Arkansas ยท Small Claims Division of the District Court
How to file a small-claims case in Arkansas
You can sue for up to $5,000 in Arkansas. Here is where to file, what the deadlines are, and how to keep your case organized.
Good to know: Arkansas small claims is not a separate court but a division within each District Court, with its own docket. Attorneys cannot practice in it, and collection agencies and lenders cannot file there.
Filing your claim form in Arkansas
- Complete the claim form. Complete the claim form (complaint) with the names and addresses of both parties, the amount of money or property claimed, and a short explanation of why the defendant owes it. The clerk provides blank forms.
- File with the clerk and pay the fee. File with the District Court clerk for the proper venue, usually where the defendant lives or where the contract was to be performed (Ark. Code Ann. 16-17-706), and pay the filing fee.
- Have the defendant served. Unless you request sheriff service, the clerk serves the defendant by certified mail (return receipt, addressee only) with a copy of the claim form. The defendant must be served within 120 days of filing.
- Wait for the answer or seek default. The defendant has 30 days after service to file an answer. If none is filed, the court may enter a default judgment.
- Attend the informal hearing. The case is tried informally with relaxed rules of evidence. You carry the burden of proof, and both sides may bring witnesses.
Filing fees: The District Court Benchbook lists a $50 statutory filing fee (Ark. Code Ann. 16-17-705) plus a $15 technology fee; the Attorney General's guide puts the typical total at $30 to $65. Service costs are extra. Verify the amount with your court.
Key Arkansas deadlines
| Case type | Deadline to file |
|---|---|
| Written contract (Ark. Code Ann. 16-56-111) | 5 years from the date the contract is broken |
| Oral contract / debt (Ark. Code Ann. 16-56-105) | 3 years from the date the contract is broken |
| Damage to personal property (Ark. Code Ann. 16-56-105) | 3 years from the date the property was damaged |
Answering a lawsuit: 30 days after the claim form is served on the defendant.
Serving the defendant: Unless you request the sheriff, the defendant is served by certified mail (return receipt, addressee only) with a copy of the claim form. The case is not commenced unless the defendant is served within 120 days of filing.
Appeals: Either party may appeal to circuit court within 30 days of the judgment being entered on the docket, where the case is tried de novo (Ark. Dist. Ct. R. 9 and 10).
Arkansas small-claims forms
Official Arkansas forms, free from the court.
- Official Form of Summons (Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 4): Supreme Court of Arkansas approved summons (revised effective January 1, 2019) used where personal service is made under Rule 4; incorporates a proof of service for completion by a sheriff, deputy, or other authorized person.
- Notice and Acknowledgment for Service by Mail: Form accompanying service of process by mail, by which the defendant acknowledges receipt of the claim/summons.
- Civil Cover Sheet: Cover sheet filed with civil and small claims actions in district court identifying the parties and nature of the case.
- Civil Cover Sheet - Instructions: Instructions for completing the district court civil cover sheet.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and CaseBySelf is not a law firm. Rules, fees, and deadlines change and vary by court: verify with the specific court where you file. Source: Arkansas Judiciary: District Court Benchbook (Administrative Office of the Courts). Last reviewed 2026-06-24.