Small claims in District Of Columbia.
Standard $10,000 cap and simplified procedures for quick resolution.
- Most you can sue for$10,000Same cap for individuals and businesses
- Filing fee$45Flat fee for all claims
- CourtSuperior Court of the District of Columbia, Small Claims and Conciliation Branch
- Lawyers at trialAllowedPermitted but not required; businesses must have a lawyer
- Appeal window3 daysMust file a motion for a new trial within 3 days
- Recent changeJurisdictional limit increased to $10,000Effective January 3, 2017
Find your situation.
District Of Columbia small claims handles money disputes up to $10,000 (or $10,000 if you're a business). Browse 7 categories and 39 specific claim types below.
The statute of limitations for written contracts is 3 years in D.C. Ensure you file within this period to pursue your claim.
Wrong court for these11 situations small claims can’t handle
Eviction (unlawful detainer)
Eviction cases are handled separately in the Landlord and Tenant Branch of the Superior Court.
Try instead: Landlord and Tenant Branch of the Superior Court
Title to real estate
Cases involving disputes over the title to real estate are beyond the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Branch.
Try instead: Civil Division of the Superior Court
Defamation
Defamation cases typically involve complex legal issues and are not suitable for small claims court.
Try instead: Civil Division of the Superior Court
Malpractice
Professional malpractice claims exceed the jurisdictional limit and complexity suitable for small claims court.
Try instead: Civil Division of the Superior Court
Family law and probate
Matters such as divorce, child custody, and probate are handled by specialized divisions of the court.
Try instead: Family Court or Probate Division of the Superior Court
Federal claims
Claims against the federal government are outside the jurisdiction of the D.C. Superior Court.
Try instead: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Class actions
Class action lawsuits are complex and exceed the procedural scope of small claims court.
Try instead: Civil Division of the Superior Court
Injunctions/specific performance
Small claims court cannot issue injunctions or orders for specific performance.
Try instead: Civil Division of the Superior Court
Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation claims are handled by the D.C. Department of Employment Services.
Try instead: D.C. Department of Employment Services
Mandatory-arbitration disputes
Disputes subject to mandatory arbitration clauses are not suitable for small claims court.
Try instead: Arbitration as specified in the contract
Suing a deceased person
Claims against deceased individuals must be filed against their estate in probate court.
Try instead: Probate Division of the Superior Court
From owed to paid in 6 steps.
Send a demand letter
Not required, but always do it. While not required, sending a demand letter can facilitate settlement and demonstrate good faith before filing.
Check your deadline
Every claim has a deadline by which you have to sue (the legal name is the “statute of limitations”). Miss it by a day and your case is dead.
The discovery rule applies to fraud claims, starting the limitation period when the fraud is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
File your case
File at the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Most cases go in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened.
If you win, filing fees and reasonable service costs are added to the judgment.
E-filing in District Of Columbia: E-filing is not currently available for small claims cases in D.C.
Serve the defendant
The defendant has to receive official notice of the lawsuit (lawyers call this being “served”) at least 7 days before the hearing (in the same county) or 7 days (out of county). You can’t hand them the papers yourself.
Allowed methods
- Certified mail by clerk. The clerk sends the summons and complaint to the defendant via certified mail.
- Private process server. A private individual delivers the summons and complaint to the defendant.
File the proof of service (Form 113) at least 5 days before the hearing.
What if you can’t find the defendant?
If the defendant cannot be located, the court may allow service by publication as a last resort.
If the defendant is evading service, document attempts and seek court permission for alternative methods.
Show up to the hearing
Bench trial with simplified procedures; each side presents their case, and the judge makes a decision.
Lawyers at trial: Allowed. Parties may be represented by attorneys, but it is not required; businesses must have legal representation.
When you’ll get the decision: On the spot or mailed within a few weeks
What to bring
- Originals of any contracts
- Receipts and bank records
- Photos and videos
- Names and contact info for witnesses
If the defendant doesn’t show up
If the defendant fails to appear, the court may enter a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff.
You still have to prove your case. Even if the defendant defaults, the plaintiff must provide evidence to support the claim amount.
If you’re the defendant being sued
Defendants are not required to file a written answer; they can present their defense orally at the hearing.
Counter-suing the plaintiff: Allowed using Form 115 (Counterclaim). Serve the plaintiff at least 7 days before trial (same county) or 7 days (out of county).
