Small claims limit in Utah: $20,000

The rule in Utah

The small claims limit in Utah is $20,000. The rule is Utah Code § 78A-8-102; the Utah State Courts, Small Claims puts it this way: “The most you can ask for is $20,000.” The court that hears these cases: Justice court small claims.

Among the 51 jurisdictions with a verified figure on this site, Utah ranks 3rd from the top. That is $10,000 above the median of $10,000. It is 8 times Kentucky's $2,500 floor and 80% of the $25,000 top figure. Minnesota, Texas and West Virginia use the same $20,000 figure.

Next door, Arizona allows $5,000, Colorado allows $7,500, Idaho allows $15,000, Nevada allows $10,000, New Mexico allows $10,000 and Wyoming allows $6,000. A claim of $20,000 that fits in Utah would be $15,000 over the line in Arizona.

Worked check against the $20,000 figure: a $10,000 claim uses 50% of the limit and leaves $10,000 of room; a claim of exactly $20,000 still fits, because the rule caps the amount rather than excluding it; a claim of $20,001 is $1 over.

The source checked for Utah 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.

The court page says the $20,000 includes attorney fees but not court costs or interest.

Deposit disputes are a common small claims case. Utah sets no cap on deposits (deposit rules), so a deposit larger than $20,000 could not be claimed in full in small claims; the landlord's return deadline there is 30 days.

Source: Utah State Courts, Small Claims · Utah Code § 78A-8-102 · last checked October 20, 2026.

Where the case goes

A claim within the limit is filed with the Justice court small claims. 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.