Pennsylvania · Unpaid invoice

Unpaid invoice in Pennsylvania small claims

Client won't pay your invoice? Collect it in small claims.

If a client or customer has not paid an invoice for work you delivered or goods you sold, small claims court is a low-cost way to collect. You do not need a lawyer. The strength of your case usually comes down to clear proof: the agreement or terms, the invoice, evidence the work or goods were delivered, and a record of your attempts to collect.

In Pennsylvania, small-claims cases are heard in the Magisterial District Court and you can sue for up to $12,000 (exclusive of interest and costs).

Unpaid invoice: steps that matter

  1. Send a final written demand (a clear statement of what is owed and a payment deadline) and keep proof you sent it.
  2. Gather your contract or written terms, the invoice, delivery/completion proof, and any messages showing the other side accepted the work.
  3. Confirm you are within the statute of limitations below before you file.
  4. File in the correct court for where the defendant is or where the work happened, and keep every date and document together.

Filing your Civil Complaint (Form AOPC 308A) in Pennsylvania

  1. Confirm the claim qualifies and pick the right court. The amount demanded must not exceed $12,000 (exclusive of interest and costs) and must be a type within MDJ jurisdiction, such as assumpsit (contract) or trespass (42 Pa.C.S. § 1515). File in the Magisterial District Court for the appropriate magisterial district (generally where the defendant lives/can be served or where the cause of action arose).
  2. Complete the Civil Complaint (AOPC 308A). Fill in the plaintiff and defendant names and addresses, the amount of judgment sought, and a description of the claim. No changes may be made to the form's content or format. The plaintiff must sign and verify the facts; the verification is subject to the unsworn-falsification penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904.
  3. File the complaint and pay costs at the Magisterial District Court. Bring/submit the completed Civil Complaint to the office of the Magisterial District Judge. You are charged filing costs plus service costs (and postage/constable costs) at the time of filing; amounts vary and are set by the statewide Magisterial District Judge cost schedule.
  4. Have the defendant served. The Magisterial District Court arranges service: it delivers a copy of the complaint to the sheriff or a certified constable for service, or (when permitted, at the plaintiff's option) serves by certified mail. Service must be made at least ten days before the hearing (Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. 307).
  5. Appear at the hearing. The court sets a hearing date. The plaintiff must appear and present evidence/witnesses. If a party fails to appear, judgment may be entered against the absent party.

Filing fees: You pay filing costs plus service costs at filing, set by the statewide Magisterial District Judge cost schedule. Confirm amounts with the court.

Deadline that applies to your unpaid invoice

An unpaid invoice is usually a contract or account claim. If you had a signed agreement or written terms, the written-contract statute of limitations below typically applies; a purely verbal deal usually falls under the oral-contract period. That statute is the deadline to file, so do not wait too long.

Written contract: 4 years (42 Pa.C.S. § 5525)

Answering a lawsuit: No written answer is required; the defendant is directed to appear at the scheduled hearing to present a defense, or default judgment may be entered. (Service must be made at least ten days before the hearing.)

Serving the defendant: The Magisterial District Court arranges service: it delivers a copy of the complaint to the sheriff or a certified constable for service, or (when permitted, at the plaintiff's option) serves by certified mail or comparable delivery method with return receipt. Service must be made at least ten days before the hearing.

Appeals: A party aggrieved by a money judgment may appeal within 30 days after the date of entry of the judgment, by filing a notice of appeal with the prothonotary of the court of common pleas (Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. 1002). (A judgment concerning a residential lease generally has a shorter 10-day appeal period.)

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: Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania - Forms (For the Public). Last reviewed 2026-06-23.