How to File Small Claims in Colorado: Complete 2026 Guide

To file small claims in Colorado, go to the County Court in the county where the defendant lives, works, or has a business. Fill out form JDF 250. Pay the filing fee: $31 for claims up to $500, or $55 for claims up to $7,500. Serve the defendant at least 15 days before the hearing. You can claim up to $7,500. No lawyer required.

What Is Colorado Small Claims Court?

Colorado small claims court is a division of County Court. It was built for regular people, not lawyers. Less paperwork. Simpler rules. And you don't need a lawyer to use it.

Colorado does one thing most states don't. The court often requires mediation before trial. You meet with a neutral mediator. You try to settle. If that fails, you go before a judge.

Colorado small claims handles:

Recovery of money (unpaid debts, bad contracts, damaged property)
Security deposits and landlord-tenant disputes
Contract disputes up to $7,500
Property damage claims
Return of personal property (up to $7,500 in value)

The rules come from C.R.C.P. 501-521 and C.R.S. § 13-6-403.

Colorado Small Claims Limit: $7,500

The small claims limit is $7,500, not counting interest or costs (C.R.S. § 13-6-403). That is the most you can recover in one case.

If your actual damages are higher, you can still file, but you can only collect $7,500 if you win. You can't split one claim into multiple smaller cases to get around the cap.

Claims from $7,501 to $25,000 go to the Civil Division of County Court. Over $25,000 goes to District Court. Both are more formal and usually involve lawyers.

Before You File: Check the Deadline

Colorado has different deadlines for different claims. Miss the deadline and your case gets dismissed. It doesn't matter how strong it is.

The clock starts when the problem happened. Or when you found out. Don't wait. Evidence gets stale.

Colorado Small Claims Filing Fee

Colorado's filing fees are based on how much you're claiming:

Claims from $1 to $500: $31
Claims from $501 to $7,500: $55

These are set by the Colorado Judicial Branch and apply across the state. There are no county-by-county variations like you see in some other states.

Service fees are separate. Certified mail through the clerk adds a small cost. Process servers and sheriffs charge their own fees on top.

Can't afford the fee? Colorado has a "File Without Payment" process. Fill out a financial affidavit. The court reviews your income. If you qualify, the fee gets waived or deferred.

Win your case? You can ask the court to make the defendant pay your costs.

How to File Small Claims in Colorado: Step by Step

Step 1: Identify the Right County Court

File in the county where at least one of these applies:

Where the defendant lives
Where the defendant works often
Where the defendant has an office
For students: where they go to school
For security deposit or covenant disputes: where the property is located

File in the wrong county and the defendant can challenge it. Find your court at coloradojudicial.gov under "Courts by County."

Step 2: Gather Your Evidence

Get your documents ready before filling out anything:

Written contracts, leases, or agreements
Receipts or bank statements showing what you paid
Texts or emails about what happened
Photos of damage or unfinished work
Names and contact info for witnesses

Make three copies. One for the court, one for the defendant, one for you. Organized evidence wins.

Step 3: Fill Out Form JDF 250

The main form for filing small claims in Colorado is JDF 250 (Notice, Claim and Summons to Appear for Trial). Download it at coloradojudicial.gov or pick it up at the county courthouse.

It has four parts and seven pages. Fill them all out. You'll need:

Your full name and address
The defendant's full name and address
A clear statement of what happened and why you're owed money
The exact dollar amount you're claiming

Also read JDF 248 (Guide to Small Claims) before you file. It explains the process in plain language. Get it at the courthouse or at coloradojudicial.gov.

Step 4: File at the Courthouse

Take all four parts of JDF 250 to the courthouse clerk. Pay the filing fee. The clerk stamps your forms. They assign a case number. They fill in the trial date.

The clerk may also tell you that mediation is required before trial. They'll schedule both mediation and trial at the same time.

Keep your stamped copies. You'll need them for everything that follows.

Step 5: Serve the Defendant

Service must be completed at least 15 calendar days before the trial date. Miss it and the court can dismiss your case.

Colorado allows several methods of service for small claims:

Certified mail (return receipt requested)
Personal delivery by someone 18 or older who isn't a party to the case
Sheriff or process server

Keep your proof of service. File it with the court before the hearing.

Step 6: Go Through Mediation (If Required)

Colorado often requires mediation before small claims go to trial. A neutral mediator meets with both parties and tries to help you reach a settlement. If you settle, the case is done. If you don't, you move to the hearing.

Mediation is not a bad thing. It's actually a chance to resolve the dispute faster and without a judge making the call. Many cases settle at mediation.

If the court schedules mediation, show up prepared. Know your facts. Know what settlement you'd accept. Be ready to negotiate.

Step 7: Attend the Hearing

Show up early. Bring everything. Have your evidence organized.

The judge hears your side first (you're the plaintiff, so you go first), then the defendant's side, then asks questions. Keep your presentation factual and focused. Short sentences. Specific numbers. Clear timeline.

Bring witnesses if you have them. If someone won't show up, ask the court for a subpoena.

The judge may rule the same day. Or send a written decision within a few days.

After You Win: Collecting in Colorado

A judgment in Colorado says someone owes you money. It doesn't put money in your bank account. If the defendant doesn't pay on their own, here's how you collect.

Wage Garnishment

You can file a Writ of Garnishment against the defendant's employer. Colorado limits garnishment to 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 40 times minimum wage, whichever is less. It takes a few weeks to set up but creates steady payment until the judgment is satisfied.

Bank Account Garnishment

Same process, but targeting the defendant's bank. If you know which bank they use, you can garnish funds directly from their account. Some exempt funds (like Social Security) can't be touched, but most bank balances can be garnished.

