Small Claims

To start a Small Claims case, you must file a Statement of Claim and a case Information Sheet with the court.  

Parties to the Case  

• The person starting the case is called the Plaintiff.  
• The person being sued is called the Defendant.  
• A case may have more than one plaintiff or defendant.  

Statement of Claim Requirements  

A Statement of Claim is a document that names the parties and explains why you believe the other side owes you money.  

Your Statement of Claim must include a simple but complete statement of who you are serving, why you are suing, and a request for relief. Your request for relief must include what you are asking the court to award you if you win your case against the defendant(s). Relief can only be for money and in an amount of $10,000 or less. You may include court costs, attorney’s fees, interest, etc. as part of your request.

You should include:  

• Important dates and places
• Copies of contracts, promissory notes, photos, receipts, or other important documents  

For each person listed on the Statement of Claim, include the first name, last name, and address, if known at the time of filing. If any information is unknown, write “UNKNOWN.”  

The Statement of Claim must be signed by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney.  

• If you do not have a lawyer, you must:  
  • Sign the Statement of Claim yourself  
  • Use a handwritten signature (stamps are not allowed)
• The signature must include:  
  • First and last name  
  • Bar number (if filed by an attorney)  
  • Address  
  • Telephone number  
  • Email address (if available)  

Your Statement of Claim should be notarized. If it is not notarized, you must bring photo ID to the Small Claims Clerk’s Office to have it verified by a clerk.

You must provide one copy of the original Statement of Claim for each defendant to the court.  

Information Sheet  

An Information Sheet is a document that describes the type of case you are filing and if there are any related cases which have already been filed.

You must provide one copy of the information sheet to the court.  

Both the Statement of Claim and Information Sheet are available as court forms. You can get these forms from the Small Claims Clerk’s Office or download them from the DC Courts website.

Payment must be made at the time of filing.  

Important Information  

• All papers must be on white 8½ × 11 paper  
• Pages must be printed on one side only  
• “DC Superior Court” must appear at the top of the first page of every filing  
• Papers must be fastened at the top, unless filed electronically  

How Do I File Documents?

You may file documents in any of the following ways:  

Option 1: Mail. You can mail them to the Small Claims Branch Clerk’s Office 510 4th St. NW, Building B, Room 110 Washington, DC 20001.  

Option 2: In Person. You can file documents in Room 110, 510 4th St. NW, Building B, Washington, DC 20001.  Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday.  

Option 3: Drop Box. You can put the documents in the drop box in the lobby of the Moultrie Courthouse at 500 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001.  Call the Clerk’s Office a few days later to check if your documents have arrived. You can call them on (202) 879-1133 or (202) 879-1134.  

 Option 4: Electronically. You can file the documents electronically (efiling) on eFileDC http://efiledcsuperiorcourt.gov/. The court encourages people who represent themselves to efile if they can. For more information about efiling go to https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/e-filing, or call Tyler Technologies at 1-800-297-5377. eFileDC offers a training video that explains its core features in addition to best practice tips.  Go to: https://efiledcsuperiorcourt.gov/training-resources-page/.  

Filing Fees and Payment  

Different types of civil cases have different filing fees. You must pay the filing fee at the time of filing.  

The court accepts the following forms of payment:  

• Cash  
• Credit card  
• Debit card  
• E-check  
• Personal check (with a photo ID)  
• Money order  
• Cashier’s check  

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may ask the court to waive the fee. To do this, you must file a Fee Waiver Application at the same time as your complaint and summons.  You can get this form from the Small Claims Clerk’s Office or download it from the DC Courts website. You can get this application from the Small Claims Clerk’s Office or download it from the DC Courts website. 

The Small Claims Branch is less formal than other branches of the Court. The procedures are simple and costs kept low so that most people do not need a lawyer to represent them in their small claims case - whether they are the plaintiff or defendant. However, a business that files a claim in the Small Claims Branch must have a lawyer. 

Do I Need to File an Answer?  
In most small claims cases, defendants are not required to file an answer, plea, or any other defense(s) in writing. Instead, defendants can just tell the judge why they disagree with the claim when they are in court.

How Do I File a Set-off or Counterclaim?  

If you are the defendant and you want to make a claim against the person who sued you (the plaintiff) in the same case, you must file it in writing. This is called a set-off or a counterclaim.

A set-off is a claim you have against the plaintiff that can lower the amount of money you may owe. If you win your set-off, the court will subtract that amount from what you owe the plaintiff. If your set-off is more than the plaintiff’s claim, the plaintiff does not have to pay you money at the end of the case. There is no fee to file a set-off.

A counterclaim is also a claim you have against the plaintiff. With a counterclaim, you are asking the court to order the plaintiff to pay you money. To file one, you must complete a Small Claims Counterclaim form. You can get this form from the Small Claims Clerk’s Office or download it from the DC Courts website. Counterclaims are not limited to $10,000. The filing fee for a counterclaim is $10.00. 

Either side in a case can ask to have the case decided by a jury instead of a judge.

The request must be in writing and signed. It must be filed with the Small Claims Clerk’s Office before the first court date. The Court may allow more time to file the request if you ask.

If the defendant wants a jury trial, they must file a verified answer on or before the first court date. A verified answer is a written response that the defendant signs under oath in front of a clerk or notary public.

Once someone asks for a jury trial, the case will no longer be heard in the Small Claims courtroom. It will be heard by an Associate Judge in the Civil Division of Superior Court. However, you must still file all papers with the Small Claims Clerk’s Office.

There is a $75 fee to ask for a jury trial, unless a judge waives (cancels) the fee.