Ohio · Contractor dispute

Contractor dispute in Ohio small claims

Contractor didn't finish or won't refund? Sue in small claims.

When a contractor takes a deposit and disappears, leaves a job unfinished, or does work that causes damage, small claims court is often the right venue to recover your money. You do not need a lawyer. Your case rests on your contract or estimate, proof of payment, documentation of what was promised, and evidence of what was actually delivered — or not delivered.

In Ohio, small-claims cases are heard in the Small Claims Division of the Municipal or County Court and you can sue for up to $6,000.

Good to know: Small claims cases are heard by the Small Claims Division of the local Municipal Court (or, in areas without a municipal court, the County Court). The $6,000 limit excludes interest and costs. Cases may be heard by a magistrate; if so, you may file objections to the magistrate's decision within 14 days before it becomes a final order. Certain claims (libel, slander, replevin, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, punitive damages, and most claims by assignees/agents) cannot be brought in small claims under R.C. 1925.02.

Contractor dispute: steps that matter

1. Gather your written contract, estimate, or text messages showing what was agreed, and keep all receipts and payment records.
2. Document the incomplete or defective work with photos and, if possible, a written assessment from another contractor.
3. Send a written demand to the contractor stating what you are owed and a deadline to respond, and keep proof you sent it.
4. File in the court for the county where the contractor operated or where the work was done, and bring every document to the hearing.
5. If the contractor holds a license, check your state's licensing board — a complaint there may run parallel to your court case.

Filing your A written statement of claim (commonly titled the "Statement of Claim" or "Complaint" on the local court's form), signed by the plaintiff under oath, stating the amount and nature of the claim. in Ohio

1. Confirm your claim qualifies and identify the right court. Make sure your claim is for money only and is $6,000 or less (excluding interest and costs) per R.C. 1925.02. File in the Small Claims Division of the Municipal or County Court for the area where the defendant lives or where the transaction/injury occurred. Get the defendant's complete legal name and home address (for a business, verify the proper name and statutory agent with the Ohio Secretary of State).
2. Prepare and sign the statement of claim/complaint. Complete the local court's small-claims complaint form, stating the amount and nature of your claim in concise, nontechnical language. R.C. 1925.04 requires the writing be signed by the plaintiff (or attorney) under oath. If filing by mail, the form generally must be notarized.
3. File with the clerk and pay the filing fee. File the signed complaint with the clerk of court and pay the filing fee (set by the local court; e.g., Mahoning County charges $50.00 plus $20.00 per additional defendant). Bring enough copies (typically at least three: court, service, and your records, plus one per additional defendant). If you cannot afford the fee, file an Affidavit/Application for waiver of court costs (Civil Fee Waiver).
4. Service on the defendant and trial scheduling. The clerk serves the complaint and hearing notice on the defendant, ordinarily by certified mail, as provided by the Rules of Civil Procedure (R.C. 1925.05). Under R.C. 1925.04 the trial is set not less than 15 nor more than 40 days after the action is commenced (some courts schedule hearings several weeks out).
5. Attend the hearing with your evidence. Bring all evidence: receipts, written estimates, contracts, photos, and witnesses. If the defendant fails to appear, you may receive a default judgment; if you fail to appear, your case may be dismissed. A judge or magistrate hears testimony and issues a decision.

Filing fees: Filing and service fees are set locally and vary; confirm the current amount with the court. A fee waiver is available if you cannot afford the costs.

Deadline that applies to your contractor dispute

A contractor dispute is typically a contract claim — you hired someone, paid them (or they want payment), and the work was not done or not done properly. The contract statute of limitations is the usual deadline to file, though some claims may also involve property damage. Confirm which category applies to your situation with the court.

Written contract: 6 years (Ohio Rev. Code 2305.06)

Answering a lawsuit: Ohio small claims procedure does not require the defendant to file a written answer; the defendant instead appears at the scheduled trial. If the defendant has a counterclaim, copies must be served at least seven days prior to the date of the trial.

Serving the defendant: The clerk serves notice of the filing (the complaint and hearing notice) on the defendant as provided by the Rules of Civil Procedure, ordinarily by certified mail. If service fails, a further notice setting a new trial date is issued, served in the same manner as a summons in an ordinary civil action.

Appeals: A party may appeal a final small-claims judgment to the court of appeals by filing a notice of appeal within 30 days of entry of the judgment. If the case was heard by a magistrate, file objections to the magistrate's decision within 14 days; the judgment becomes final/appealable after the court rules on objections.

All Ohio small-claims deadlines

The table below lists the filing deadlines Small Claims Division of the Municipal or County Court applies by claim category. Confirm the exact rule that applies to your contractor dispute claim with your court before relying on any figure.

Ohio small-claims forms for your contractor dispute case

These forms are published by the Small Claims Division of the Municipal or County Court. Download and complete them before filing.

• Application and Affidavit / Order: Civil Fee Waiver (waiver of court costs): Request a waiver of filing fees and court costs if you cannot afford to pay (poverty affidavit / fee waiver).
• Mahoning County Court Small Claims Complaint Form with Information Sheet (example local statement-of-claim form): Example of a county court's official small-claims complaint/statement-of-claim form used to start a case; Ohio has no single statewide small-claims complaint form, so use your own local court's version.

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: Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1925: Small Claims Division (Ohio Laws / codes.ohio.gov). Last reviewed 2026-06-23.