Counterclaim bigger than the cap? If a counterclaim exceeds the small claims limit, the case may be transferred to the Civil Division. D.C. Code § 11–1321
If you win, collect
This is where most people stop and lose. The court doesn’t collect for you. The loser has 30 days to pay. Judgments accrue 6% interest per year while unpaid.
Wage garnishment
Have a portion of the debtor's wages withheld until the judgment is paid.
How it works
File a writ of garnishment with the court, serve the employer, and the employer withholds a portion of the debtor's wages to satisfy the judgment.
Cost: $20 plus service fees
Notes: Effective if the debtor is employed and earns above the exemption threshold.
What’s protected:
- 75% of disposable earnings
Bank levy
Seize funds from the debtor's bank account to satisfy the judgment.
How it works
Obtain a writ of attachment, serve the bank, and the bank freezes the debtor's account up to the judgment amount.
Cost: $20 plus service fees
Notes: Effective if the debtor has sufficient funds in the account.
What’s protected:
- $850 of funds in the account
Property lien
Place a lien on the debtor's real property, preventing its sale until the judgment is satisfied.
How it works
File a judgment lien with the Recorder of Deeds, which attaches to the debtor's real property.
Cost: $20 plus recording fees
Notes: Effective if the debtor owns real property and intends to sell or refinance.
What’s protected:
- Homestead exemption up to $144,000
Writ of execution
Seize and sell the debtor's personal property to satisfy the judgment.
How it works
Obtain a writ of execution, have the U.S. Marshal seize the debtor's property, and sell it at public auction.
Cost: $20 plus service and storage fees
Notes: Effective if the debtor owns valuable personal property.
What’s protected:
- Personal property up to $1,425
Multiple creditors? Priority rules.
Priority among multiple judgment creditors is generally determined by the order in which liens are recorded.
Can you appeal if you lose?
either
- Deadline: 3 days from the judgment notice.
- Filing fee: $75.
- Form: Form 112 — Notice of Appeal.
- Type: Trial de novo — the case is heard fresh in the higher court.
The case is retried as if it were new, with no deference to the small claims court's decision.
Filing the appeal automatically pauses any collection efforts until the appeal is resolved.
Why cases get dismissed.
Incorrect defendant information
What goes wrong: Suing the wrong party or using incorrect names can result in dismissal or unenforceable judgments.
How to avoid it: Verify the exact legal name and address of the defendant before filing.
Missing statute of limitations
What goes wrong: Filing after the statute of limitations expires leads to automatic dismissal.
How to avoid it: Confirm the applicable statute of limitations for your claim type and file within the allowed period.
Improper service of process
What goes wrong: Failure to serve the defendant correctly can delay the case or lead to dismissal.
How to avoid it: Follow the court's rules for service of process precisely, using approved methods.
Overlooking counterclaims
What goes wrong: Defendants may file counterclaims that could offset or exceed your claim.
How to avoid it: Be prepared to address potential counterclaims and gather evidence to support your position.
Inadequate evidence
What goes wrong: Lack of sufficient evidence can result in losing the case.
How to avoid it: Collect and organize all relevant documents, photos, and witness statements before the hearing.
Ignoring post-judgment procedures
What goes wrong: Winning a judgment doesn't guarantee payment; failure to follow up can leave you unpaid.
How to avoid it: Learn about and utilize post-judgment collection methods to enforce the judgment.
Common questions.
Do I need a lawyer?
How long does it take?
What's the maximum I can sue for?
What happens if the defendant doesn't show up?
Can I appeal?
How long is a judgment good for?
Sources9 citations and statutes
- DC Courts - Small Claims Information
- DC Code § 11-1321 (Small Claims and Conciliation Branch—Jurisdiction of actions and proceedings)D.C. Code § 11–1321
- DC Code § 28-3904 (Consumer Protection Procedures Act—Unlawful trade practices)D.C. Code § 28-3904
- Superior Court of the District of Columbia - Rules of the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch
- DC Courts - Small Claims Forms
- DC Superior Court Civil Division Fee Schedule
- Service of Process—Superior Court of the District of Columbia Rules of the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, Rule 4
- Execution of Judgments—DC Code § 16-560D.C. Code § 16-560
- Garnishment of Wages—DC Code § 16-542D.C. Code § 16-542
This is not legal advice. CivilCase is not a law firm. Court rules, fees, and statutes change. Verify against the cited authority before filing. Last researched and updated: April 28, 2026.