Small claims in Wisconsin
The court
- Circuit Court, Small Claims
- The small claims docket of the circuit court in the county where the defendant lives or the claim arose.
The most you can claim
| Claiming as | Most you can claim | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| An individual | $10,000 | Wis. Stat. §799.01(1)(d) |
| A business | $10,000 | Wis. Stat. §799.01(1)(d) |
| A public agency | $10,000 | Wis. Stat. §799.01(1)(d) |
What it costs to file
The fee runs from $39 to $39, set by the size of the claim.
Wis. Stat. §814.62(3)(a) · The filing fee for a small claims case is $39.
How long you have
The shortest window in this state is 3 years from the day the damage happened.
Wis. Stat. §893.52 · A claim for damage to your property from a motor vehicle accident must be filed within three years; other property damage claims have six years.
Also worth knowing
- A claim against a Wisconsin city, county, or other governmental body needs a written notice of claim served within 120 days of the event. Wis. Stat. §893.80(1d)(a)
Does small claims fit your dispute in Wisconsin?
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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 Wisconsin?
- An individual can claim up to $10,000. A business can claim up to $10,000. A public agency can claim up to $10,000. That comes from Wis. Stat. §799.01(1)(d).
- What does it cost to file a small claims claim in Wisconsin?
- $39 for a claim up to $10,000. That comes from Wis. Stat. §814.62(3)(a).
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Wisconsin?
- The shortest window is 3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under Wis. Stat. §893.52. Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
- Do you have to ask for the money before filing in Wisconsin?
- No, Wisconsin does not require it, per Wisconsin Court System, Small Claims. 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 Wisconsin?
- Circuit Court, Small Claims. The small claims docket of the circuit court in the county where the defendant lives or the claim arose.
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Wisconsin'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 2016-04-13.
- Wis. Stat. §799.01(1)(d) · effective 2011-07-01 · In Wisconsin, small claims court hears most money claims of up to $10,000; a claim based in tort, such as property damage from someone's carelessness, is capped at $5,000.
- Wis. Stat. §814.62(3)(a) · effective 2016-04-13 · The filing fee for a small claims case is $39.
- Wis. Stat. §893.52 · effective 1980-01-01 · A claim for damage to your property from a motor vehicle accident must be filed within three years; other property damage claims have six years.
- Wisconsin Court System, Small Claims · effective 2026-09-05 · Wisconsin does not require a written demand before filing a small claims case. Asking first is still the usual first step.
- Wis. Stat. §893.80(1d)(a) · effective 1980-01-01 · A claim against a city, county, or other governmental body needs a written notice of claim served within 120 days of the event.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.