Courts · Small Claims
Small Claims Court Limit in South Carolina
The most you can sue for in South Carolina 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 South Carolina
The claim ceiling, how the filing fee is set, and whether lawyers are allowed at the hearing.
| Maximum claim | $7,500 |
| How the limit works | One statewide limit |
| Filing fee | ~$80 + $10 per extra defendant set statewide by court rule but collected by each county magistrate; commonly about $80 to open a case, plus roughly $10 for each additional defendant |
| Lawyers at the hearing | Allowed |
| Statute / court rule | S.C. Code §22-3-10 |
South Carolina has no separate "small claims court." The magistrate court hears these civil cases, and its civil jurisdiction caps at $7,500 across the categories listed in §22-3-10 (contract, property damage, penalties, and possession of property).
Where to file in South Carolina
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 South Carolina's official court self-help resource.
→ South Carolina Judicial Branch (Magistrate Court)What South Carolina filers get wrong
South Carolina does not have a court called "small claims." The magistrate court handles what most people mean by that, and its civil jurisdiction stops at $7,500. We confirmed the figure verbatim on the official state code page: §22-3-10 gives magistrates jurisdiction when "the sum claimed does not exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars," and that same $7,500 ceiling runs through the whole list in the statute, from contract debts to property damage to actions to recover possession of property. Lawyers are allowed on either side, though the magistrate hearing is informal enough that many people appear on their own. There is no single statewide filing fee you pay to the state. Each county magistrate collects the fee, and it commonly runs about $80 to open a case, with roughly $10 added for each extra defendant you name.
Common questions
What is the small claims limit in South Carolina?
It is $7,500. South Carolina routes these cases through the magistrate court, whose civil jurisdiction caps at $7,500 under S.C. Code §22-3-10. Anything larger has to go to the circuit court.
Is there a separate small claims court in South Carolina?
No. The magistrate court is where these civil cases are heard. People call it small claims informally, but the $7,500 ceiling and the rules come from the magistrate court statute, not a standalone small claims court.
Can I have a lawyer in South Carolina magistrate court?
Yes. Either side may bring an attorney, and a business will often want one. The hearing is informal, so many individuals represent themselves, but nothing bars a lawyer from appearing.
How much does it cost to file a magistrate court claim in South Carolina?
There is no single statewide fee paid to the state. Each county magistrate collects it, and the cost commonly runs around $80 to open a case, plus about $10 for each additional defendant. Check with the specific magistrate where you plan to file, because the amount can vary slightly by county.
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.