North Carolina Small Claims Court Guide
Everything you need to know about filing a small claims case in North Carolina.
Maximum Claim
$10,000
Filing Fee
$96
Fee waiver available
Court Name
Small Claims Court (Magistrate Court)
Hearing Timeline
30–60 days from filing
Find your courthouse in North Carolina
Search by city, county, or ZIP code to get the courthouse address, phone number, hours, and filing options.
How Much Can You Sue For in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, individuals can file small claims cases for up to $10,000. This limit applies to both individuals and businesses.
North Carolina Small Claims Court Filing Fees
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard filing fee | $96 |
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may qualify for a fee waiver. Ask the court clerk for a fee waiver application when you file.
Statutes of Limitations in North Carolina
You must file your claim within the time limits below, or the court will dismiss your case regardless of its merits.
3
years — written contract
3
years — oral contract
3
years — property damage
3
years — personal injury
Ready to take action in North Carolina?
A demand letter often resolves disputes before court. Our free guide shows you how to write one in minutes.
Read the demand letter guideWhere to File in North Carolina
Small claims cases in North Carolina are handled by the Small Claims Court (Magistrate Court). North Carolina has 100 county District Courts (magistrate division).
Where to file: File in the county where the defendant lives or where the cause of action arose
Not sure which court you need? Our step-by-step filing guide walks you through finding the right court for your case.
Find your specific courthouse: Search for your county courthouse below ↓ — get the address, phone number, hours, and see if e-filing is available.
How to Serve the Defendant in North Carolina
After filing your claim, you must formally notify the defendant. This is called "service of process" and is required before your case can be heard.
Accepted methods: Personal service by sheriff or certified mail
Deadline: Service must be completed at least 5 days before the hearing.
North Carolina Small Claims Court Procedures
Can I bring a lawyer?
Yes, attorneys are allowed to represent parties in North Carolina small claims court.
Can I appeal?
Either party may appeal within 10 days for new trial in district court
Is e-filing available?
Yes, electronic filing is available in North Carolina.
Are remote hearings available?
Remote hearings are available in some North Carolina courts. Check with your specific court location for current policies.
Official North Carolina Court Resources
Find Your Courthouse in North Carolina
Select your county to get the courthouse address, phone number, hours, and filing options.
Alamance County
Graham area
(336) 570-5300
Alexander County
Taylorsville area
(828) 635-3113
Alleghany County
Sparta area
(336) 372-8949
Anson County
Wadesboro area
(704) 994-3800
Ashe County
Jefferson area
(336) 219-1400
Avery County
Newland area
(828) 737-6700
Beaufort County
Washington area
(252) 940-4000
Bertie County
Windsor area
(252) 794-6800
Bladen County
Elizabethtown area
(910) 872-7200
Brunswick County
Bolivia area
(910) 253-3900
Buncombe County
Asheville area
(828) 259-3400
Burke County
Morganton area
(828) 433-3200
Cabarrus County
Concord area
(704) 262-5500
Caldwell County
Lenoir area
(828) 759-3500
Camden County
Camden area
(252) 336-4000
Carteret County
Beaufort area
(252) 504-4400
Caswell County
Yanceyville area
(336) 459-4000
Catawba County
Newton area
(828) 695-6100
Chatham County
Pittsboro area
(919) 545-3500
Cherokee County
Murphy area
(828) 835-7740
Chowan County
Edenton area
