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Small Claims Court Limits in South Carolina

In South Carolina, magistrates courts hear civil claims up to $7,500.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

South Carolina at a glance

Maximum claim
$7,500
Magistrates courts handle small civil claims in South Carolina.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in South Carolina

What is the small claims court limit in South Carolina?

Maximum claim in South Carolina: $7,500. Magistrates courts handle small civil claims in South Carolina.

Where do the South Carolina small claims court limits come from?

The rules above come from S.C. Code 22-3-10. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

South Carolina small claims are heard in magistrates court, which also has a $7,500 cap on counterclaims.

What this means in practice

Before filing, send the other side a written demand that states what is owed, why, and a deadline to pay. A clear demand letter sometimes settles the dispute without court, and some courts ask whether you tried to resolve the matter first.

Bring organized evidence to the hearing: contracts, receipts, invoices, photos, text messages and any written promise to pay. Prepare a short timeline of what happened. Judges in small claims court decide cases quickly, so a clear, document backed explanation helps.

Winning a judgment does not mean you are paid automatically. If the other side does not pay voluntarily, you may need to use collection tools such as wage garnishment, a bank levy or a lien, and each of those has its own forms, fees and rules.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.