Do I have to send a demand letter before small claims court?

California's courts say you must demand payment where that is possible, and the claim form has to say so. We have not verified a letter requirement for every other state on this site. The state pages say so when we checked, and they leave the line off when we did not.

What is the small claims dollar limit?

It is different in each state, and New York uses different limits in different courts. Use the state page. The number there is tied to a court or statute source and a verified date.

Will this letter win the case?

No. The letter asks for payment. A court decides a case if you file one. This site does not tell you whether you should sue.

We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. This tool helps you format a letter using the facts you provide. For advice about your situation, contact a licensed attorney or your local legal aid organization.

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Small claims demand letter

A small claims demand letter is a written request for a specific amount of money before you decide whether to file a case. In California, asking for the money first is a required step when it is possible to do so. Other states on this site publish their court limits without a verified pre-filing letter rule.

Dollar limits change. Each row links to the court or statute page we read, and shows the date. This is not a statement that your claim fits in that court.

State	Limit we verified	Checked
California	$12,500 for a natural person, including a sole proprietor. $6,250 for a business or public entity.	2026-11-10
Texas	Not more than $20,000, exclusive of interest.	2026-11-10
New York	$10,000 in New York City. $5,000 in city courts and in Nassau and Suffolk. $3,000 in town and village courts.	2026-11-10
Florida	$8,000 or less, not counting costs, interest, and attorney's fees.	2026-11-10
Illinois	Not more than $10,000, exclusive of interest and costs.	2026-11-10

Questions people ask first

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Your name

Recipient name

Your address

Recipient address

Dispute type

Are you considering a court case?

Amount you are asking for ($)

Event date

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How they should pay

Name a method such as check or money order. Do not enter account, routing, or card numbers.

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What happened

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