A landlord kept your deposit, a contractor walked off the job, a dry cleaner ruined your coat. In Pennsylvania you can sue for up to $12,000 in the Magisterial District Court (Philadelphia Municipal Court in Philadelphia), without hiring a lawyer. Check your case below, then follow six steps.
Answer a few questions. The result updates as you type.
Pennsylvania doesn't require a demand letter, but one often settles the case and is good evidence. A short, dated demand letter is the best proof. Use the generator below and keep a copy.
Outside Philadelphia, file at the Magisterial District Court where the defendant lives or does business, where the problem happened, or where the contract was made; the pacourts.us locator finds the office. In Philadelphia, file in person at Municipal Court, 1339 Chestnut St, 10th floor.
Civil Complaint (Statement of Claim in Philadelphia). The hearing is set 12 to 60 days after you file.
Fees depend on the amount and the county. A typical 2026 schedule outside Philadelphia: about $125 for claims up to $500, $148 up to $2,000, $171 up to $4,000, and $228 up to $12,000, including surcharges and certified mail. Constable service costs about $60 more. In Philadelphia, about $95 up to $2,000 and $117 above that, including service at one Philadelphia address. If you can't afford it, ask for a fee waiver: Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis.
The court handles service; you choose and pay for it: certified mail sent by the court, or delivery by a sheriff or constable. The defendant must be served at least 10 days before the hearing.
Bring receipts, photos, texts, the contract and your demand letter, with three copies of each. Pennsylvania generally doesn't allow wage garnishment for ordinary debts. After 30 days, ask for an Order of Execution so a constable can seize property, or transfer the judgment to create a lien on real estate.
Want every detail? The full filing guide walks you through all 7 stages, from finding the defendant's legal name to collecting your money, with a checklist.
Open the filing guideFill in the details, then download the letter as a PDF or Word file, or copy the text. Send it by certified mail or email so you can prove the date.
Miss this date and the court will dismiss your case, however strong it is. In some cases the clock starts when you discover the harm.
| Type of claim | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Broken written contract (lease, invoice, signed agreement) | 4 years |
| Broken verbal agreement | 4 years |
| Damaged property | 2 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
| Fraud | 2 years |
| Libel or slander | 1 year |
| Claims against a government agency | These courts can't hear claims against state agencies or SEPTA. For local governments, you usually must give written notice within 6 months. |
Not required. You can appear alone, with a lawyer, or through a non-lawyer with written permission. A business can send an officer or an authorized employee; in Philadelphia it must be an executive officer with proof of authority.
The limit is $12,000, not counting interest and costs, in both Magisterial District Courts and Philadelphia Municipal Court. These courts only award money. Larger claims go to the Court of Common Pleas. Otherwise, you can give up the amount above the limit, or file a regular civil case where the rules are stricter.
Either side can appeal to the county Court of Common Pleas within 30 days of the judgment and get a brand-new trial, often first before a panel of arbitrators.
Interpreters are free. Ask the court office well before the hearing.