Scott County Conciliation Court: Filing a Small Claim in the 1st Judicial District

Scott County is part of the 1st Judicial District, sitting southwest of Minneapolis. It covers Shakopee, Prior Lake, Savage, Jordan and the surrounding communities. If the person or business you're suing lives or maintains a principal place of business in Scott County, this is where your Conciliation Court case belongs.

Filing Fee and How to File

The filing fee is the $65 statewide base plus Scott County's law library surcharge, totaling approximately $70–$80. You pay this when you submit Form CCT102 (Plaintiff's Statement of Claim and Summons).

You can file through Minnesota's Guide & File portal online, through eFile & eServe, or in person at the Scott County Justice Center in Shakopee. Guide & File is the most straightforward option for self-represented filers — it walks you through an interview and populates the claim form. Completing the interview does not file your case. You need to finish the submission step and pay the fee.

Natural persons who can't afford the filing fee can apply for a waiver using Form CCT104. Automatic eligibility includes public assistance recipients, representation by a civil legal services program based on indigency, or household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Service Rules

Minnesota's service rules are statewide:

• Claims of $2,500 or less: the court clerk mails the summons by first-class mail at no extra cost
• Claims over $2,500: you handle service yourself — certified mail with restricted delivery and return receipt requested, or a process server — and file Form CCT103 (Affidavit of Service) within 60 calendar days of summons issuance

Scott County is compact enough that service logistics are straightforward compared to the larger Greater Minnesota counties. Process servers based in the south metro regularly cover the area.

Hearings

Conciliation Court hearings in Scott County are integrated into the general civil calendar. They're informal — no court reporter, no formal rules of evidence. The judge hears both sides, may ask questions, and typically takes the case under advisement; the court administrator later mails or electronically transmits the decision notice.

Bring three organized sets of evidence: contracts, invoices, photos, receipts, text messages. One for the judge, one for the opposing party, one for yourself. Check with court administration when you file to confirm whether your hearing will be in person at the Shakopee Justice Center or available by video.

Local Legal Resources

Scott County residents can access:

• Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), which serves the 1st Judicial District and provides free legal help to income-qualifying residents
• The Scott County Law Library at the Justice Center in Shakopee
• LawHelpMN (lawhelpmn.org), the statewide portal for civil legal aid resources and conciliation court fact sheets
• Community Mediation Minnesota centers for pre-filing dispute resolution

For a complete walkthrough — demand letter, filing, service, evidence prep and the hearing — the Minnesota Small Claims Filing Guide covers the full process with checklists and deadline trackers.

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