Louisiana Small Claims Court Forms: Which Ones to File and How to Fill Them Out

There's No Single Statewide Form

Louisiana doesn't have one universal small claims form. The document you file depends on which court you use and what type of claim you're bringing.

City Court Small Claims Divisions typically use forms titled Statement of Claim, Small Claims Petition, or Affidavit of Claim. Justice of the Peace Courts use Civil Suit Petition or Justice of the Peace Statement of Claim. If you're filing on a District Court Clerk's Docket in a rural parish, you'll see Petition on Open Account or Petition for Breach of Contract.

The titles differ, but the required information is the same.

What Every Initiating Pleading Must Include

Regardless of the form name, Louisiana law requires your filing to contain:

1. Full legal names and physical addresses of all plaintiffs and defendants. P.O. boxes don't count for service purposes — you need a street address where the defendant can actually be served.
2. Jurisdictional facts: confirm your claim is $5,000 or less and explain why this court has venue (usually the parish where the defendant lives or where the contract was performed).
3. A narrative of what happened: the transaction or event, specific dates, and the exact dollar amount you're claiming.
4. A request for service of citation on the defendant.

Some courts — particularly those using an Affidavit of Claim format — require your signature to be notarized before a Commissioned Notary Public. Check your specific court's packet before you go.

Where to Get the Forms

Major City Courts publish downloadable PDFs on their websites. New Orleans First City Court offers a Small Claims – Statement of Claim & Citation packet. Baton Rouge City Court provides a standardized Statement of Claim and Citation (Small Claims Packet). Shreveport City Court publishes a Small Claims Booklet with sample forms for the petition, statement of claim, and Servicemember Civil Relief Act affidavit.

For Justice of the Peace Courts, form availability varies. Some accept informal written statements. Others provide basic forms in person. If you can't find forms online, call the JP office for your ward — they can tell you what to bring.

Common Mistakes That Get Forms Rejected

Naming a trade name instead of the legal owner. You can't sue "Joe's Plumbing" — that's a DBA, not a legal entity. Search the Louisiana Secretary of State geauxBIZ database to find the registered legal name. If it's an LLC, name the LLC. If it's a sole proprietorship, name the owner personally (e.g., "John Doe d/b/a Joe's Plumbing").

Using a P.O. box for the defendant's address. Service requires a physical address. If you only have a P.O. box, track down the defendant's residential or business address before filing.

Forgetting to redact personal identifiers. Under CCP art. 253 and LCRAA standards, all public filings must redact Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, and birth dates of minors.

Exceeding the $5,000 limit. A claim with principal damages over $5,000 exceeds small claims jurisdiction. File on the ordinary civil docket or explicitly waive the amount over $5,000.

Filing Channels: Counter, Mail, or E-Filing

Counter filing is the most straightforward — bring your completed forms to the civil clerk's window, pay fees by cash, certified check, or credit card, and get your copies date-stamped on the spot.

Mail filing is possible but risky near deadlines. Louisiana counts a mailed filing as received on the date the clerk gets it, not the date you mailed it. If you're approaching a prescription deadline, file in person.

Electronic filing through eClerks LA or Clerk Connect portals is available for self-represented litigants. Since January 2026 (Act 352 of 2025), attorneys must file electronically, but pro se filers still have the option to use paper.

What Happens After You File

Once your forms are accepted and fees paid, the clerk issues a citation — the official notice to the defendant that they're being sued. In Small Claims Divisions, the clerk typically sends this via certified mail. In JP Courts or on ordinary dockets, you'll arrange service through a Sheriff, Constable, or City Marshal.

In a City Court Small Claims Division, the applicable local rule and citation set the response deadline. In JP Court, the defendant must answer within 10 days after service of citation, or 15 days if citation is served through the Secretary of State (CCP art. 4920). Count from the day after service under CCP art. 5059; calendar days are counted, and if the last day is a legal holiday, the period runs until the next day that is not a legal holiday.

Our Louisiana small claims filing guide includes form-field mapping worksheets, pre-filing checklists, and step-by-step instructions for each court type — so you know exactly what goes where before you walk into the clerk's office.

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