Arkansas Small Claims Court (2026): Limit, Fees and How to File
How small claims court works in Arkansas: the dollar limit, filing fees, serving the other side, the hearing, appeals and collecting your money — each answer linked to the court rule or statute.
Quick answers for Arkansas
- Small claims limit
- $5,000 (contracts, damage to personal property and recovery of personal property). Regular district court civil jurisdiction goes up to $25,000. Ark. Sup. Ct. Admin. Order No. 18; Arkansas Judiciary District Courts page
- Filing fee
- Typically $30 to $65, paid to the clerk at filing; the plaintiff also pays service costs. A winning plaintiff can ask the court to order the defendant to repay filing and service costs. Arkansas Attorney General, Guide to Small Claims Court
- Are lawyers allowed?
- No. Small claims is a forum for people to represent themselves, without attorneys and under relaxed rules of procedure. Arkansas Judiciary District Courts page; Arkansas Attorney General, Guide to Small Claims Court
- Appeals
- A party may appeal to the circuit court of the county where the small claims court sits within 30 days from the date the judgment is entered on the district court docket. Another filing fee is required, and a bond may be required if money damages were awarded. Arkansas Attorney General, Guide to Small Claims Court
Court: District Court (small claims division). Last verified: 2026-10-24.
How to file a small claims case in Arkansas
- Make sure your claim is for $5,000 or less and is about money owed, property damage or return of personal property (not title or possession of real estate).
- Try to settle the dispute with the other party first.
- File a complaint with the district court clerk in the proper county, listing both parties' exact names and addresses, the amount claimed and why it is owed, and pay the filing fee.
- Have the defendant served by certified mail, sheriff or another authorized process server, and make sure proof of service is filed.
- The defendant files a written answer and any counterclaim, usually within 30 days of service.
- Attend the hearing with all documents and witnesses; anything not presented at the hearing will not be considered.
- A party who disagrees with the result may appeal to circuit court within 30 days of the judgment's entry on the docket.
- If you win and are not paid, use wage or bank garnishment or a writ of execution to collect.
Can you use small claims court?
| Small claims limit | $5,000 (contracts, damage to personal property and recovery of personal property). Regular district court civil jurisdiction goes up to $25,000. |
|---|---|
| Who can file | Anyone 18 or older; a minor may file through a parent, relative or "next friend" over 18. Collection agencies and businesses that lend money at interest cannot file in small claims. |
| Are lawyers allowed? | No. Small claims is a forum for people to represent themselves, without attorneys and under relaxed rules of procedure. Under the Supreme Court's administrative order for district courts, a case in which a party is represented by an attorney is moved to the regular civil docket. |
Filing your case
| Where to file | Usually in the county where the defendant lives, or where the defendant was to perform the obligation; venue may also lie where the defendant works or where the incident occurred. |
|---|---|
| Official forms | Arkansas small claims cases are filed in the small claims division of district court by filing a written complaint with the district court clerk. The Arkansas Attorney General says most district court clerks have complaint forms to use or copy, and some forms are available online from the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership at arlawhelp.org. |
| Filing fee | Typically $30 to $65, paid to the clerk at filing; the plaintiff also pays service costs. A winning plaintiff can ask the court to order the defendant to repay filing and service costs. Fees vary by court; confirm the amount with the district court clerk. |
| Filing online | The Arkansas Judiciary eFiling system accepts filings from Arkansas-licensed attorneys and from people representing themselves in a particular case. Not every district court may accept e-filing; check with the local clerk. Source: Arkansas Judiciary eFiling |
| Serving the defendant | The defendant is served by certified mail, by the sheriff, or by another person authorized to serve civil process, and proof of service must be filed with the court. |
Before and at the hearing
| Does the defendant file an answer? | The defendant should file a written answer, usually due 30 days after being served (the deadline appears on the papers served), file it with the clerk and send a copy to the plaintiff. The defendant must still attend the hearing. |
|---|---|
| Counterclaims | A defendant with a claim against the plaintiff may file a counterclaim, which the judge decides at the same hearing. The handling of a counterclaim above $5,000 is not described in this guide. |
