Last updated: June 2026Researched by DepositHawk Research Team

How to Take Your Landlord to Small Claims Court

You sent the demand letter. The deadline passed. Your landlord kept your deposit and stopped answering. Small claims court is the next step — no lawyer required. Pick your state for the claim limit, the filing fee, how long you have, and which court hears it.

Your demand letter went unanswered. Get the Small-Claims Kit — $79 if you’ve decided to file. Court-filing materials prepared from your own case. Information, not legal advice — no attorney involved.

AlabamaUp to $8,000 AlaskaUp to $10,000 ArizonaUp to $3,500 ArkansasUp to $5,000 CaliforniaUp to $12,500 ColoradoUp to $7,500 ConnecticutUp to $5,000 DelawareUp to $15,000 District of ColumbiaUp to $10,000 FloridaUp to $8,000 GeorgiaUp to $15,000 HawaiiUp to $5,000 IdahoUp to $5,000 IllinoisUp to $10,000 IndianaUp to $8,000 IowaUp to $6,500 KansasUp to $4,000 KentuckyUp to $2,500 LouisianaUp to $5,000 MaineUp to $6,000 MarylandUp to $5,000 MassachusettsUp to $7,000 MichiganUp to $6,000 MinnesotaUp to $15,000 MississippiUp to $3,500 MissouriUp to $5,000 MontanaUp to $7,000 NebraskaUp to $3,600 NevadaUp to $10,000 New HampshireUp to $7,000 New JerseyUp to $5,000 New MexicoUp to $10,000 New YorkUp to $5,000 North CarolinaUp to $10,000 North DakotaUp to $15,000 OhioUp to $6,000 OklahomaUp to $10,000 OregonUp to $10,000 PennsylvaniaUp to $12,000 Rhode IslandUp to $2,500 South CarolinaUp to $7,500 South DakotaUp to $12,000 TennesseeUp to $25,000 TexasUp to $20,000 UtahUp to $11,000 VermontUp to $5,000 VirginiaUp to $5,000 WashingtonUp to $10,000 West VirginiaUp to $10,000 WisconsinUp to $10,000 WyomingUp to $6,000

See what your state’s law says your landlord owes you. Get the Small-Claims Kit — $79.

DepositHawk is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Information and documents are for informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship is created. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.