Small Claims Court Staten Island: Filing in Richmond County

Richmond County Civil Court Small Claims

Staten Island small claims go through the Richmond County Civil Court at 927 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10310. The small claims clerk's office handles filings during regular business hours. The court directory lists evening small claims court on the third Thursday of each month; check your notice for the specific time.

Staten Island shares the same rules as every other NYC borough — same $10,000 cap, same forms, same filing fees. But the lower case volume compared to Manhattan or Brooklyn can mean a smoother experience at the clerk's window and shorter wait times on hearing nights.

Limits, Fees, and Payment

The $10,000 cap applies to all NYC Civil Court small claims, including Staten Island. Filing fees:

• Claims of $1,000 or less: $15
• Claims over $1,000: $20

Pay by cash, money order, certified check, or bank check. Personal checks are not accepted. Total cost including service by mail runs roughly $35 to $45.

Venue Rules for Staten Island

The defendant must live, work, or have a business address in NYC. You can file in Richmond County if either party lives, works, or has a business address there. If you live outside NYC, file in the borough where the defendant lives, works, or has a business address. For a claim related to a tenancy or lease, if the defendant owns the property you rent or rented, you may also file in the borough where it is located.

For a claim related to your tenancy or lease, you may file in the borough where property you rent or rented is located if the defendant owns it, even if the defendant lives elsewhere.

How to File

Complete Form CIV-SC-50 with the defendant's legal name and physical address. If you're suing a business, verify the exact legal name through the NYS Department of State database (for corporations and LLCs) or the County Clerk (for trade names).

Submit the form and filing fee at the clerk's window. The clerk assigns a hearing date and mails a notice to the defendant via certified and first-class mail.

If you live outside New York City and need to sue a Staten Island defendant, you can file by mail using Form CIV-SC-66 instead of appearing in person.

Hearing Night

When evening small claims court is scheduled, the calendar call is typically at 6:30 PM. You may choose between a trial before a judge and arbitration before a volunteer attorney. Judge trials preserve appeal rights; parties who consent to voluntary arbitration waive ordinary appeal rights, subject to narrow statutory exceptions.

Arrive with three printed copies of all your evidence. Organize chronologically — contracts first, then payment proof, photos of damage, communications, and repair documentation.

The evidentiary standard is the same across all NYC boroughs: for repair or service damages, an itemized bill or invoice, receipted or marked paid, or two independent itemized written estimates from qualified providers is prima facie evidence of reasonable value and necessity.

If the defendant doesn't appear, you still present your case in an inquest. You take the oath, show your evidence, and the judge decides whether you've proved your claim and for how much.

After the Decision

The clerk mails a Notice of Judgment. If you win and the defendant doesn't pay, you'll use enforcement tools — information subpoenas to locate assets, restraining notices to freeze bank accounts, and income execution through the NYC Marshal.

Appeals from Staten Island go to the Appellate Term of the Supreme Court, 2nd Department. File a Notice of Appeal 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.

The New York Small Claims Filing Guide covers the full process from demand letter through evidence binder preparation, with borough-specific details for Staten Island filers.

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