Pennsylvania small claims
How to fill out Pennsylvania's MDJ Civil Complaint (small claims)
Official form: Civil Complaint (Magisterial District Judge) · Walkthrough written against AOPC 308A (statewide MDJ form)
Download the official form — free, from the court
The only authoritative copy of this form is the court's own. Courts re-issue forms, so downloading a fresh copy right before filing beats reusing a saved one. We link the official source and never host court forms ourselves.
Get the official form from the court's site →Link verified 2026-07-04. If it has moved, the court's forms index and clerk's office will have the current version — verify with the court before filing.
What this form is
Pennsylvania handles small claims through Magisterial District Judge (MDJ) courts, and the statewide Civil Complaint is the form that starts a money case there — for claims up to the MDJ jurisdictional limit of $12,000. You file it with the magisterial district court that covers the right location, and the court schedules a hearing.
It is a compact one-page form: a caption identifying the county and MDJ office, name-and-address blocks for the parties, the amount and a narrative claim section, and a verification you sign under the Crimes Code's unsworn-falsification statute. The costs table in the corner (filing, postage, service) is completed by the court, not by you.
The same form doubles as the counterclaim vehicle — its defendant-facing notes explain that a defendant with a claim back against the plaintiff files it "on a complaint form at this office" at least five days before the hearing.
The form, field by field
What each part of the form asks for, in the form's own order. These are descriptions of the questions — what to answer depends on facts only you know, and the court clerk or the form's own instructions are the authoritative sources.
The caption
County / Magisterial District Number / MDJ name, address, telephone
Identifies which magisterial district court the complaint is filed in. Pennsylvania publishes an MDJ court locator; the district covering the defendant's residence or where the transaction happened is the usual venue. The docket number and filing date are entered by the court.
Filing costs table (amount / date paid)
Rows for filing costs, postage, service costs, the constable education fund, and the total, each with an amount and date-paid column — the cost amounts are entered at the court office when the complaint is filed, and the office can quote them. The form cites Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 206, which governs which costs the prevailing party can recover.
The parties
Plaintiff — name and address
Your identifying information, as the person or business suing.
Defendant — name and address
The defendant's name and address — the address controls both which MDJ district has venue and where service goes.
The claim
"...asks judgment against you for $___ together with costs upon the following claim"
The amount you are claiming, followed by lined space for describing the claim in your own words. The form notes that civil fines must include citation of the statute or ordinance violated — a detail that applies to municipal claims, not typical private disputes.
Verification and certifications
"I, ___, verify that the facts set forth in this complaint are true and correct..."
A verification statement you complete with your name and sign. The form states it is made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 (unsworn falsification to authorities) — Pennsylvania's alternative to notarization; no notary is involved.
Public-access-policy certification
Pre-printed text certifying the filing complies with the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System — the rule requiring confidential information (like Social Security numbers or financial account numbers) to be filed on separate confidential forms rather than in the public complaint.
Signature of Plaintiff or Authorized Agent
Your signature, completing the verification.
Common reasons clerks reject this form
Clerks bounce filings for mechanical, fixable reasons. These are the patterns that come up with this particular form:
- ⚠Filing in the wrong magisterial district — MDJ courts are hyper-local (each judge covers a defined territory), and venue follows the defendant's residence or where the transaction occurred.
- ⚠Guessing at the costs table — the filing, postage, and service amounts get entered at the court office when you file, and the office quotes the correct figures.
- ⚠Putting confidential data (account numbers, SSNs) in the claim narrative — the public-access certification you sign says confidential information is filed separately, and filings that violate it get bounced.
- ⚠Claiming more than $12,000 — that exceeds MDJ jurisdiction and belongs in the Court of Common Pleas.
- ⚠Naming a business defendant by its storefront name rather than its legal entity name — service and enforcement both depend on the right name.
- ⚠Leaving the verification unsigned — the § 4904 verification is what makes the complaint filable without a notary, and an unsigned one is incomplete.
What filing costs, and where it happens
MDJ filing fees are set statewide by rule and tiered by claim amount — roughly $70 to $130 as the claim grows, plus service costs per defendant (certified mail or constable service). The court office completes the exact costs in the form's table when you file. Fee waivers (in forma pauperis) are available for those who qualify.
You file at the magisterial district court office — Pennsylvania's court system publishes a locator for finding the right MDJ by address. The court schedules the hearing (the form's defendant-facing notes explain a defendant who intends to defend notifies the office, and judgment may be entered by default against a party who doesn't appear).
Published fees and court locations for your county are in our Pennsylvania small claims guide and the court directory. Fees change — verify the current amount with the clerk before filing.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get the Pennsylvania MDJ Civil Complaint?
From pacourts.us — the statewide PDF is free (linked on this page), and every magisterial district court office provides it.
How much can I sue for in a Pennsylvania MDJ court?
Up to $12,000, the magisterial district judge civil jurisdiction limit.
Does the complaint need to be notarized?
No — Pennsylvania uses a verification under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 (unsworn falsification to authorities) instead. Your signature under that statement carries legal consequences without a notary.
What does it cost to file?
Filing fees are tiered by claim amount (roughly $70–$130) plus service costs; the MDJ office fills in the exact amounts in the costs table on the form. Verify the current total with the office before filing.
Can the defendant countersue me on this form?
Yes — the form's own notes tell a defendant with a cross-claim within MDJ jurisdiction to file it on a complaint form at the same office at least five days before the hearing date.
Related guides
Form link verified: 2026-07-04. Reviewed against our Editorial Standards.
This is general information to help you understand the form — not legal advice, and not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. Courts revise forms, fees, and procedures; the court's own instructions and your court clerk are the authoritative sources. Always verify with the court before filing.