Courts · Small Claims
Small Claims Court Limit in Missouri
The most you can sue for in Missouri small claims — with the filing-fee range and whether a lawyer is allowed, cited to the statute.
The limit, the fee & who can appear in Missouri
The claim ceiling, how the filing fee is set, and whether lawyers are allowed at the hearing.
| Maximum claim | $5,000 |
| How the limit works | One statewide limit |
| Filing fee | ~$35–$45 by county; a separate sheriff or certified-mail service fee is charged for each defendant on top of the filing fee |
| Lawyers at the hearing | Allowed |
| Statute / court rule | Mo. Rev. Stat. §482.305 |
The small claims court is a division of the associate circuit court. The $5,000 cap is exclusive of interest and costs. Some case types (libel, slander, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, and cases seeking an injunction or possession of land) are excluded regardless of amount.
Where to file in Missouri
A reference page, not a filing walkthrough — here's the official resource for procedure.
This page is a reference for the dollar limit, fee, and whether a lawyer is allowed — not a step-by-step filing guide. For the forms, where to file, and how service works, use Missouri's official court self-help resource.
→ Missouri Courts (small claims rules)What Missouri filers get wrong
Missouri's small claims limit is $5,000, set by Mo. Rev. Stat. §482.305 and heard in the small claims division of the associate circuit court. We confirmed the figure verbatim on the official revisor.mo.gov page: the judge has original jurisdiction over civil cases "where the amount in controversy does not exceed five thousand dollars, exclusive of interest or costs." Two details are easy to miss. First, the $5,000 is the principal only, so interest and court costs sit outside it. Second, the statute carves out several case types no matter the dollar amount, including libel, slander, false imprisonment, and anything asking for an injunction or possession of land. If your real damages run higher, you can still file for $5,000 and waive the rest to keep the case in small claims. Lawyers are allowed, and the base filing fee is modest (about $35 to $45), though you also pay a service fee for each defendant.
Common questions
What is the small claims limit in Missouri?
Missouri small claims court hears civil cases up to $5,000 under Mo. Rev. Stat. §482.305. The limit covers the principal claim and is exclusive of interest and costs.
What kinds of cases cannot go to small claims court in Missouri?
By statute, small claims court cannot hear libel, slander, malicious prosecution, or false imprisonment cases, and it cannot grant an injunction, specific performance, or possession of land, regardless of the dollar amount.
Can I sue for more than $5,000 in Missouri small claims court?
No, but you can file for $5,000 and waive the rest if your actual damages are higher and you would rather use the faster, informal small claims process. To recover the full amount you would file in regular civil court instead.
How much does it cost to file a small claim in Missouri?
The base filing fee is generally about $35 to $45 and is set by each county. On top of that, you pay a service fee for each defendant (by certified mail or sheriff), so the total depends on where you file and how the defendant is served.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.