Ohio Small Claims Court Kit: the $6,000 Limit, Filing Guide, Demand Letter, Evidence and Hearing Prep, and a Claim Calculator

Who it is for

People and small businesses with a money claim in Ohio that may fit under $6,000, and people who have been sued there and want the same organized record. Real party in interest; assignees and agents generally cannot bring claims (ORC 1925.02). A corporation that is a real party in interest may commence an action and appear through an attorney (ORC 1925.17).

Not the right fit if

Your claim is outside Ohio, over its small claims limit, or needs a lawyer (an injury, a dispute over land, a family case). Not a form preparation or legal service.

Why it is different

• Built only from our Ohio small claims data file, checked November 2026 against Ohio Revised Code 1925.02 Jurisdiction; Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1925 Small Claims Divisions; Miamisburg Municipal Court: Small Claims Guide ($60 up to $3,000; $120 from $3,000.01 to $6,000); Portage County Municipal Court: Small claim information and filing forms ($101 for the first defendant); Medina Municipal Court: Small Claims (objections within 14 days of the magistrate's decision); Warren County Court: Small Claims procedure (objections within 14 days).
• 1 detail isn't stated on those pages, so the kit leaves it out and lists it once to look up, with the official page.
• Official forms are linked, not copied, so you always file the court's current version.

What is inside

• Start here and is small claims right?. How to use the kit, the 8 confirmed Ohio facts at a glance, a short look-up list (online filing) with the page to check, and a yes/no checklist: is the amount under $6,000, is it the right court, is there someone to serve and something to collect from.
• Ohio filing guide. Where and how to file, from the official pages: Territorial jurisdiction and venue are the same as the respective municipal or county court (ORC 1925.02(A)(3)). Fees: Set by your county court; ask the clerk. Ohio's small claims statute leaves the filing fee to each court: the deposit is "as determined by the court" (ORC 1925.04(A)(1)), and the Miamisburg and Portage County municipal courts list different amounts. Source: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-1925. Example: Montgomery County (Miamisburg Municipal Court), claims up to $3,000: $60 ($20 for each additional defendant); Montgomery County (Miamisburg Municipal Court), $3,000.01 to $6,000: $120; Portage County Municipal Court, first defendant: $101 ($10 for each additional defendant). Set by each court: the filing fee is 'as determined by the court' (ORC 1925.04(A)(1)). Check the local municipal or county court.
• Service, the hearing and after in Ohio. Service: Notice of filing served on the defendant as provided by the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure (ORC 1925.05(A)). Lawyers are allowed. Appeal: File written objections to the magistrate's decision within 14 days (Medina Municipal Court and Warren County Court both state this). After the judge rules on the objections, an appeal to the court of appeals is a separate, technical step taken shortly after the final judgment entry.
• Demand letter and response tracker. A neutral demand letter to fill in (what happened, the amount, a reply-by date, how to pay), a log of every reply and offer, and a short checklist before sending.
• Evidence organizer and hearing prep. An exhibit list numbered for the judge, a timeline, witness notes, a three-minute opening outline and a hearing-day packing list.
• Ohio small claims workbook (Excel). A claim calculator that adds up your items and compares the total with $6,000, a costs sheet with the Ohio fee list, a deadline sheet in business days that skips weekends and federal holidays, and a collection tracker with the balance owed.