How to File Small Claims in Minnesota: Step-by-Step Process

Someone owes you money and they won't pay. You've decided to take it to court. In Minnesota, that means Conciliation Court — the state's version of small claims court — which handles disputes up to $20,000 without needing a lawyer.

Here's the process from start to finish.

Step 1: Confirm Your Claim Qualifies

Before anything else, verify three things:

Is the amount within the limit? The general cap is $20,000 for most civil claims. Covered consumer credit transactions — a sale of personal property or a loan arranged to facilitate such a purchase, with credit extended by a regular professional lender or seller to an individual primarily for personal, family or household purposes — are capped at $4,000.

Is the claim type allowed? Conciliation Court handles money owed, broken contracts, property damage, security deposits and similar disputes. It does not handle evictions, defamation, medical malpractice, family law or probate matters.

Has the statute of limitations passed? In Minnesota, most contract and property damage claims must be filed within 6 years (Minn. Stat. § 541.05). Sale of goods claims have a 4-year limit under the UCC.

Step 2: Send a Demand Letter

Minnesota doesn't require a demand letter for most claims, but sending one is strongly recommended. It gives the other side a chance to pay without court involvement, and it creates a paper trail that judges take seriously.

Your letter should state: what they owe, why they owe it, supporting documentation references, a specific deadline (10–14 days is reasonable), and the consequence — that you'll file in Conciliation Court if they don't pay.

Send it by certified mail with tracking so you have proof it was delivered.

Step 3: Identify the Right Defendant and County

Defendant's legal name: if you're suing a business, search the Minnesota Secretary of State portal to find the exact registered name. Suing "Bob's Plumbing" when the registered entity is "Robert J. Smith, d/b/a Bob's Plumbing" can create enforcement problems.

County venue: you generally file in the county where the defendant resides or has a principal place of business when the action is commenced. For rental disputes, file where the property is located. For cases with multiple defendants, file where at least one of them resides.

Step 4: Fill Out Form CCT102 and Pay the Fee

Form CCT102 (Plaintiff's Statement of Claim and Summons) is your filing document. You can complete it as a paper PDF or use Minnesota's Guide & File online tool, which walks you through an interview and fills the form automatically.

The filing fee is $65 base plus $5–$15 county law library surcharge, totaling $70–$80 depending on the county. Pay when you submit the form.

Remember to redact Social Security numbers, employer identification numbers, bank and credit card account numbers, and driver's license or state identification numbers from anything you file.

Step 5: Serve the Defendant

This is where Minnesota's $2,500 threshold matters:

• Claims of $2,500 or less: the court clerk mails the summons to the defendant by first-class mail. You don't have to do anything.
• Claims over $2,500: you handle service. Send the summons by certified mail with restricted delivery and return receipt requested, or hire a process server. Then file Form CCT103 (Affidavit of Service) within 60 calendar days.

Missing the 60-calendar-day service deadline means automatic dismissal.

Step 6: Prepare for the Hearing

Hearings are scheduled 30–60 days after filing. Prepare by:

• Organizing all evidence chronologically — contracts, invoices, photographs, text messages, repair estimates
• Making three complete copies of everything (for the judge, the opposing party and yourself)
• Preparing a brief summary of your claim in plain language
• Lining up any witnesses who saw the events

Conciliation Court hearings are informal. There's no court reporter, and judges ask questions directly. Attorneys generally aren't allowed to represent you.

Step 7: Attend the Hearing and Wait for the Decision

Show up on time. The judge will hear both sides, review the evidence and usually take the case under advisement. You'll receive the decision — a Notice of Order for Judgment — by mail.

If the judge rules in your favor, there's an automatic 21-calendar-day stay of execution from the judgment notice's transmission date. A party who appeared at the hearing can demand removal during that window by serving Form CCT402, filing it with proof of service, submitting an Affidavit of Good Faith, and paying the District Court fee. If no removal is filed and the other side doesn't pay, you'll need to take collection steps yourself.

The Complete Filing Toolkit

Each step above has its own details, deadlines and potential pitfalls — especially service of process and evidence organization. The Minnesota Small Claims Filing Guide walks through every stage with checklists, deadline trackers and worksheets designed for Minnesota's Conciliation Court rules.

See more Minnesota guides →