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New Jersey small claims cost guide
Claim limit $5,000 (Small Claims Section), filed in the Superior Court, Special Civil Part — Small Claims Section. Filing fee: $15–$50 reported range (per-defendant and mailing fees add to the base fee).
| New Jersey at a glance | Figure |
|---|---|
| Maximum claim | $5,000 (Small Claims Section) |
| Court | Superior Court, Special Civil Part — Small Claims Section |
| Filing fee | $15–$50 reported range (per-defendant and mailing fees add to the base fee) |
| Service of process | The court mails the summons for most small claims; private range shown for personal service ($50–$100 typical) |
| Estimated total to file | $65–$150 |
Good to know in New Jersey
The Special Civil Part hears cases up to $20,000, but only claims of $5,000 or less use the small claims procedure.
Use the homepage calculator to price a specific claim amount in New Jersey, and the step-by-step filing guide for the general process — the sequence (file, serve, answer, hearing, judgment, enforcement) is the same in every state even though the fees and court names differ.
Before you file anywhere, check the claim limit and filing fee for your state — a claim $1 over the limit can be dismissed or bounced to regular civil court.
Open the cost calculatorSources: Nolo — State Small Claims Court Dollar Limits · FreeNetLaw — Small Claims Court Guide. Researched October 2026 — confirm current figures with the court clerk.
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