What it costs to file in Missouri
The court charges this when you hand in the claim. It is separate from the amount you are claiming.
Set by each court
This state does not set one statewide fee. The court where you file publishes its own.
More about Missouri
Common questions
- 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 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).
- 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.
- 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.
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 482.345 · 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.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.