Small claims in Missouri
The court
- Small Claims Court
- The associate circuit judge sitting as small claims court in the county where the other side lives or where the dispute happened.
The most you can claim
| Claiming as | Most you can claim | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| An individual | $5,000 | RSMo 482.305(1) |
| A business | $5,000 | RSMo 482.305(1) |
| A public agency | $5,000 | RSMo 482.305(1) |
What it costs to file
This state does not set one statewide fee. The court where you file publishes its own.
RSMo 482.345 · Court costs are set by statute and collected by the county circuit clerk, so the total differs by county. Your circuit clerk's fee page has the exact amount.
How long you have
The shortest window in this state is 4 years from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken.
RSMo 400.2-725(1) · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.
Also worth knowing
- A person may file no more than 12 claims in small claims court in any calendar year. Missouri Courts, Small Claims Court
Does small claims fit your dispute in Missouri?
Pick what it is about. The next screens ask the amount and the dates. Nothing is saved, and no account is needed.
The detail
- The limit
The limit is the most the court can award on one claim. It depends on who is claiming, and in some states on which court hears it.
- What it costs
The court charges this when you hand in the claim. It is separate from the amount you are claiming.
- How long you have
Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.
Common questions
- How much can you claim in small claims court in Missouri?
- An individual can claim up to $5,000. A business can claim up to $5,000. A public agency can claim up to $5,000. That comes from RSMo 482.305(1).
- What does it cost to file a small claims claim in Missouri?
- Missouri does not set one statewide fee. Each court publishes its own, so check the court where you will file.
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Missouri?
- The shortest window is 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under RSMo 400.2-725(1). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
- Do you have to ask for the money before filing in Missouri?
- No, Missouri does not require it, per Missouri Courts, Small Claims Court. Sending a demand letter first is still the usual first step, and it is often what gets the money paid.
- Which court handles small claims in Missouri?
- Small Claims Court. The associate circuit judge sitting as small claims court in the county where the other side lives or where the dispute happened.
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Missouri's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.
Open the court's small claims pageVerified on 2026-09-05, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2011-08-28.
- RSMo 482.305(1) · effective 2011-08-28 · Small claims court hears money claims of up to $5,000, not counting interest and costs.
- RSMo 482.345 · effective 1997-07-01 · Court costs are set by statute and collected by the county circuit clerk, so the total differs by county. Your circuit clerk's fee page has the exact amount.
- RSMo 400.2-725(1) · effective 1963-08-28 · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.
- Missouri Courts, Small Claims Court · effective 2026-09-05 · Missouri does not require a written demand before filing a small claim. Asking first is still the usual first step.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.