Small claims limits for an unpaid invoice: what four court pages say
A small claims process lets a business sue for money owed without a lawyer in some places. This page sets out the amount limits that California, Ontario, Ireland and New Zealand court or government pages state.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It lists limits on the amount of a claim. It does not say which court suits a given debt, how a claim is won or whether a claim can be enforced, and the court named in each row decides.
The limits side by side
| Place and court page | Amount limit as stated | Other facts on the same page |
|---|---|---|
| California, United States: Judicial Branch self help guide | Generally up to US$12,500, or up to US$6,250 for a business | A lawyer can be consulted beforehand but cannot appear in court; the filing fee is between US$30 and US$100 |
| Ontario, Canada: Government of Ontario | CA$50,000 from October 1, 2025, up from CA$35,000 | The page says a claim above CA$50,000 can still be filed if the amount over is waived; the filing fee for an infrequent claimant is CA$108 |
| Ireland: Courts Service | €2,000 or less | The procedure lets consumers and businesses resolve certain disputes without a solicitor |
| New Zealand: Ministry of Justice, Disputes Tribunal | Up to NZ$60,000 | The page calls the tribunal quicker, cheaper and less formal than court |
| United Kingdom: England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland | Scotland £5,000 or less for the simple procedure; Northern Ireland £5,000 since October 3, 2022 | England and Wales print no separate small claims limit. Detail on the page about small claims in the United Kingdom |
| Other US states, other provinces, Australia | Not published | Not published |
California
The California self help guide says small claims court allows a person to sue a person, business or government agency believed to owe money. It gives the general limit as US$12,500 and US$6,250 for a business. The guide notes that a lawyer can give advice before the court date but cannot be with the party in court. It gives a filing fee range, with a fee waiver for those who cannot afford it.
Ontario
The Ontario page says that effective October 1, 2025 the monetary jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court increased from CA$35,000 to CA$50,000, and the minimum appealable amount increased from CA$3,500 to CA$5,000. It says claims for the return of personal property can go there for CA$50,000 or less, and that anything over that goes to the Superior Court of Justice unless the claimant waives the excess.
Ireland
The Courts Service page describes the small claims procedure as a way to resolve certain disputes without using a solicitor. It states a claim limit of €2,000. Its sub-pages cover how to apply in the District Court, how to respond, how small claims are enforced and appeals.
New Zealand
The Disputes Tribunal page says the tribunal can settle small claims up to NZ$60,000 and describes a form, a fee and specific information needed to make a claim. It also has a section for when a claim is made against a person.
Why the table has gaps
Court pages in other places did not state an amount limit in a form this site could read on October 9, 2026, or did not open. The cells say Not published and do not stand in for a limit. The registers that show who runs a company are on the page about checking a company.
Sources
- Judicial Branch of California, Small claims in California, self help guide, read October 9, 2026
- Government of Ontario, Suing someone in small claims court, read October 9, 2026
- Courts Service of Ireland, Small claims, read October 9, 2026
- New Zealand Ministry of Justice, Disputes Tribunal, read October 9, 2026