Small Claims Court New York Forms: CIV-SC-50 and Every Form You Need

The Forms You Actually Need

New York small claims court requires specific forms depending on your situation, your court, and whether you're a person or a business. Here's every form that matters, what it does, and when you need it.

All official forms are free from the New York State Unified Court System website. You do not need to pay a third-party service to access them.

CIV-SC-50: Statement of Claim (NYC)

This is the main filing form for individual small claims in all five NYC boroughs. It's the form most New Yorkers will use.

The form asks for:

• Your information: Name, address, phone number
• Defendant's information: Full legal name and a physical street address (P.O. boxes are rejected)
• Claim details: What happened, when it happened, and how much you're owed (up to $10,000)

Write your description in plain English. You don't need legal terminology. "Landlord withheld $3,200 security deposit after I moved out on March 15, 2026. Landlord provided no itemized statement within 14 days as required by law." That's sufficient.

Common mistakes when filling out CIV-SC-50:

• Using a trade name instead of the defendant's legal name (search the NYS Department of State database first)
• Listing a P.O. box — you need a physical street address for service
• Claiming more than $10,000 — the form will be rejected

CIV-SC-70: Commercial Claims Statement

If you're filing as a corporation, LLC, partnership, or assignee, you can't use CIV-SC-50. Commercial entities file in the Commercial Claims Part using Form CIV-SC-70. The filing fee is $25 plus certified mailing costs.

Commercial claims involving consumer transactions (a business suing an individual for personal purchases) also require a pre-filing demand letter using Form UCS-124, sent by ordinary first-class mail 10 to 180 days before filing.

CIV-SC-66: Non-NYC Resident Filing Instructions

If you live outside New York City and need to sue someone within NYC, Form CIV-SC-66 lets you file by mail instead of traveling to a borough courthouse. You'll send the completed form, filing fee (money order or certified check — no personal checks by mail), and defendant's address to the appropriate borough clerk.

CIV-GP-15: Fee Waiver Application

Can't afford the $15 or $20 filing fee? Under CPLR § 1101, you can apply for Poor Person's Relief using Form CIV-GP-15. You'll need to submit a sworn affidavit detailing your income, assets, expenses, and facts showing the claim's merit. If approved, the court waives filing fees, postage costs, and transcript fees.

UCS-124: Commercial Demand Letter

Required for commercial claims involving consumer transactions. The form must be mailed by ordinary first-class mail at least 10 days — and no more than 180 days — before filing the commercial claim. It states the nature and amount of the debt, includes an accounting of payments, and attaches the original contract or debt instrument.

After sending UCS-124, you'll also need to file Form UCS-119 (Certification of Monthly Filings), which certifies you haven't exceeded the statewide limit of five commercial claims per calendar month.

Forms Outside NYC

Courts outside New York City use their own claim forms, not CIV-SC-50. Buffalo City Court provides a Universal Claim Form; Rochester City Court and Syracuse City Court provide their own local applications. Get the form from the relevant clerk or court website.

Several upstate City Courts in the 8th Judicial District accept document uploads through the Electronic Document Delivery System (EDDS). EDDS is document delivery, not NYSCEF e-filing; the court reviews the upload and processes any filing fee under its local instructions. Buffalo accepts initial small-claims uploads and fee payment through EDDS.

No New York court — NYC or otherwise — offers filing through NYSCEF for small claims cases. Filing methods depend on the court: some accept EDDS submissions, while others require in-person or mail filing.

Post-Filing and Appeal Forms

• CIV-GP-67A: NYC Civil Court Notice of Appeal — file within 30 days after personal service of the judgment with Notice of Entry, or within 35 days if the Notice of Entry is served by mail, to appeal a judge's decision to the Appellate Term
• CIV-SC-63: Information Subpoena — used after winning to discover the debtor's bank accounts and employment
• CIV-SC-57: Restraining Notice — freezes the debtor's bank accounts up to twice the judgment amount
• CIV-GP-32-I: Stipulation of Settlement — formalizes an out-of-court settlement agreement

Where to Get the Forms

All NYC forms are available at the NYC Civil Court Small Claims Forms page on nycourts.gov. The CourtHelp portal also offers interactive "Do-It-Yourself" programs that walk you through a decision tree and generate a completed, printable form.

The New York Small Claims Filing Guide includes instructions for completing each form with examples, plus a checklist that tracks which forms you need based on your specific situation — individual vs. business, NYC vs. upstate, regular vs. commercial claim.

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