Small claims limit in Louisiana: $5,000

The rule in Louisiana

The small claims limit in Louisiana is $5,000. The rule is La. R.S. 13:5202(A); the Louisiana State Legislature, R.S. 13:5202 puts it this way: “in cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed five thousand dollars”. The court that hears these cases: City court small claims division.

Among the 51 jurisdictions with a verified figure on this site, Louisiana ranks 40th from the top. That is $5,000 below the median of $10,000. It is 2 times Kentucky's $2,500 floor and 20% of the $25,000 top figure. 9 other verified jurisdictions use the same $5,000 figure, including Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut and Hawaii.

Next door, Arkansas allows $5,000, Mississippi allows $3,500 and Texas allows $20,000. A claim of $5,000 that fits in Louisiana would be $1,500 over the line in Mississippi. Texas goes $15,000 further, so a dispute worth $20,000 could stay in small claims there but not in Louisiana.

Worked check against the $5,000 figure: a $2,500 claim uses 50% of the limit and leaves $2,500 of room; a claim of exactly $5,000 still fits, because the rule caps the amount rather than excluding it; a claim of $5,001 is $1 over.

The source checked for Louisiana does not publish a statewide filing fee, so this page shows none; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts the current amount.

Source: Louisiana State Legislature, R.S. 13:5202 · La. R.S. 13:5202(A) · last checked October 20, 2026.

Where the case goes

A claim within the limit is filed with the City court small claims division. The linked source is the place to confirm forms, the filing fee and where to file before starting; the guides on filing a small claims case and serving the papers explain the usual steps in general terms.