Washington Small Claims Court: Rules, Limits, and How It Works

Washington's small claims court handles money-only disputes up to $10,000 for individuals and $5,000 for businesses. If someone owes you money and won't pay, this is the fastest route to a court judgment — no lawyer required; the clerk assigns a hearing date after filing.

Every District Court in the state maintains a Small Claims Department under RCW 12.40. Municipal courts don't handle small claims, so regardless of where you live, you'll file with your county's District Court.

Who Can File and What the Court Handles

Small claims court is strictly limited to money disputes. The court cannot order someone to return property, perform a contract, or grant an injunction. If you need anything other than a dollar amount, you'll need to file a regular civil case in District Court or Superior Court.

Natural persons — individual human beings — can sue for up to $10,000. Corporations, LLCs, and partnerships are capped at $5,000. Sole proprietors operating under a DBA count as natural persons, so they get the full $10,000 limit.

A few categories are barred entirely. You cannot sue the State of Washington or any state agency in small claims court. Collection agencies and debt purchasers holding assigned claims are also prohibited from filing here under RCW 12.40.070.

Attorneys generally cannot participate. Under RCW 12.40.080, lawyers and paralegals are excluded from small claims hearings unless the judge specifically grants permission. Both sides present their own case.

Filing Fees and What They Cover

The base filing fee is $35 statewide under RCW 12.40.020. Most counties add a Dispute Resolution Center surcharge of $10 to $15 under RCW 7.75.035, bringing the total to $45 or $50 depending on your county. King County, Pierce County, and Spokane County charge $50. Grant County charges $45. Kittitas County fees range from $35 to $45 depending on the district.

If you can't afford the fee, you can request a waiver through a GR 34 motion. Eligibility includes household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, means-tested benefits like TANF, SSI, or SNAP, or undue financial hardship.

How Filing Works

You'll complete Form MISC 05.0100 — the Notice of Small Claim. Use the January 2025 revision; older versions may be rejected. The form asks for your claim details, defendant information, and a verification signed under penalty of perjury.

Three filing methods exist: in-person at the clerk counter, by mail with a check and self-addressed stamped envelope, or electronically in counties with e-filing portals. King County offers the eCourt online portal. Pierce County has online filing, but you must contact the court within 72 hours by live chat or phone to confirm — otherwise the case gets purged.

What Happens After You File

The clerk assigns a hearing date and returns service copies. You're responsible for getting the defendant served at least 10 calendar days before the hearing. Valid service methods include county sheriff, a competent and disinterested adult who isn't a party to the case, or certified mail with return receipt.

You cannot serve the papers yourself. This is the single most common mistake that gets cases dismissed.

At the hearing, both sides present evidence and testimony under oath. Most hearings take 30 minutes or less. The judge may rule from the bench or issue a decision later. In counties like King and Spokane, you'll go through mandatory mediation first.

If the defendant doesn't show up, the judge may enter a default judgment — but it's not automatic. Under HB 1007 (effective July 2025), the judge has discretion to evaluate whether service was proper and the claim has merit.

After the Judgment

Winning a judgment doesn't mean you get paid automatically. The court doesn't collect money on your behalf. If the other side won't pay voluntarily, you'll need to pursue enforcement through wage garnishment, bank garnishment, or other collection procedures under RCW Chapters 6.17 and 6.27.

Small claims judgments accrue interest at 12% per annum or four percentage points above the 26-week Treasury bill rate, whichever is higher, under RCW 4.56.110, and remain enforceable for 10 years.

Either side can appeal within 30 days if the claim was at least $250; a plaintiff or counterclaimant can appeal only if that party's claim exceeded $1,000. Appeals go to Superior Court and require a $230 Superior Court filing fee, a $40 appeal-preparation fee, and a $20 transcript fee. To stay execution, the bond is twice the judgment and costs or twice the amount in controversy, whichever is greater.

Getting Started

The filing process is straightforward once you understand the sequence: verify the defendant's legal identity, send a demand letter, file the correct form, get proper service, and organize your evidence for the hearing.

Our Washington Small Claims Filing Guide walks through every step with checklists, deadline calendars, and the county-specific details that the court website won't give you.

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