Civil Division Of The District Court

The District Court has jurisdiction in civil matters involving no more than $25,000.

District Court handles the following types of civil cases:

• General Civil
• Small Claims
• Summary Proceedings, i.e. Landlord/Tenant matters

Small Claims

In the small claims division of the district court and the maximum you can collect through a judgment in small claims court is $5,500.00 Small claims courts are designed to operate informally and without attorneys present. If you feel you need an attorney to represent you, the matter must be filed in district court as a general civil case. In small claims court you represent yourself, speak directly to the attorney magistrate, provide your own evidence, and have any witnesses you wish speak for you.

Small Claims can be served one of two ways:
1. By certified restricted mail. The court prepares the mailing and mails claim to the Defendant.
2. By Process Server. The court officer will personally serve the Defendant with the claim and bill the Plaintiff separately.
*Note: Filing fees differ from service by mailing and service by process server. If you have questions regarding filing fees, please contact the court.

SMALL CLAIMS FILING FEES:
Claim up to $600: $42.00 served via certified mail // $30.00 + service fee via Process Server
Claim over $600 up to $1,750: $62.00 served via certified mail // $50.00 + service fee via Process Server
Claim over $1,750 up to $5,500: $82.00 served via certified mail // $70.00 + service fee via Process Server

Online Forms:
Small Claims Form — (DC84) Small Claims with Instructions
Dismissal Form — (MC09) Dismissal
Certificate of Satisfied Judgment — (MC17) Satisfied Judgment
Civil Discovery Subpoena — (MC11) Subpoena

Landlord/Tenant

LANDLORD/TENANT OR LAND CONTRACT FILING FEES:
Possession of Premises (only): $55.00
Possession and money judgment:
Claim up to $600: $90.00
Claim over $600 up to $1,750: $110.00
Claim over $1,750 up to $10,000: $130.00
Claim over $10,000 up to $25,000: $215.00

ONLINE FORMS:
COMPLAINT-NONPAYMENT OF RENT (7-DAY NOTICE) — DC 102a
COMPLAINT-NOTICE TO QUIT (30-DAY NOTICE) — DC 100c

General Civil

A civil case is a dispute between two or more parties in which the first party, called the plaintiff, accuses the second party, called the defendant, of violating some rule of civil law which has caused injury or damage to the plaintiff. Either party may be an individual or a corporation.

Cases involving lawsuits between two or more parties may seek money damages, injunctions or equitable relief. If the claim amount is $25,000 or less, the lawsuit is filed with the district court. (If the claim is over $25,000, the lawsuit is filed with the circuit court.)

You may wish to review the General Court Process for Civil and Domestic Relations Cases.

GENERAL CIVIL FILING FEES:

Claim up to $600: $35.00
Claim over $600 up to $1,750: $55.00
Claim over $1,750 up to $10,000: $75.00
Claim over $10,000 up to $25,000: $160.00

ONLINE FORMS:
General Civil Summons and Complaint — MC01
Answer with Instructions — MC03