(252) 368-5000
Clay County
Hayesville area
(828) 389-2300
Cleveland County
Shelby area
(704) 476-7800
Columbus County
Whiteville area
(910) 641-4400
Craven County
New Bern area
(252) 639-3000
Cumberland County
Fayetteville area
(910) 475-3000
Currituck County
Currituck area
(252) 232-6200
Dare County
Manteo area
(252) 475-5200
Davidson County
Lexington area
(336) 242-6700
Davie County
Mocksville area
(336) 936-3000
Duplin County
Kenansville area
(910) 275-7000
Durham County
Durham area
(919) 808-3003
Edgecombe County
Tarboro area
(252) 824-3200
Forsyth County
Winston-Salem area
(336) 779-6300
Franklin County
Louisburg area
(919) 497-4200
Gaston County
Gastonia area
(704) 852-3100
Gates County
Gatesville area
(252) 357-1365
Graham County
Robbinsville area
(828) 479-7000
Granville County
Oxford area
919-690-4800
Greene County
Snow Hill area
(252) 747-6200
Guilford County
Greensboro area
(336) 412-7300
Halifax County
Halifax area
(252) 593-3000
Harnett County
Lillington area
(910) 814-4600
Haywood County
Waynesville area
(828) 454-6501
Henderson County
Hendersonville area
(828) 694-4100
Hertford County
Winton area
(252) 358-7100
Hoke County
Raeford area
(910) 878-4100
Hyde County
Swan Quarter area
(252) 926-4700
Iredell County
Statesville area
704-832-6600
Jackson County
Sylva area
(828) 631-6400
Johnston County
Smithfield area
(919) 209-5400
Jones County
Trenton area
(252) 448-6220
Lee County
Sanford area
(919) 718-6300
Lenoir County
Kinston area
(252) 520-5300
Lincoln County
Lincolnton area
(704) 742-7800
Macon County
area
(828) 349-7200 (Clerk of Superior Court)
Madison County
Marshall area
(828) 649-2200
Martin County
Williamston area
(252) 809-5100
McDowell County
Marion area
(828) 655-4100
Mecklenburg County
Charlotte area
(704) 686-0400
Mitchell County
Bakersville area
(828) 688-5100
Montgomery County
Troy area
(910) 571-3700
Moore County
Carthage area
(910) 722-5000
Nash County
Nashville area
(252) 220-3000
New Hanover County
Wilmington area
(910) 772-6600
Northampton County
Jackson area
(252) 574-3100
Onslow County
Jacksonville area
(910) 478-3600
Orange County
Hillsborough area
(919) 644-4500
Pamlico County
Bayboro area
(252) 745-6600
Pasquotank County
Elizabeth City area
(252) 331-4600
Pender County
Burgaw area
(910) 663-3900
Perquimans County
Hertford area
(252) 404-5000
Person County
Roxboro area
(336) 503-5200
Pitt County
Greenville area
(252) 695-7100
Polk County
Columbus area
(828) 894-4900
Randolph County
Asheboro area
(336) 328-3000
Richmond County
Rockingham area
(910) 419-7400
Robeson County
Lumberton area
(910) 272-5900
Rockingham County
area
(336) 634-6000
Rowan County
Salisbury area
(704) 797-3001
Rutherford County
Rutherfordton area
(828) 288-6100
Sampson County
Clinton area
(910) 596-6600
Scotland County
Laurinburg area
(910) 266-4400
Stanly County
Albemarle area
(704) 986-7000
Stokes County
Danbury area
(336) 593-4400
Surry County
Dobson area
(336) 386-3700
Swain County
Bryson City area
(828) 488-7400
Transylvania County
Brevard area
(828) 885-3000
Tyrrell County
Columbia area
(252) 766-6510
Union County
Monroe area
(704) 698-3100
Vance County
Henderson area
(252) 430-5100
Wake County
Raleigh area
(919) 792-4000
Warren County
Warrenton area
(252) 257-6300
Washington County
Plymouth area
(252) 791-4000
Watauga County
Boone area
(828) 268-6600
Wayne County
Goldsboro area
(919) 722-6100
Wilkes County
Wilkesboro area
(336) 651-4400
Wilson County
Wilson area
(252) 206-3003
Yadkin County
Yadkinville area
(336) 679-3600
Yancey County
Burnsville area
(828) 678-5700
Don't see your county? Let us know here!
Ready to take action in North Carolina?
A demand letter often resolves disputes before court — our free guide shows you how to write one.
Read the demand letter guide