DC Small Claims Unpaid Invoice: How to Sue for Money You're Owed
When to Use Small Claims for Unpaid Debts
If someone owes you money — an unpaid invoice for services, a bounced check, back rent from a former tenant, or a broken payment agreement — and the amount is $10,000 or less, the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch at DC Superior Court is the right place to file.
A few scope notes:
- Unpaid invoices: Sole proprietors and freelancers can represent themselves. Corporations and partnerships filing as plaintiffs must hire a DC Bar attorney under Rule 9.
- Unpaid rent: If you're a landlord seeking only the money owed (not eviction), file in small claims. If you also want the tenant out, you need the Landlord and Tenant Branch instead.
- Breach of contract: A claim where the other side didn't pay what they agreed to. Simple service contracts generally have a three-year deadline under D.C. Code § 12-301(7); contracts for sale of goods generally have a four-year deadline under § 28:2-725.
Calculating What You're Owed
For liquidated debts (invoices, loan agreements, rent), the calculation is straightforward: the unpaid balance, minus any partial payments received.
You can also claim:
Pre-judgment interest. For liquidated contract debts, pre-judgment interest is mandatory under D.C. Code § 15-108. It accrues from the date payment was due. If the contract doesn't specify a rate, DC's statutory rate is 6% per annum (D.C. Code § 28-3302(a)). If the contract names a lawful rate, that rate applies.
Court costs. Filing fees, service costs, and other court charges can be recovered if you win.
Interest and court costs don't count toward the $10,000 jurisdictional limit, so a $9,500 invoice plus $570 in accrued interest still fits in small claims.
What Evidence to Bring
Unpaid debt cases are among the most straightforward in small claims — the key is proving that a debt exists and wasn't paid. Your evidence should include:
- The written contract, invoice, or agreement — the clearest proof of what was owed
- Proof of your performance — delivery receipts, completed work documentation, or tenant lease showing the unit was provided
- Payment records — showing what has and hasn't been paid (bank statements, payment app records)
- Communications — texts or emails where the debtor acknowledged the debt, promised to pay, or gave excuses for non-payment
- Your demand letter — proving you tried to collect before going to court
For oral contracts without a written agreement, gather any evidence that the agreement existed: texts confirming terms, witnesses who heard the agreement, or a pattern of prior payments that show the arrangement.
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The Filing Process
Send a demand letter first if you haven't already. Then file your Statement of Claim with the exact dollar amount, attach your contract/invoice and payment records, and serve the defendant.
Filing fees follow the tiered schedule: $5 for claims up to $500, $10 for claims up to $2,500, $45 for claims up to $10,000.
For invoices with fixed amounts, default judgment is available if the defendant doesn't show — the court can enter the judgment immediately without a hearing on damages because the amount is already established.
Collection After Judgment
Winning the case is only half the battle. A court judgment establishes that the defendant owes you money, but it doesn't force payment. If the debtor pays voluntarily, the process is over. If they don't, you'll pursue enforcement:
- Writ of Attachment ($10 fee) — garnishes wages or freezes bank funds
- Writ of Fieri Facias ($10 fee) — authorizes the U.S. Marshal to seize non-exempt personal property
- Oral Examination ($10 fee) — court-ordered deposition where the debtor must disclose their assets under oath
Post-judgment interest accrues automatically at the statutory rate from the date of judgment until the debt is satisfied.
For the complete filing toolkit — demand letter framework, service tracking, and enforcement guides — our DC Small Claims Filing Guide walks you through every step.
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