North Dakota

Overview Winning a judgment in North Dakota small claims court marks only the midpoint of the process. The court’s decision establishes your legal right to payment, but it does not automatically transfer money from the debtor’s account to yours. Collecting a judgment requires a separate, disciplined phase governed by Chapter 28-20 of the North Dakota…

Overview Counterclaims are the procedural backbone of fairness in North Dakota small claims court. They give defendants an opportunity not just to defend against the plaintiff’s demand, but to assert their own claim arising from the same transaction or occurrence. A counterclaim balances the scales: if the plaintiff says “you owe me,” the defendant may…

Overview North Dakota’s small-claims court exists to give ordinary people, tenants, landlords, and small businesses a quick and affordable way to resolve straightforward money disputes without the complexity of full civil litigation. It is governed primarily by N.D.C.C. § 27-08.1, the state’s Small Claims Act, and by administrative rules adopted by the North Dakota Supreme…

Overview North Dakota’s small claims process is a streamlined pathway for resolving straightforward money disputes in a fast, affordable, and documents-first manner. The forum is designed to be accessible to self-represented litigants and small businesses, and the governing constraint is simple but powerful: the court’s monetary jurisdiction is capped at $15,000 (principal) per claim. That…

Overview In North Dakota, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets hard deadlines for when you must file a lawsuit, including small claims cases. Small claims is a forum choice (informal, capped at $15,000), but the SOL comes from statewide civil statutes, not the small-claims rules themselves. Practically, most small claims are money disputes that fall…

Overview Small claims in North Dakota are designed for fast, low-cost money disputes up to $15,000. You start by filing a sworn Claim Affidavit in district court and paying the small claims filing fee (see Step 2). North Dakota updated court fees effective July 1, 2025; the small-claims filing fee is now $20 (previously $10).…

Overview North Dakota’s small claims court provides an efficient forum for resolving limited civil disputes without the cost and complexity of full district-court litigation. Administered under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 27-08.1, this process allows individuals, sole proprietors, and small businesses to present their cases informally before a judicial referee or district judge. The goal…

Overview North Dakota’s small claims system is intentionally built around standardized forms so that non-lawyers can prosecute or defend modest civil money disputes without navigating the full North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure. The statewide packet from the North Dakota Courts bundles plain-language instructions with fill-in-the-blank documents covering the life cycle of a typical case:…

Overview North Dakota small claims court is a streamlined part of the district court designed for fast, affordable resolution of modest civil money disputes without the formality of full-blown litigation. The forum is intentionally simple: plain-language forms, relaxed evidence rules, short hearings before a judge or judicial referee, and outcomes that are enforceable like any…

Overview North Dakota’s small claims process is designed to resolve modest civil money disputes quickly and with minimal formality, using plain-language forms and a simplified hearing. The small claims division of the district court may hear cases to recover money, cancel certain agreements obtained by material fraud or deception, or pursue specific tenant civil damages,…