Kansas Small Claims Court Forms: Petition, Summons, and Where to Get Them

The Forms You Need to File

Kansas small claims cases require a small stack of standardized forms approved by the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration. Here's what you'll need:

Civil Cover Sheet — a mandatory filing document that goes with every new case. It captures basic case information: party names, case type, and county.

Small Claims Petition (Form OKSJC) — the core document. This is where you state who you're suing, how much you're claiming, and a brief description of the dispute. Filing certifies compliance with the limit of 20 small claims in the same court during a calendar year under K.S.A. 61-2704 and 61-2714.

Summons — issued by the Clerk of the District Court after you file. It tells the defendant when and where to appear. You don't fill this out yourself; the clerk prepares it based on your petition.

Service Request Form — tells the clerk whether you want the defendant served by sheriff or certified mail.

Poverty Affidavit (optional) — if you can't afford the filing fee, this form under K.S.A. 61-4001 requests a fee deferral. It requires full disclosure of your income, assets, dependents, and living costs.

Where to Get the Forms

The standard statewide forms are available through the Kansas Judicial Council forms repository at kscourts.org. They're free PDF downloads.

Some counties publish their own local packets that bundle these forms together with county-specific instructions. For example:

• Sedgwick County (18th Judicial District) has a fillable PDF packet available at dc18.org with local fee schedules and sheriff service details
• Leavenworth County (1st Judicial District) publishes a combined small claims instruction sheet with their local forms
• Johnson County (10th Judicial District) maintains a separate Limited Actions clerk office with its own web portal

If you're filing in person, the clerk's office will usually have printed copies available at the filing counter.

How to Fill Out the Small Claims Petition

The petition is straightforward, but mistakes here cause delays. The most critical fields:

Plaintiff information — your full legal name. If you're a sole proprietor, use your personal name followed by your trade name (e.g., "Jane Smith d/b/a Smith Cleaning Services").

Defendant information — the defendant's exact legal name. For a business, this must be the registered entity name, not a trade name or storefront name. Verify it through the Kansas Secretary of State Business Entity Search before filing. Suing "Bob's Auto Shop" instead of "Robert Johnson d/b/a Bob's Auto Shop" or "Bob's Auto Repair LLC" can make any judgment you win unenforceable.

Claim amount — the dollar figure you're seeking, up to the $10,000 maximum under K.S.A. 61-2703. This is just the principal; interest and court costs are calculated separately.

Statement of claim — a concise description of what happened, when it happened, and why the defendant owes you money. You don't need legal citations — just clear facts. Attach supporting documents like contracts, invoices, or demand letters.

Annual filing certification — filing certifies you are within the limit of 20 small claims in the same court during the calendar year.

Redaction Rules

Before filing any documents, you're required to redact sensitive personal information under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 24(b). Remove:

• Social security numbers
• Financial account numbers
• Driver's license numbers
• Names of minor children who aren't parties to the case

Don't skip this step — the clerk may reject your filing if PII is visible.

Attachments to Include

Attach essential written instruments to the petition: contracts, invoices, promissory notes, bounced checks, or your demand letter. These give the clerk and eventually the judge the basic facts of your case.

Hold non-essential evidence (photos, text message screenshots, repair estimates) for the hearing itself. You'll bring those as separate exhibits on your court date.

If you want a complete walkthrough of the entire filing process — including a pre-filled petition checklist and the exact sequence from demand letter through service of process — the Kansas Small Claims Filing Guide covers every step.

See more Kansas guides →