New York · Kings County

Small Claims Court in Kings County

A complete filing guide.

Small claims in Kings County covers money disputes up to $10,000 and runs on simplified procedures built for people without a lawyer.

Below is what you need for a small claims case in Kings County: the limit, filing fees, which courthouse to use, how to serve the other side, your deadlines, and how to file. When you're ready, Squabble prepares everything and files it for you.

Claims up to $10,000 Squabble handles the filing Attorney-founded
Local Courts

Where to file small claims in Kings County

These cases are heard at the single courthouse below. Kings County confirms the venue from the defendant's address or where the events happened.

1
Kings County

Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.

1
Brooklyn
New York City Civil Court: Kings County
141 Livingston Street, Room 905, Brooklyn, NY, 11202
(347) 404-9021

Picking the right building matters. A ZIP code lookup on the court's official locator will name it, or Squabble pinpoints it automatically. Assignments do change, so confirm it first.

Small claims filings from Kings County are handled at New York City Civil Court: Kings County in Brooklyn. The nearest counties to Kings County are Queens County and New York County.

E-filing

You can open a small claims case here online, without travelling to the courthouse to hand the papers in.

Hearings

Hearings in small claims are attended in person at the courthouse.

What you bring

Copies of the evidence go to the judge and to the other party, and some courts allow it to be sent in electronically beforehand.

Local detail

Filing in Kings County

Small claims in Kings County

Kings County, New York, has a population of 2,617,631 and handles small claims matters through the City, Town and Village Courts system, with a claim limit of $5,000. The New York City Civil Court: Kings County is located in Brooklyn at 141 Livingston Street, Room 905, 11202, and it can be reached by phone at 347-404-9021 or (646) 386-5700. The clerk's office operates Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Electronic filing is available. The county includes the communities of Brooklyn and Jamaica, and covers ZIP codes such as 11201, 11203, 11215, 11221, and 11225, among others. Kings County lies near Queens County, New York County, and Richmond County. Additional information about the courthouse, including directions, is published at https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/nyc/civil/directionsKings.shtml.

Where Kings County hears these cases

New York City Civil Court: Kings County

141 Livingston Street, Room 905, Brooklyn, NY 11202
Hours
Monday to Friday9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday to SundayClosed

Kings County at a glance

Population2,617,631
Court sits inBrooklyn
Court systemCity, Town and Village Courts
Claim limit$5,000
ZIP codes in county53
Towns and cities2
Electronic filingAvailable

Towns and ZIP codes in Kings County

Kings County covers these 2 towns and cities:

Brooklyn, Jamaica.

All 53 ZIP codes in Kings County
1120111202112031120411205112061120711208112091121011211112121121311214112151121611217112181121911220112211122211223112241122511226112281122911230112311123211233112341123511236112371123811239112401124111242112431124411245112471124811249112511125211254112551125611425

Where it sits

Kings County is the 1st most populous of New York's 62 counties, with about 2,617,631 residents. New York City Civil Court: Kings County sits about 5 miles from the Queens County courthouse in Queens and 4 miles from the Richmond County courthouse in Staten Island.

Nearby counties

Counties nearest to this one:

Sources for Kings County

The Essentials

Small claims filing requirements in Kings County

$10,000
Maximum claim
No higher than $10,000
$15–$20
Court filing fee
Charged by the court, scaled to the claim
Available
E-filing
File electronically
Permitted
Lawyer at hearing
Allowed, not required
Jurisdiction

Small claims eligibility and court limits

Small claims handles money owed between ordinary people and businesses. Procedure is kept light, and claims are capped.

Maximum claim

$10,000Maximum claimThe most you can sue for in Kings County small claims
01

Where you can file

Venue follows the defendant: their county, not the county of the dispute.

02

No claim splitting

One dispute cannot be broken into several cases to slip under the cap.

03

Money judgments only

The court decides who pays whom and how much. Anything beyond money goes to a higher court.

04

A lawyer is optional

An attorney may appear at the hearing in New York, though nobody has to have one. The process assumes you will speak for yourself.

05

An adult brings the claim

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.

New York City Civil Court: Kings County is the courthouse listed for Kings County. These are the limits for Kings County, population about 2,617,631.

What You Can Sue For

What can you sue for in Kings County small claims court?

Where money is owed and the sum is no more than $10,000, this is the right court. The following disputes are the common ones.

New York City Civil Court: Kings County is the Kings County courthouse listed below. Kings County takes in Brooklyn and Jamaica and the rest of the county.

The Process

How small claims court works in Kings County

It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.

