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Small claims in Richland County covers money disputes up to $15,000 and runs on simplified procedures built for people without a lawyer.
This page sets out the ceiling on claims, what the court charges, the courthouse that covers Richland County, how notice reaches the other party, the time limits, and the filing steps. Squabble can prepare and lodge the paperwork when you decide to go ahead.
One courthouse takes small claims for Richland County, shown below. The court checks the location against the defendant's address and the place of the dispute.
Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.
Confirm the courthouse before you file. The court's own small-claims page carries its current filing location and hours, and Squabble confirms the courthouse for your case when you file.
Richland County covers 15 ZIP codes, including the Abercrombie, Barney and Christine areas. The nearest counties to Richland County are Sargent County and Ransom County.
Small claims are filed here on paper, at the counter or through the mail. Squabble prepares the full packet before it goes.
Hearings in small claims are attended in person at the courthouse.
Evidence is copied for the judge and for the opposing side; electronic submission ahead of time is accepted at some courts.
Residents of Richland County, North Dakota, a county of 16,658 people, can file small claims cases through the North Dakota Small Claims Court, which handles disputes up to $15,000. Cases are heard at the Richland County Court House in Wahpeton, located at 418 2nd Ave N, 58075, and the clerk's office can be reached at (701) 642-7700 or online at https://co.richland.nd.us/. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is closed Saturday and Sunday. Electronic filing is not available in this county, so filings are handled in person at the courthouse. The county covers communities including Abercrombie, Barney, Christine, Colfax, Fairmount, Hankinson, Lidgerwood, Mantador, Mcleod, Mooreton, Wahpeton, Walcott and Wyndmere, along with ZIP codes such as 58001, 58008, 58030, 58041, 58053, 58074 and 58081. Richland County lies near Sargent County, Ransom County and Cass County, each of which maintains its own court facilities for matters arising within its boundaries.
Richland County covers these 13 towns and cities:
Abercrombie, Barney, Christine, Colfax, Fairmount, Hankinson, Lidgerwood, Mantador, Mcleod, Mooreton, Wahpeton, Walcott, Wyndmere.
ZIP codes:
With about 16,658 residents, Richland County ranks 9th by population among the 53 counties of North Dakota. Richland County Court House sits about 21 miles from the Cass County courthouse in Fargo.
If the other side lives just over the county line, the case may belong next door:
This is the part of the court built for ordinary money arguments. The procedure is stripped back, and there is a ceiling on the amount at stake.
Maximum claim
Either the place the dispute arose or the place the other party lives will usually work.
A single argument stays a single case; it cannot be carved up to fit the limit.
Judgments take the form of money owed; other kinds of relief are heard elsewhere.
North Dakota permits lawyers at the hearing without requiring them. Everything is built around people presenting their own case.
Where a party is under 18, the court appoints a guardian to act.
Over the limit? Two routes exist: reduce the claim to the cap and stay here, or take the full sum to regular civil court. Reducing it normally forfeits the difference.
These are the limits for Richland County, population about 16,658. They are the same across all 15 Richland County ZIP codes, from 58001 onward.
Small claims exists for money owed, up to $15,000. The categories below come up more than any others.
Richland County Court House is the Richland County courthouse listed below. Richland County has about 16,658 residents.
It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.
Complete the claim form, choose the right court, and pay the filing fee.
The other side is formally served and has the chance to respond, or to settle before the hearing.
A brief, informal hearing, in person or, where the court offers it, by video. The judge rules at the hearing or sends the decision after.
Richland County Court House publishes its counter hours; they are listed on this page. This is the route a Richland County case takes, whether it starts in 58001 or anywhere else among the county ZIP codes.
Once the case is on file, the law requires the other side to be told about it formally. That step is service of process, and the papers cannot normally come from your own hand. In North Dakota, courts typically use the sheriff or constable, email service where the court allows it, delivery arranged by the court or certified mail.
Courts accept service by a sheriff or constable, a professional server, the clerk via certified mail, or an adult who is not party to the case. Permitted methods and charges change by county.
Each court sets how far before the hearing the defendant must be served. The clerk confirms your deadline when the hearing date is set. Service must be completed at least 3 days before hearing.
After delivery, the server fills out a proof of service, and that goes on the court file before the hearing.
Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.
Addresses in Richland County include places such as Abercrombie, Barney and Christine. A Richland County address carries one of its 15 ZIP codes, 58001, 58008 and 58015 among them.
Claims do not stay open indefinitely. Time runs from the events themselves, and a filing made afterwards may be shut out.
| Claim type | Time limit to file |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Oral contract | 6 years |
| Property damage | 6 years |
| Personal injury | 6 years |
The same periods apply in Richland County as in nearby Sargent County and Ransom County, which are in the same state. Richland County, population about 16,658, is covered by the table above.
Money owed under a contract in North Dakota generally accrues interest at 6% per year before judgment (N.D. Cent. Code §47-14-05).
The Squabble interest calculator shows what the accrued figure comes to on top of the principal.
It is the same rate across all 15 Richland County ZIP codes. The rate above is the one for Richland County, population about 16,658.
Verify the figure is inside the limit and that you are still within the deadline for this claim type.
State the party's full legal name, explain the events, and set out the calculation.
File with the Richland County small-claims court on paper, by mail or at the counter, and pay the $20–$40 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).
Service comes after the date is set. File the server's proof once the papers have been delivered.
Sort the documents and exhibits in advance so they can be handed up in order.
Come to the hearing in person or remotely where permitted, present the facts, and get the ruling.
Describe the dispute to Eleanor. Squabble drafts the paperwork, puts it through a Triple-Check™ for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and lodges it with the court.
Start for FREE →Three documents recur: the claim form that begins it, the proof of service confirming delivery, and a fee waiver if eligible. Names vary locally; Squabble selects the correct versions.
Richland County takes in filings from 15 ZIP codes, 58001 first in the list. Richland County papers go to Richland County Court House in Wahpeton.
Expect a short, informal hearing in which the judge asks the questions. Most people present their own case.
Hearings in Richland County cases are listed at Richland County Court House in Wahpeton. Abercrombie, Barney and Christine are among the Richland County places a hearing can draw parties from.
A judgment is the court's decision. Collecting it is a separate step, with court-backed tools if the other side doesn't pay. Which tools are available depends on state law.
Wage garnishment, where the state permits it, sends part of the debtor's pay toward the judgment.
A court-ordered levy allows funds to be taken from the debtor's bank account.
Lodging the judgment with the county can create a lien over property the debtor owns.
You may also apply for an order compelling the debtor to attend and disclose income and assets on oath. Interest generally continues at the rate the state sets until the debt is met.
Abercrombie, Barney and Christine are among the Richland County places a judgment debtor may live in. Sargent County and Ransom County are the counties nearest to Richland County.
Last reviewed August 2026. Court fees, limits, and procedures change. Verify current details with the court before filing.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares your demand letter and court-ready documents, Triple-Checks them for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your Richland County case for you.
