Small Claims Plainly

State guide

Kentucky

This is general information, not legal advice. Kentucky's small claims division is part of district court. KRS 24A.230 gives it jurisdiction, concurrent with the rest of district court, in civil actions other than libel, slander, alienation of affections, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process, when the money, damages, or value of personal property does not exceed $2,500, exclusive of interest and costs. The statute also allows the division to hear a request to disaffirm, avoid, or rescind a contract for goods or services within that same $2,500 line. The Administrative Office of the Courts publishes a handbook that repeats the $2,500 figure and cites KRS 24A.230. The statute's effective date line reads June 8, 2011.

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

Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
Which court hears it
Small claims division of district court
Dollar limit we could verify
KRS 24A.230 says the small claims division has jurisdiction when the money, damages, or personal-property value does not exceed $2,500, exclusive of interest and costs.
Statute or court page
Official page →
Filing or self-help page
Official page →

The handbook says you may sue for the $2,500 maximum even if you are owed more, and that choosing this division means you are not filing the rest in another case. Decide that before you write the amount on the complaint. Interest and court costs sit outside the $2,500 figure in both the statute and the handbook. There is no jury. You may hire a lawyer or speak for yourself. The handbook says the judge decides from the facts and the law that governs them. Bring the receipt, the item, or a photograph. The division cannot be used for prejudgment attachment, garnishment, replevin, or another provisional remedy.

KRS 24A.230's exclusions are easy to overlook. A case about reputation, or about malicious prosecution, stays out even if the dollars are tiny. A request to undo a purchase can come in if the goods or services were not over $2,500 before interest and costs. The Court of Justice handbook walks through where to file and how the clerk sets the hearing. District court is a court in every county. Use the clerk of the district court the handbook identifies, which is generally tied to where the defendant lives or does business. The handbook and the statute agree on the amount.

The statute says the division may grant appropriate relief, with the provisional-remedy ban kept in place. After a judgment, collection uses district-court process, not a prejudgment seizure. Ask the clerk what writ is available once the judgment is entered and any appeal time has passed. This directory does not copy a fee from the handbook into a fee field. Read the handbook's current PDF for the fee the Court of Justice prints, and confirm it at the counter. Two thousand five hundred dollars is a low line by national standards.

Official resources in Kentucky

KRS 24A.230

Statute setting the $2,500 small-claims jurisdiction and the excluded torts.

Kentucky small claims handbook

Court of Justice handbook that repeats the $2,500 limit and explains the hearing.

Kentucky Court of Justice

Court site for district-court locations and forms.

Kentucky Legislature

Official statutes, including chapter 24A.

Key facts for Kentucky

What to do next

  1. If you are owed more than $2,500, decide whether you will limit the case before you file.
  2. Leave reputation claims off this form.
  3. Do not ask the small claims division for a prejudgment garnishment.
  4. Read both KRS 24A.230 and the Court of Justice handbook.

Looking for your city or county in Kentucky?

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

  1. General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Kentucky, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
  2. Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.
    Kentucky Court of Justice
    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 Kentucky page on USA.gov can point you to the right office.
  3. Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.

Helpful guides

Small claims planner →

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