Small claims limit in Vermont: $10,000

The rule in Vermont

The small claims limit in Vermont is $10,000. The rule is 12 V.S.A. § 5531(a); the Vermont General Assembly, 12 V.S.A. § 5531 puts it this way: “in which the plaintiff does not claim as debt or damage more than $10,000.00”. The court that hears these cases: Superior court civil division small claims.

Among the 51 jurisdictions with a verified figure on this site, Vermont ranks 13th from the top. That is exactly the median of $10,000. It is 4 times Kentucky's $2,500 floor and 40% of the $25,000 top figure. 15 other verified jurisdictions use the same $10,000 figure, including Alaska, District of Columbia, Illinois and Indiana.

Next door, Massachusetts allows $7,000, New Hampshire allows $10,000 and New York allows $10,000. A claim of $10,000 that fits in Vermont would be $3,000 over the line in Massachusetts.

Worked check against the $10,000 figure: a $5,000 claim uses 50% of the limit and leaves $5,000 of room; a claim of exactly $10,000 still fits, because the rule caps the amount rather than excluding it; a claim of $10,001 is $1 over.

The source checked for Vermont 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.

Deposit disputes are a common small claims case. Vermont sets no cap on deposits (deposit rules), so a deposit larger than $10,000 could not be claimed in full in small claims; the landlord's return deadline there is 14 days.

Source: Vermont General Assembly, 12 V.S.A. § 5531 · 12 V.S.A. § 5531(a) · last checked October 20, 2026.

Where the case goes

A claim within the limit is filed with the Superior court civil division 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.