Writ of Execution

A Writ of Execution lets the sheriff seize and sell the defendant's property. Not common. It's there if other methods fail.

Real Property Lien

You can put a lien on real estate the defendant owns in Colorado. If they try to sell or refinance, your lien gets paid first. This is especially effective if you know the defendant owns property.

Colorado judgments last 6 years. They can be renewed. Start collection steps right after you win.

The Mediation Advantage in Colorado

Most plaintiffs see mediation as a delay. It's actually an chance.

Mediation can end the case fast. If you settle there, you skip the hearing. You also keep more control over the result. In a trial, the judge decides. In mediation, you negotiate.

Come in with a clear number. Know the minimum you'd take. If the other side offers something fair, think before saying no. Payment now beats chasing a judgment for months.

If mediation fails, you go to trial. Nothing lost. You got a preview of their arguments.

Common Small Claims Cases in Colorado

Security Deposit Disputes

Colorado landlords have 60 days to return your deposit after the lease ends (72 hours if the lease says so). They must send an itemized list of deductions. Miss the deadline or make bad deductions? Under C.R.S. § 38-12-103, you may be owed triple the withheld amount.

Small claims handles most security deposit cases. Bring your lease, move-in/move-out checklist, and any written communication about the deposit.

Related guide: How to Get Your Security Deposit Back.

Contractor Disputes

Paid a contractor who didn't finish the job or did terrible work? Colorado small claims is the right venue if the damages are under $7,500. Bring photos, the original contract, and proof of payment.

More on this: Contractor Took Your Money and Didn't Finish the Job?

Unpaid Wages

Colorado's Wage Claim Act (C.R.S. § 8-4-101) gives workers strong rights to unpaid wages. You can file through the Department of Labor too, but small claims is faster for clear cases under $7,500.

Property Damage

A neighbor's tree fell on your fence. Someone's dog destroyed your yard. A moving company broke your furniture? Small claims handles it if the amount is under $7,500.

Tips for Winning Colorado Small Claims

Know your amount cold. Don't estimate. Calculate your actual losses. Add up every dollar with receipts and paperwork.

Prepare a short opening. The judge will ask you to explain your case. Practice a 2-minute version. What happened, when, how much you're owed, why the defendant is responsible.

Bring backup copies. Make three sets of every document. Courts lose things. Defendants "lose" things. You shouldn't.

Don't skip mediation. Show up ready to negotiate. Many cases end there, which is faster for everyone.

Know your witnesses. If someone has direct knowledge of the dispute, bring them. Warn them about the date and time. The judge's questions for them can make or break your case.

Stay professional. Judges see arguments all day. The person who stays calm and sticks to facts usually wins. Getting emotional makes you look less credible.

Send a Demand Letter First

Court takes time. Mediation adds more time. Filing fees and service fees add cost. Before you go through all of that, try a demand letter.

A demand letter says: pay by this date or I'm filing a case. It creates a paper trail. It shows the court you tried to work things out first. And it works more often than you'd think.

At PettyLawsuit, 70% of disputes settle after a demand letter, without going to court at all. People get a certified letter with a 10-day deadline and they pay. They negotiate. They take things seriously in a way they never did with texts and phone calls.

FAQ: Colorado Small Claims Court

How much does it cost to file small claims in Colorado?

The fee is $31 for claims up to $500. Claims from $501 to $7,500 cost $55. Service fees are extra. Fees are set statewide by the Colorado Judicial Branch and apply to all county courts.

What is the small claims limit in Colorado?

$7,500, not including interest or court costs, under C.R.S. § 13-6-403. If your actual damages are higher, you can still file but can only collect $7,500. You cannot split one claim into multiple smaller cases to get around the cap.

Is mediation required in Colorado small claims court?

Often yes. Colorado courts often require mediation before trial. The clerk schedules it when you file. If you settle at mediation, the case is done. If not, you go to the hearing. Mediation is an chance, not just a delay.

How long does small claims court take in Colorado?

From filing to hearing is usually 60 to 90 days when mediation is required. The hearing itself runs 20 to 30 minutes. Add a few days for the written decision if the judge doesn't rule right away. The full process from filing to payment can take 3 to 6 months.

What forms do I need for Colorado small claims court?

The main form is JDF 250 (Notice, Claim and Summons to Appear for Trial). It has four parts and seven pages. Also read JDF 248 (Guide to Small Claims). Both are at coloradojudicial.gov or at your courthouse.

What is the statute of limitations for small claims in Colorado?

Written contracts: 6 years. Oral contracts: 3 years. Personal injury and property damage: 2 years. Security deposit disputes have their own rules: landlords must return the deposit within 60 days (or 72 hours in some cases). Don't let the deadline pass.

Can I sue a company in Colorado small claims court?

Yes. You can sue individuals, businesses, LLCs, corporations, and landlords. For businesses, file in the county where the company has its main office. Serve the registered agent. Look up agents at sos.state.co.us.

What happens if the defendant doesn't show up in Colorado small claims court?

If the defendant was correctly served and doesn't appear, the court can enter a default judgment in your favor. You still need to present basic evidence of your claim. With a default judgment, you can right away start collection steps like wage garnishment or bank levies.

Ready to Take Action?

Small claims court in Colorado is one of the more easy to use systems in the country. Reasonable fees. A mediation step that often resolves things early. And real tools to collect if you win. But court is still time, effort, and stress.

Before you file, try a demand letter. It's faster, costs less, and works most of the time. PettyLawsuit has helped 2,500+ people get paid, with 70% settling before they ever set foot in a courtroom.

Owed money by a contractor, landlord, or employer? See how PettyLawsuit can help.