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Small Claims Court Limits in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, small claims cover most civil claims up to $10,000 (rising to $15,000 on January 1, 2027), the base clerk fee is $22 ($39 from November 1, 2026), and parties may appear by an attorney.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Wisconsin at a glance

Maximum claim
$10,000
Tort and personal injury claims are limited to $5,000. The general limit rises to $15,000 on January 1, 2027.
Filing fee
$22 clerk fee ($39 from November 1, 2026)
Base clerk of court fee under Wis. Stat. 814.62(3)(a), raised to $39 effective November 1, 2026 by 2025 Wis. Act 179. Other fees may apply.
Lawyers allowed
Yes

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Wisconsin

What is the small claims court limit in Wisconsin?

Maximum claim in Wisconsin: $10,000. Tort and personal injury claims are limited to $5,000. The general limit rises to $15,000 on January 1, 2027.

How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Wisconsin?

Filing fee in Wisconsin: $22 clerk fee ($39 from November 1, 2026). Base clerk of court fee under Wis. Stat. 814.62(3)(a), raised to $39 effective November 1, 2026 by 2025 Wis. Act 179. Other fees may apply.

Can you bring a lawyer to small claims court in Wisconsin?

Yes. Lawyers allowed in Wisconsin: yes.

Where do the Wisconsin small claims court limits come from?

The rules above come from Wis. Stat. 799.01, Wis. Stat. 799.06 and Wis. Stat. 814.62. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

2025 Wis. Act 105 raises the general small claims limit from $10,000 to $15,000 effective January 1, 2027.

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.