--- title: "Louisiana Small Claims: $5,000 Limit, Fees, Steps | MCC" description: "Louisiana small claims court: claims up to $5,000. Check your amount and how to start a case, from Louisiana's official court pages." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/tools/small-claims-louisiana" --- Free checker · Louisiana small claims # Louisiana small claims court: the $5,000 limit and how to file Louisiana's limit, fees, who can file and the official steps, taken from Louisiana's own court pages (checked November 2026). **Short answer.** In Louisiana, small claims court covers claims up to **$5,000**. Louisiana's filing fee wasn't on the official page we checked; ask the clerk. ## Can I file my claim in Louisiana small claims? Enter an amount to compare it with the Louisiana limit of $5,000. Need the other side served? [Process serving with an affidavit of service](/notary/process-serving). ## Louisiana small claims at a glance Limit $5,000. Not more than $5,000, not counting interest, court costs, attorney fees and penalties. At most 10 plaintiffs; no class actions. The City Court of East St. Tammany uses the justice of the peace limit instead. Court Small claims division of the city court (La. R.S. 13:5202) Serving the other side Citation by certified mail counts as personal service; if that fails, the marshal usually serves (Shreveport City Court). Appeal No right to appeal a small claims decision (required notice on the Shreveport City Court citation). Fees are set by each city court; Shreveport City Court's page lists required fees without amounts. **Not confirmed for Louisiana:** filing fees, who can file, whether lawyers are allowed, where to file, online filing. The official Louisiana page we checked didn't state these, so we left them out. Ask the clerk or see the [official page](https://shreveportla.gov/1044/Small-Claims). ## 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. [Request a court filing](/notary/court-filing#request) ## Filing a small claim in Louisiana, step by step - **Check that your claim fits**Use the checker above: the Louisiana limit is $5,000, and the official wording is in the summary. Count only what you can show with papers or photos. - **Pick the right court**The Louisiana page we checked doesn't say which county or court to use. Ask the clerk before you file. - **Fill out the claim and pay the fee**Fees are set by each city court; Shreveport City Court's page lists required fees without amounts. - **Have the other side served**Citation by certified mail counts as personal service; if that fails, the marshal usually serves (Shreveport City Court). - **Get ready for the hearing**Bring the contract, receipts, photos, messages and a short timeline, with copies for the judge and the other side. - **After the decision**No right to appeal a small claims decision (required notice on the Shreveport City Court citation). ## Official Louisiana links - [Louisiana small claims self-help page](https://shreveportla.gov/1044/Small-Claims) - [Louisiana Legislature: R.S. 13:5202](https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=77961&p=y) Last checked November 2026. General information checked against the official Louisiana 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. ## Louisiana small claims questions **What is the small claims limit in Louisiana?** $5,000. Not more than $5,000, not counting interest, court costs, attorney fees and penalties. At most 10 plaintiffs; no class actions. The City Court of East St. Tammany uses the justice of the peace limit instead. **Can I appeal a small claims decision in Louisiana?** No right to appeal a small claims decision (required notice on the Shreveport City Court citation). **How is the other side served in a Louisiana small claims case?** Citation by certified mail counts as personal service; if that fails, the marshal usually serves (Shreveport City Court). **Which court hears small claims in Louisiana?** Small claims division of the city court (La. R.S. 13:5202). Compare every state: [small claims limits by state](/tools/small-claims-court-limits-by-state) · [Kentucky small claims](/tools/small-claims-kentucky) · [Maine small claims](/tools/small-claims-maine) Share ## Put this tool on your own site Free to use. Paste this where you want it to appear. It runs in the visitor's browser, so nothing they enter is sent to us. [See every calculator you can embed](/embed) Filing a small claim in Louisiana? ## Small Claims Case Organizer Organize your Louisiana case: a demand letter to adapt to Louisiana's rules, an evidence checklist, a timeline, hearing notes and a collection log, plus an Excel damages calculator and deadline tracker. [Get the organizer ($19)](/toolkits/small-claims-case-organizer) [Free sample](/toolkits/small-claims-case-organizer#free-starter)14-day full refund ## More free checklists and calculators [See all free tools](/free-tools)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)