---
title: "Serving Small Claims Papers in District of Columbia | MCC"
description: "How a District of Columbia small claims case is served, from the court's own guide: Personal delivery by any competent adult who isn't a party, or..."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/process-serving/how-to-serve-papers-in-district-of-columbia"
---

Process serving · District of Columbia

# How to serve small claims papers in District of Columbia

District of Columbia's Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, Superior Court of the District of Columbia lists this method: Personal delivery by any competent adult who isn't a party, or leaving the papers at the defendant's home with a suitable adult who lives there; or the clerk mails them by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage the plaintiff pays at filing (Small Claims Rule 4). File proof of service within 60 days of filing (90 days in debt collection cases) and at least 7 days before the first court date. If that method lets you use a private process server or another adult, we can arrange a vetted local server in District of Columbia, quoted per job and confirmed before any work starts.

Get a District of Columbia serve quoted

✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials)

🌙 We're off the clock. Your case isn't.

Send the details tonight and we'll quote it first thing when we open in the morning. Upload the papers with the request so nothing waits on us.

 [Send the request](/notary/process-serving#request)

**Price**Quoted per job in District of Columbia (New Jersey serves are from $150 per address)

**Where we cover**District of Columbia, through vetted local process servers and vendors

Before you hire anyone in District of Columbia, check whether the court serves the papers itself. Its own guide says:

| Court | Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, Superior Court of the District of Columbia |
| --- | --- |
| Service | Personal delivery by any competent adult who isn't a party, or leaving the papers at the defendant's home with a suitable adult who lives there; or the clerk mails them by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage the plaintiff pays at filing (Small Claims Rule 4). File proof of service within 60 days of filing (90 days in debt collection cases) and at least 7 days before the first court date. |
| Where the case is filed | The Small Claims Clerk's Office, Room 110, 510 4th St. NW, Building B, Washington, DC 20001, by mail or in person, or the lobby drop box at the Moultrie Courthouse, 500 Indiana Avenue NW. |
| Small claims limit | $10,000. DC Courts press release: Small Claims limit raised from $5,000 to $10,000 effective January 3, 2017. |
| Filing fees | claims $500 or less: $5; claims over $500 up to $2,500: $10; claims over $2,500: $45 |
| Who can file | Anyone seeking money damages of $10,000 or less; a case can have more than one plaintiff or defendant. A business that files a claim must have a lawyer. |

## When we can help in District of Columbia

We book a vetted server near the address, share the papers and the date the court needs, and return the completed proof of service to you.

The full District of Columbia small claims page, with limits and fees, is [here](/tools/small-claims-district-of-columbia).

[Alabama](/notary/process-serving/how-to-serve-papers-in-alabama) · [all states](/notary/process-serving/how-to-serve-papers-by-state) · [serving someone in another state](/notary/process-serving/serve-someone-in-another-state)

If you represent yourself, you are responsible for your documents: what they say, that they are complete and signed, which court they go to and that they are filed on time. We are not lawyers, we do not give legal advice or draft pleadings, and we cannot guarantee any legal outcome. We file, serve or pull exactly what you send.

## Sources

- [DC Courts: Small Claims change of cap from $5,000 to $10,000 (press release)](https://dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/2017-06/Small_Claims_change_of_cap_from_5_to_10k-RELEASE.pdf)
- [DC Superior Court Civil Rule 202 Fees](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/rules-superior-court/Civil%20Rule%20202.%20Fees.pdf)
- [DC Courts: Small Claims (Civil Division)](https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/civil-division/small-claims)
- [DC Court of Appeals: Appeals from Small Claims guide](https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/AppealsSmallClaimsGuide.pdf)

### Before you send

- Send the papers to serve as a PDF, with every page in order.
- Give the best address, a description or photo of the person, and the times they're usually home.
- Up to three attempts at different times of day are included.
- You get a notarized affidavit of service once service is made.
- Rules on who may serve papers vary by state. The desk confirms them for your state before assigning a server.

### Prefer to talk?

Call the desk and we'll take the request by phone.

## Questions

**Who serves small claims papers in District of Columbia?**

The court's guide says: Personal delivery by any competent adult who isn't a party, or leaving the papers at the defendant's home with a suitable adult who lives there; or the clerk mails them by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage the plaintiff pays at filing (Small Claims Rule 4). File proof of service within 60 days of filing (90 days in debt collection cases) and at least 7 days before the first court date.

**What does a District of Columbia serve cost?**

Outside New Jersey every serve is quoted per job, because local server rates and travel differ. We confirm the price before any work starts.

**Can you tell me if service was done correctly?**

No. The District of Columbia court decides whether service was proper. We send you the server's proof of service so you can file it.

## Want us to handle it?

Get a District of Columbia serve quoted[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)