District of Columbia: State guide

This is general information, not legal advice. The District of Columbia hears qualifying money cases in the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of the Superior Court. D.C. Code section 11-1321 gives that branch exclusive jurisdiction of a Superior Court action that is only for the recovery of money, when the amount in controversy does not exceed $10,000, exclusive of interest, attorney fees, protest fees, and costs. An action that affects an interest in real property may not be brought in the branch. The code note says the $10,000 amendment applies to cases filed on or after December 14, 2016. Exclusive jurisdiction means a money case inside the line belongs in this branch rather than on the general civil calendar.

Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

The statute's exclusions are as important as the dollar line. Interest, attorney fees, protest fees, and costs are outside the $10,000 amount in controversy. A demand that is only for those extras does not, by itself, describe the claim. State the underlying money you want, and list fees and interest separately so the clerk can see that the controversy itself is inside the line. If the case affects title or another interest in real property, section 11-1321 says it may not be filed in the branch. If a counterclaim, cross-claim, or defense affecting real property appears later, the statute says the action shall be certified to the Civil Division.

Section 11-1321 is a jurisdiction statute, not a how-to manual. The Superior Court publishes forms and a statement-of-claim practice for the branch. Your statement should say who you are suing, why, and what money you want, and it should stay inside the statutory line. Service still has to be completed under the court's rules. A statute that gives the branch exclusive jurisdiction does not guarantee that the clerk will accept a packet with the wrong name or no address for service. Use the court's current statement-of-claim form, and keep a copy of everything you file.

Because the branch is part of Superior Court, collection and appeal questions are Superior Court questions. A money judgment from the branch is enforced with the tools the court provides for judgments, which can include writs that the clerk will identify. This directory does not restate filing fees. The code section is the authority for the $10,000 line, and the court's own small-claims instructions, when you can open them, are the authority for forms. If your claim is above $10,000 before interest and fees, file it as an ordinary civil action.

Official resources in District of Columbia

D.C. Code § 11-1321

Statute giving the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch exclusive money jurisdiction up to $10,000.

D.C. Code site

Official code library for Title 11 and the small-claims procedure sections.

Council of the District of Columbia code library

Title 11, Organization and Jurisdiction of the Courts.

Key facts for District of Columbia

The Small Claims and Conciliation Branch is part of D.C. Superior Court.
Section 11-1321 sets exclusive jurisdiction for money-only cases that do not exceed $10,000.
Interest, attorney fees, protest fees, and costs are excluded from that amount.
Cases affecting an interest in real property are barred from the branch.
A real-property counterclaim or defense moves the case to the Civil Division.
The code note ties the $10,000 amendment to cases filed on or after December 14, 2016.

What to do next

State the underlying money demand separately from interest, attorney fees, and costs.
Do not file a case about an interest in real property in this branch.
If the other side raises a real-property issue, expect certification to the Civil Division.
Use the Superior Court's current statement-of-claim form.

Looking for your city or county in District of Columbia?

We haven't found official court-level pages for District of Columbia we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:

General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across District of Columbia, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.
Council of the District of Columbia, Code
Website →
Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.
Your city or county office: Local governments →
Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the District of Columbia page on USA.gov can point you to the right office.
Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.

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