Missouri Small Claims Court Fees

The biggest surprise for first-time filers is not that Missouri small claims court costs money — it is that the fees change depending on which county you file in. There is no single statewide number. Here is a realistic breakdown so you know exactly what to budget.

Filing Fees by County

Every county in Missouri sets its own base filing deposit within the range allowed by statute. These are the fees you pay at the Associate Circuit Clerk's window (or online, if the county supports eFiling) when you submit your petition:

Most counties also add a $3.50 Juvenile Justice Preservation Surcharge on every civil filing.

If your county is not on this list, call the Associate Circuit Clerk before you go. The filing fee is the one question clerks answer without hesitation.

Service of Process Costs

After filing, you need to serve the defendant. You pay for service on top of the filing fee.

Sheriff service costs $46 per defendant under RSMo § 57.280 (effective January 2026), plus variable mileage charges. In St. Louis County, the sheriff fee must be a separate check made payable to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office — not to the circuit clerk.

Certified mail through the clerk runs $10 to $15 per defendant. It is cheaper, but it only works if the recipient personally signs the return receipt. If it is returned refused, Rule 54.16 allows the clerk to complete service by ordinary first-class mail with a certificate of mailing. If it is returned unclaimed, ask the clerk about an alias summons or use sheriff service.

You pay per defendant. If you are suing two people, double the service costs.

Total Out-of-Pocket Estimate

For a typical single-defendant case:

• Filing fee: $20.50–$45.00, plus the $3.50 surcharge in counties that charge it
• Service (certified mail): $10–$15
• Total: roughly $34–$64 where the surcharge applies

If you use sheriff service instead, budget roughly $70–$95 where the surcharge applies, plus mileage. A subpoena for a reluctant witness adds a $26 witness fee plus mileage.

If you win, the judge includes your filing fee and service costs in the judgment — the defendant reimburses you. If you lose, those fees are gone.

Fee Waivers (In Forma Pauperis)

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can petition the court to waive it under RSMo § 514.040 and Supreme Court Rule 77.03. The process:

1. Fill out OSCA Form GN10 (Motion and Affidavit to Proceed as a Poor Person)
2. Attach financial documentation — pay stubs, W-2s, public assistance letters (TANF, SSI, SNAP), bank statements
3. An Associate Circuit Judge reviews the filing and either grants or denies the waiver

Approval waives the clerk's advance filing deposit. Under RSMo § 514.040, the court may also excuse necessary fees and charges it determines you cannot pay; private process-server charges and other third-party expenses are not automatically covered. If you lose, the court can still assess costs against you.

If you are denied, you typically get 10 to 14 days to pay the standard fee before the petition is dismissed.

For a step-by-step walkthrough that covers every cost, including how to track what you have paid and recover it in your judgment, see our Missouri Small Claims Filing Guide.

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