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Small Claims Court Limit in New Jersey

The most you can sue for in New Jersey small claims, with the filing-fee range and whether a lawyer is allowed, cited to the statute.

Official statuteRead word-for-word
against N.J. Court Rule 6:1‑2 · njcourts.gov
Read from the official source · Jul 9, 2026How we verify →
Our researchNew Jersey ranks #19 of 50 in our Consumer Protection Index, an original score read from the statutes.

Have a number in mind? See if your claim fits in the New Jersey small claims checker →

Maximum small claim · New Jersey
$5,000
Lawyers allowed
Maximum claim$5,000
Filing fee$35 + $5 per extra defendant
Lawyers at hearingAllowed
Statute / court ruleN.J. Court Rule 6:1‑2

The limit, the fee & who can appear in New Jersey

The claim ceiling, how the filing fee is set, and whether lawyers are allowed at the hearing.

Maximum claim$5,000
How the limit worksOne statewide limit
Filing fee$35 + $5 per extra defendantUniform statewide
uniform statewide ($35 for one defendant, $5 for each additional defendant)
Lawyers at the hearingAllowed
Individuals may represent themselves; a corporation generally must appear through a lawyer, with a narrow pro-se exception for limited debt-collection matters (R. 1:21-1).
Statute / court ruleN.J. Court Rule 6:1-2 (Small Claims Section)
Which court?

The Small Claims Section limit is $5,000. Don’t confuse it with the Special Civil Part (the DC docket), which goes up to $20,000, or the Law Division above that. The small-claims figure is $5,000.

Where to file in New Jersey

A reference page, not a filing walkthrough: here's the official resource for procedure.

Filing in New Jersey?

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 New Jersey's official court self-help resource.

→ New Jersey Courts

What New Jersey filers get wrong

New Jersey's Small Claims Section handles disputes up to $5,000 under Court Rule 6:1-2, but the number only makes sense once you place it against the two courts above it. The Special Civil Part (the "DC" docket) hears cases up to $20,000, and the Law Division handles anything larger. So when people say "New Jersey small claims is $20,000," they're describing the Special Civil Part, not small claims. The true small-claims figure is $5,000. The filing fee is one of the few genuinely uniform ones in this set: $35 for a single defendant plus $5 for each additional.

Common questions

What is the small claims limit in New Jersey?

The Small Claims Section hears disputes up to $5,000 under Court Rule 6:1-2. Larger cases (up to $20,000) go to the Special Civil Part instead.

Is the New Jersey small claims limit $20,000?

No. That is the Special Civil Part limit. The Small Claims Section itself is capped at $5,000. The two are different tracks within the Special Civil Part of the Superior Court.

How much does it cost to file small claims in New Jersey?

About $35 for one defendant, plus $5 for each additional defendant. Unlike most states, the New Jersey fee is uniform statewide rather than set county by county.

Do I need a lawyer for New Jersey small claims?

Individuals can represent themselves. A corporation generally must appear through an attorney, with a narrow exception for certain debt-collection matters under Rule 1:21-1.

Primary source
→ N.J. Court Rule 6:1-2 (Small Claims Section)
New Jersey Courts · njcourts.gov
Cholilurrohman
Every figure on this page is checked line-by-line against the current statute. Editorial standards →

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.

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More New Jersey law

Other everyday-law questions we answer for New Jersey, each from the state's own statute and cited to the source.

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