), for claims up to $12,000.

Last checked November 1, 2026

The most you can ask for$12,000
LawyersLawyers allowed
Time to sue on a contract4 years
Good to know

Same $12,000 limit in both courts, not counting interest and costs. You can give up the amount over $12,000 to file here, but that waiver is undone if the defendant appeals. Claims against Commonwealth parties and real estate title disputes are excluded.

How it works in Pennsylvania

  1. Check that your claim is $12,000 or less, not counting interest and costs.
  2. Find the right court. In Philadelphia, use the Municipal Court.
  3. Complete the Civil Complaint, or Philadelphia's Statement of Claim form.
  4. File it and pay the fee, or ask to proceed as unable to pay.
  5. Go to your hearing with your documents and witnesses.
  6. If you disagree with the result, file a notice of appeal within 30 days.

What it costs

Outside Philadelphia, $68.50 to $171 depending on the amount, plus postage. In Philadelphia, $94.75 up to $2,000 or $116.75 above that, with one Philadelphia defendant.

How long you have to sue

Written contract4 years
Spoken agreement4 years
Damage to property2 years
Personal injury2 years

42 Pa.C.S. §§ 5524, 5525. 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

You can appeal a money judgment to the Court of Common Pleas within 30 days of its entry, and the case is heard there as a new trial.

Magisterial district court costs were amended effective 1 January 2026 (204 Pa. Code § 29.402). A House memo dated 21 April 2026 from Reps. Greiner and Zimmerman proposes raising the magisterial district limit to $20,000. The memo page says it had not been submitted for introduction, so $12,000 stands.

Sources

Cities in Pennsylvania

PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Municipal Court, Civil Division (Small Claims)

Have a dispute in Pennsylvania?

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.