District of Columbia · Bad purchase or private sale

Bad purchase or private sale in District of Columbia small claims

Sold something defective or got ripped off? Recover in small claims.

If you bought something through a private sale — a used car, furniture, equipment, or other goods — and the seller misrepresented what they were selling, sold you something that didn't work, or never delivered at all, small claims court is the straightforward way to get your money back. Your case depends on showing what was promised, what you paid, and what you actually received.

In District of Columbia, small-claims cases are heard in the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, Civil Division, Superior Court of the District of Columbia and you can sue for up to $10,000.

Good to know: Cases are filed in the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of the Superior Court's Civil Division. DC is a single district with no county courts; all claims go to the Small Claims Clerk's Office. A business that files a small claims case must be represented by a lawyer.

Bad purchase or private sale: steps that matter

1. Gather your bill of sale, listing, texts, emails, or any description of what you were buying and what was promised.
2. Document the defect or non-delivery with photos, videos, or a professional assessment if the item can be inspected.
3. Send a written demand for a refund or the promised goods with a clear deadline, and keep proof you sent it.
4. File in the court where the seller lives or where the sale took place, within the statute of limitations below.

Filing your Statement of Claim in District of Columbia

1. Prepare the Statement of Claim and Information Sheet. Complete a Statement of Claim naming the parties and explaining why the defendant owes you money (relief in money only, up to $10,000), with copies of supporting documents, plus a case Information Sheet.
2. Sign and verify or notarize the claim. If you do not have a lawyer, sign the claim yourself by hand. It should be notarized; if not, bring photo ID to the Small Claims Clerk's Office to have a clerk verify it. Provide a copy for each defendant.
3. File with the Small Claims Clerk's Office and pay the fee. File by mail, in person at the Small Claims Branch (510 4th St. NW, Room 120), or electronically via eFileDC, and pay the fee at filing.
4. Arrange service on the defendant. On the Information Sheet, choose certified mail by clerk, registered mail by clerk, or a special process server. Most claims must be served within 60 days of filing (180 days for collection and subrogation), before the court date.
5. Attend the hearing. Appear on your court date and tell the judge why the defendant owes you. The branch is informal: usually no written answer is required. Either side may request a jury trial in writing before the first court date ($75 fee).

Filing fees: Fees are set by the court and tiered by amount: $5 up to $500, $10 over $500 up to $2,500, and $45 over $2,500 up to $10,000. Service is extra (certified mail $6.75; restricted delivery $11.90). A Fee Waiver Application is available.

Deadline that applies to your bad purchase or private sale

A claim over a bad purchase or private sale is typically a contract claim — the seller promised goods that were not as described or not delivered. If the goods also caused property damage, a property damage period may apply. The limitations clock generally starts from the date of sale or the date you discovered the defect.

Written contract: 3 years (D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7))

Answering a lawsuit: No written answer is required in most cases; the defendant can simply tell the judge why they disagree at the hearing. A written verified answer is required only if the defendant wants a jury trial, filed on or before the first court date.

Serving the defendant: Each defendant gets a copy of the Statement of Claim and documents by certified mail by clerk, registered mail by clerk, or a special process server (chosen on the Information Sheet). Most claims must be served within 60 days of filing (180 days for collection and subrogation), before the court date, or the case may be dismissed.

Appeals: Small Claims appeals are by Application for Allowance of Appeal ($10 fee), which is discretionary, not automatic, and must be filed within 3 days of judgment. If a Magistrate Judge signed the order, you first have 10 days to file a Motion for Review by an Associate Judge. Some DC materials cite a 14-day review window, so confirm the current deadline with the Clerk's Office.

All District of Columbia small-claims deadlines

The table below lists the filing deadlines Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, Civil Division, Superior Court of the District of Columbia applies by claim category. Confirm the exact rule that applies to your bad purchase or private sale claim with your court before relying on any figure.

District of Columbia small-claims forms for your bad purchase or private sale case

These forms are published by the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, Civil Division, Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Download and complete them before filing.

• Statement of Claim (Small Claims) - CV-3045: The initial document that starts a small claims case; names the parties and states why the defendant owes the plaintiff money and the relief requested.
• Small Claims Information Sheet - CV-3046: Filed together with the Statement of Claim; identifies the nature of suit, amount in controversy, and selected service method.
• Small Claims Counterclaim - SCCC: Used by a defendant who wants to assert a money claim back against the plaintiff in the same case (filing fee $10; counterclaims are not capped at $10,000).

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: DC Courts: Small Claims (Superior Court, Civil Division). Last reviewed 2026-06-24.