Small Claims Court - Basic Information

Understanding Kansas Small Claims Court: What You Need to Know

Kansas small claims court was established in 1973 to provide a simple, informal procedure for people to settle smaller legal problems cheaply and quickly. Americans have always had the right to represent themselves in a courtroom. In small claims court, the parties represent themselves on small legal matters without attorneys.

• Small claims court is only for simple cases to recover money or property worth less than $4,000.00.
• You cannot be represented by a lawyer in small claims.
• No person can file more than 20 small claims cases in one calendar year.
• The sheriff's office charges a fee to personally serve a summons.

Filing a Small Claims Case:

• Go to the Clerk of the District Court office in the County where the defendant resides.
• Have with you the name and address of the person being sued.
• The Clerk will provide you with a small claims filing packet.
• You may fill out the petition in the office or take it home to complete.
• When you turn in the completed petition, you must pay the filing fee and sheriff's charge if the summons is to be served personally.
• The Clerk will process the petition and set a trial date for your case.

About small claims court

Small claims court provides a simple, informal procedure for people to settle certain legal problems cheaply and quickly.

In small claims court, you can sue someone or be sued by someone, and you present your side of the case yourself. You cannot be represented by a lawyer unless the other party is a lawyer.

Small claims court handles only simple cases involving small amounts of money or property.

The following courts have small claims information on their websites. 

• 1st Judicial District
  Atchison and Leavenworth counties
  Small claims court information
   
• 3rd Judicial District
  Shawnee County
  Small claims
   
• 4th Judicial District
  Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, and Osage counties
  How to file a small claims case
   
• 5th Judicial District
  Lyon and Chase counties
  What is small claims court?
   
• 7th Judicial District
  Douglas County
  Small claims information
   
• 8th Judicial District
  Dickinson, Geary, Marion, and Morris counties
  Small claims
   
• 10th Judicial District
  Johnson County
  Small claims
   
• 21st Judicial District
  Clay and Riley counties
   
• 30th Judicial District
  Barber, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, and Sumner counties
  Small claims

Small Claims Court Forms

• Small claims information  Kansas Judicial Branch 
• Petition, summons, and defendant's claim  Kansas Judicial Council
• Request to Waive Filing Fee  Kansas Legal Services
• Small Claims Security Deposit Form  Kansas Legal Services

Here is a brochure from the Kansas Bar Association that may answer any more questions you have about small claims courts in Kansas.