Small claims - District Court

Washington State law allows you to file a small claims case only for recovery of money owed to you. Learn more at Washington State Courts Small Claims Court.

About small claims

• Not all small claims may be brought in King County District Court. Refer to RCW 3.66.040 for details on the appropriate venue.
• You cannot sue the State of Washington or any of its departments or divisions in District Court.
• While you may consult with an attorney in advance, attorneys and paralegls are not allowed to represent you in court in most small claims cases, without the permission of the Court. (RCW 12.40.080)

Who can sue and be sued

Small claims is for the recovery of money. If your small claims suit is for something other than the recovery of money, it may be dismissed by the judge.

Any individual may file a small claims suit.

• Small claims filed by a “natural person” (a human individual) are limited to no more than $10,000.
• Small claims filed by anyone other than a “natural person” (may be a business, partnership, or corporation in many cases) are limited to no more than $5,000.

In either instance, your claim will be limited to the amount you request in the Notice of Small Claim.

Only the person who is owed the money can file the small claim case. You cannot ask someone else to file a small claim for you.

Cost of filing

You must pay the Court a $50 filing fee when you file your small claim.

You may have some additional fees payable to the sheriff or process server to have the Notice of Small Claim served on the defendant. Or, you may serve notice on the defendant by registered or certified mail, return receipt mailing.

Our Small Claims Packet - Plaintiff contains information on how to serve the defendant.

If you win your small claim case, you are entitled to recover the filing fee and the cost of service, as allowed by state law.

When to file

Statutes of limitations for small claims cases vary depending on the type of claim. (RCW 4.16) Consult an attorney.