Courts · Small Claims
Small Claims Court Limit in Pennsylvania
The most you can sue for in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
The claim ceiling, how the filing fee is set, and whether lawyers are allowed at the hearing.
| Maximum claim | $12,000 |
| How the limit works | One statewide limit |
| Filing fee | ~$67.75–$116.75+ by claim tier, number of defendants, and constable/service costs (Philadelphia Municipal Court fees run about $94.75–$116.75 in-city) |
| Lawyers at the hearing | Allowed |
| Statute / court rule | 42 Pa.C.S. §1515(a)(3) |
Heard in the Magisterial District Courts statewide, and in the Philadelphia Municipal Court (which uses the same $12,000 ceiling), so the limit is uniform across the state.
Where to file in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania's official court self-help resource.
→ Pennsylvania Courts (self-represented)What Pennsylvania filers get wrong
Pennsylvania sets a $12,000 small-claims limit under 42 Pa.C.S. §1515(a)(3) — "does not exceed $12,000, exclusive of interest and costs." Most of the state hears these cases in the Magisterial District Courts (the MDJ courts). Philadelphia is the exception in form but not in number: it has no MDJ courts and routes small civil cases through the Philadelphia Municipal Court, which uses the same $12,000 ceiling — so the limit is genuinely uniform statewide. We were able to parse Philadelphia's official fee schedule verbatim, which is why the fee here carries more confidence than in most states; still, expect it to vary with the claim tier, the number of defendants, and constable service. Lawyers are allowed.
Common questions
What is the small claims limit in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania allows small-claims civil actions up to $12,000, exclusive of interest and costs, under 42 Pa.C.S. §1515(a)(3). The same ceiling applies in the Magisterial District Courts and the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
Where do I file a small claim in Pennsylvania?
In most of the state, at the Magisterial District Court (MDJ) for the area where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose. In Philadelphia, which has no MDJ courts, you file in the Philadelphia Municipal Court — the $12,000 limit is the same.
Can I have a lawyer in Pennsylvania small claims court?
Yes. Pennsylvania permits attorneys in Magisterial District Court and the Philadelphia Municipal Court, for either party, though many people represent themselves.
How much does it cost to file a small claim in Pennsylvania?
It varies with the amount claimed, the number of defendants, and service costs — Philadelphia Municipal Court fees run roughly $94.75 to $116.75 in-city, with lower figures for out-of-city filers. MDJ fees vary by claim tier statewide.
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.