Small Claims Plainly

State guide

Washington

This is general information, not legal advice. Washington's small claims department is organized in each district court. RCW 12.40.010 says the department has jurisdiction, but not exclusive jurisdiction, in cases for the recovery of money only. The amount claimed may not exceed $10,000 if a natural person brings the case, or $5,000 in all other cases. The statute defines a natural person as a human being. A business plaintiff uses the $5,000 line. A human plaintiff uses $10,000. Money only is required in either case. The jurisdiction is not exclusive, so a claim inside the line might also be filed as a regular district-court civil case. The 2019 session law is the latest amendment shown on the code page retrieved here.

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 department of the district court
Dollar limit we could verify
RCW 12.40.010 says the small claims department has jurisdiction, though not exclusive, in cases for the recovery of money only if the amount claimed does not exceed $10,000 when a natural person brings the case, or $5,000 in all other cases.
Statute or court page
Official page →
Filing or self-help page
Official page →

Who sues decides the cap. If you are a human being suing in your own name, the statute says $10,000. If a corporation, a limited liability company, or another filer that is not a human being is the plaintiff, the statute says $5,000. Do not put a company claim on the higher line because the owner is a person. The plaintiff is the company. The department hears money claims. A request for possession of property or for an injunction is outside the 'money only' words. District courts also hear larger cases within their civil jurisdiction, and superior court hears cases beyond that.

The code page shows a chain of amendments, including 2019 chapter 86. Use the two-tier text, not a summary that states one number for everyone. File in the district court that has venue for the defendant. The clerk has the small-claims notice and claim form. You state the amount claimed so it fits the tier that matches the plaintiff. Service is required. Bring the contract, estimates, and photos to the hearing. Lawyers' participation is addressed in other sections of chapter 12.40. Read those sections before you assume a lawyer may or may not appear. This directory does not state a fee. The district court's fee schedule is the source.

A small-claims judgment is a district-court money judgment. Collection uses the writs that court issues. Ask the clerk after the decision. If you are a natural person and the loss is over $10,000, or you are anyone else and the loss is over $5,000, file a regular civil action. Do not split one claim to stay under your tier. The statute measures the amount claimed in the case. The Washington Courts website explains district courts statewide. The RCW page is the authority for the dollar lines. Commercial charts that list Washington as a flat $10,000 or a flat $5,000 are each half right.

Official resources in Washington

RCW 12.40.010

Statute setting a $10,000 small-claims line for a natural person and $5,000 for other plaintiffs.

Washington Courts

Court site for district-court locations and small-claims information.

Washington State Legislature RCW

Official Revised Code of Washington, including chapter 12.40.

Key facts for Washington

What to do next

  1. Use $5,000 if a business is the plaintiff.
  2. Use $10,000 only if a human being is the plaintiff.
  3. Ask only for money.
  4. Read the rest of chapter 12.40 for the rules on lawyers and on the hearing.

Looking for your city or county in Washington?

We haven't found official court-level pages for Washington 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 Washington, 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.
    Washington Courts
    Website →
    Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.
    Your city or county office: MRSC Washington city and town profiles →
    Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Washington 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

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