Short answer. In District of Columbia, small claims court covers claims up to $10,000. Where to file: The Small Claims Clerk's Office, Room 110, 510 4th St. The fee to start a case is $5 to $45, depending on the claim.
Can I file my claim in District of Columbia small claims?
Enter an amount to compare it with the District of Columbia limit of $10,000.
Need the other side served? Process serving with an affidavit of service.
District of Columbia small claims at a glance
- Limit
- $10,000. DC Courts press release: Small Claims limit raised from $5,000 to $10,000 effective January 3, 2017.
- Court
- Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, Superior Court of the District of Columbia
- 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.
- Lawyers
- Allowed
- Where to file
- 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.
- Serving the other side
- 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.
- Appeal
- An appeal goes to the DC Court of Appeals by an Application for Allowance of Appeal filed in the Court of Appeals Clerk's Office: "you only have 3 days" if an Associate Judge signed the order; if a Magistrate Judge signed it, first file a Motion for Review by an Associate Judge in Superior Court within 10 days, then 3 days to appeal. "It costs $10 to file an Application for Allowance of Appeal" ($40 more if it is granted), and "Applications for Allowance of Appeal are not granted very often."
District of Columbia filing fees
| Fee | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| claims $500 or less | $5 | Superior Court Civil Rule 202 (amended 2020) |
| claims over $500 up to $2,500 | $10 | |
| claims over $2,500 | $45 |
Superior Court Civil Rule 202 (Small Claims & Landlord-Tenant column). Service costs extra.
Want us to handle it?
A runner files your papers in person at the clerk's window and sends you a scan of the stamped copy. We file what you prepared; we don't give legal advice.
Price: Outside New Jersey it goes through our contractor network: quote-based, confirmed before any work starts, and booked once a local contractor accepts. In New Jersey it is from $75 per filing, court fees at cost. Starting rates. Your exact price is quoted after we confirm a local notary/runner, before you pay.
Filing a small claim in District of Columbia, step by step
- Check that your claim fitsUse the checker above: the District of Columbia limit is $10,000, and the official wording is in the summary. Count only what you can show with papers or photos.
- Pick the right courtThe 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.
- Fill out the claim and pay the feeThe filing fee in District of Columbia is $5 to $45, depending on the claim. Superior Court Civil Rule 202 (Small Claims & Landlord-Tenant column). Service costs extra. Online filing: see the official link below.
- Have the other side servedPersonal 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.
- Get ready for the hearingLawyers: allowed. Bring the contract, receipts, photos, messages and a short timeline, with copies for the judge and the other side.
- After the decisionAn appeal goes to the DC Court of Appeals by an Application for Allowance of Appeal filed in the Court of Appeals Clerk's Office: "you only have 3 days" if an Associate Judge signed the order; if a Magistrate Judge signed it, first file a Motion for Review by an Associate Judge in Superior Court within 10 days, then 3 days to appeal. "It costs $10 to file an Application for Allowance of Appeal" ($40 more if it is granted), and "Applications for Allowance of Appeal are not granted very often."
Official District of Columbia links
- District of Columbia small claims self-help page
- District of Columbia online filing
- DC Courts: Small Claims change of cap from $5,000 to $10,000 (press release)
- DC Superior Court Civil Rule 202 Fees
- DC Court of Appeals: Appeals from Small Claims guide
- Superior Court Rules of Procedure for the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch (DC Courts)
Last checked November 2026.
General information checked against the official District of Columbia pages above, not legal advice. MCC Solutions isn't a law firm and isn't affiliated with any court. Rules and fees change: the official page and the clerk have the final word. The checker runs in your browser, and nothing you enter is sent or saved.
District of Columbia small claims questions
What is the small claims limit in District of Columbia?
$10,000. DC Courts press release: Small Claims limit raised from $5,000 to $10,000 effective January 3, 2017.
How much does it cost to file a small claim in District of Columbia?
claims $500 or less: $5 (Superior Court Civil Rule 202 (amended 2020)); claims over $500 up to $2,500: $10; claims over $2,500: $45. Superior Court Civil Rule 202 (Small Claims & Landlord-Tenant column). Service costs extra.
Can a lawyer represent me in District of Columbia small claims?
Allowed in District of Columbia, per the official page. 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.
Where do I file a small claim in District of Columbia?
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.
Can I appeal a small claims decision in District of Columbia?
An appeal goes to the DC Court of Appeals by an Application for Allowance of Appeal filed in the Court of Appeals Clerk's Office: "you only have 3 days" if an Associate Judge signed the order; if a Magistrate Judge signed it, first file a Motion for Review by an Associate Judge in Superior Court within 10 days, then 3 days to appeal. "It costs $10 to file an Application for Allowance of Appeal" ($40 more if it is granted), and "Applications for Allowance of Appeal are not granted very often."
How is the other side served in a District of Columbia small claims case?
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.
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