| Interpreters | The Administrative Office of the Courts provides interpreting services during court proceedings and directly related actions; requests go through the AOC's Office of Court Interpreter Services. |
After the decision
| Appeals | A party may appeal to the circuit court of the county where the small claims court sits within 30 days from the date the judgment is entered on the district court docket. Another filing fee is required, and a bond may be required if money damages were awarded. |
|---|---|
| Collecting your judgment | The winner must collect the judgment; the court does not collect it. Options include wage garnishment (up to 25 percent of net disposable income), bank garnishment, and, as a last resort, a writ of execution under which the sheriff seizes and sells the debtor's property. |
Deadline to sue
5 years for actions to enforce written obligations, such as a written lease. A partial payment or a written acknowledgment of the debt restarts (tolls) the period. 3 years for contracts not in writing, such as an oral lease, and for rent arrears not reserved by a sealed written instrument. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111; § 16-56-105(1)-(2)
Official forms and help
Suing a landlord or tenant in Arkansas
Small claims can be used for security deposit refunds, unpaid rent or damage claims up to $5,000. Disputes over title or possession of real estate, including evictions, cannot be brought in small claims.
- Arkansas security deposit demand letter (send before you sue)
- Arkansas security deposit law
- Tenant lawyers and free legal aid in Arkansas
Arkansas small claims FAQ
What is the small claims limit in Arkansas?
$5,000 (contracts, damage to personal property and recovery of personal property). Regular district court civil jurisdiction goes up to $25,000.
Who can file a small claims case in Arkansas?
Anyone 18 or older; a minor may file through a parent, relative or "next friend" over 18. Collection agencies and businesses that lend money at interest cannot file in small claims.
Can you bring a lawyer to small claims court in Arkansas?
No. Small claims is a forum for people to represent themselves, without attorneys and under relaxed rules of procedure.
Where do I file a small claims case in Arkansas?
Usually in the county where the defendant lives, or where the defendant was to perform the obligation; venue may also lie where the defendant works or where the incident occurred.
How much does it cost to file in small claims court in Arkansas?
Typically $30 to $65, paid to the clerk at filing; the plaintiff also pays service costs. A winning plaintiff can ask the court to order the defendant to repay filing and service costs.
How do I serve the other side in a Arkansas small claims case?
The defendant is served by certified mail, by the sheriff, or by another person authorized to serve civil process, and proof of service must be filed with the court.
Does a defendant have to file an answer in Arkansas small claims court?
The defendant should file a written answer, usually due 30 days after being served (the deadline appears on the papers served), file it with the clerk and send a copy to the plaintiff. The defendant must still attend the hearing.
Can the defendant file a counterclaim in Arkansas small claims court?
A defendant with a claim against the plaintiff may file a counterclaim, which the judge decides at the same hearing.
Can you appeal a small claims decision in Arkansas?
A party may appeal to the circuit court of the county where the small claims court sits within 30 days from the date the judgment is entered on the district court docket. Another filing fee is required, and a bond may be required if money damages were awarded.
How do I collect a small claims judgment in Arkansas?
The winner must collect the judgment; the court does not collect it. Options include wage garnishment (up to 25 percent of net disposable income), bank garnishment, and, as a last resort, a writ of execution under which the sheriff seizes and sells the debtor's property.
Can I file a small claims case online in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Judiciary eFiling system accepts filings from Arkansas-licensed attorneys and from people representing themselves in a particular case.
Can I get an interpreter in Arkansas small claims court?
The Administrative Office of the Courts provides interpreting services during court proceedings and directly related actions; requests go through the AOC's Office of Court Interpreter Services.
Where can I get small claims court forms in Arkansas?
Arkansas small claims cases are filed in the small claims division of district court by filing a written complaint with the district court clerk. The Arkansas Attorney General says most district court clerks have complaint forms to use or copy, and some forms are available online from the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership at arlawhelp.org.
Small claims limits in all 50 states and DC · Small claims court in other states
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.