Step 01

File your claim

Fill in the claim, pick the courthouse that covers the dispute, and pay what the court charges.

Step 02

Serve & respond

The defendant receives the papers through formal service and can reply or negotiate an end to it.

Step 03

Hearing & decision

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.

New York City Civil Court: Kings County publishes its counter hours; they are listed on this page. New York City Civil Court: Kings County lists (646) 386-5700 as its number.

Service of Process

Small claims service of process in Kings County

A filed case still has to reach the defendant. Formal notice, known as service of process, does that, and delivering it personally is generally not allowed. New York courts usually take delivery by personal delivery by an approved server, the sheriff or constable, delivery arranged by the court, email service where the court allows it or certified mail.

Who delivers the papers

Who may serve depends on the court: law enforcement, a paid process server, the clerk by certified mail, or a disinterested adult. Costs and rules are local.

The cut-off

Courts set their own cut-off for how many days before the hearing notice must land. The clerk gives you that date along with the hearing date. Service 8 days before hearing. Court handles Proof of service since they do service.

The proof that goes on file

The person who delivered the papers signs a proof of service. That document goes to the court ahead of 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.

Queens County and New York County are the counties nearest to Kings County. A Kings County address carries one of its 53 ZIP codes, 11201, 11202 and 11203 among them.

Deadlines

Deadlines for filing small claims in New York

Every claim carries a filing window that opens when the dispute happens. Once it closes, the court can turn the case away.

Claim typeDeadline to file
Written contract6 years
Oral contract6 years
Property damage3 years
Personal injury3 years
The clock starts on the day of the breach, the damage or the injury, and some claim types run to their own schedule. Check the date that applies to yours.

Kings County, population about 2,617,631, is covered by the table above. They do not change from one Kings County ZIP code to another, 11201 included.

Interest

Small claims interest in Kings County

Money owed under a contract in New York generally accrues interest at 9% per year before judgment (N.Y. CPLR §5001-5004).

Interest can be calculated before filing using the Squabble interest calculator.

It is the same rate across all 53 Kings County ZIP codes. The rate above is the one for Kings County, population about 2,617,631.

Step by Step

How to file a small claims case in Kings County

01

Confirm your claim qualifies

Verify the figure is inside the limit and that you are still within the deadline for this claim type.

02

Prepare the claim form

Name the correct party, describe what happened, and show how the amount is calculated.

03

File and pay the fee

File with the Kings County small-claims court, or e-file, and pay the $15–$20 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).

04

Serve the defendant

With a hearing date in hand, organise service and lodge the completed proof with the court.

05

Prepare your evidence

Organize documents and exhibits so you can present them clearly at the hearing.

06

Attend the hearing

Attend the hearing, in person or by video if that is offered, make your case, and receive the outcome.

Or let Squabble do it

Go through the events with Eleanor. The documents are prepared, Triple-Checked™ for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and filed for you.

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Forms you'll see

A claim form opens the case, a proof of service records that notice was given, and a fee waiver applies where you qualify. Titles differ between courts, and Squabble uses the ones your courthouse expects.

Kings County takes in filings from 53 ZIP codes, 11201 first in the list. Kings County papers go to New York City Civil Court: Kings County in Brooklyn.

The Hearing

What happens at a small claims hearing?

Small claims hearings are short and informal, and the judge asks questions directly. Most people present their own case.

New York City Civil Court: Kings County sits at the 11202 address shown above. Brooklyn and Jamaica are among the Kings County places a hearing can draw parties from.

After a Judgment

How to collect a small claims judgment

The decision settles who owes what. Turning it into money is a separate stage, and the tools the court makes available differ by state.

Taking it from wages

Where the law allows, an employer can be directed to send part of the debtor's pay to the court.

Account levy

A levy lets the court reach money sitting in the debtor's bank account.

Property lien

Recording the judgment with the county can place a lien on the debtor's real property.

Courts can also summon the debtor to answer questions about income and property under oath. Until the balance is paid, interest usually continues to run at the statutory rate.

The judgment in a Kings County case comes from New York City Civil Court: Kings County in Brooklyn. Brooklyn and Jamaica are among the Kings County places a judgment debtor may live in.

FAQ

Kings County small claims court FAQs

How much can you sue for in Kings County small claims?+
Generally up to $10,000 in Kings County. Some states set a lower limit for businesses, so confirm your figure with the court.
What are the filing fees?+
The court sets the filing fee, and it rises with the amount claimed ($15–$20 in this county). A waiver of the fee exists for those who qualify.
Where do you file in Kings County?+
At New York City Civil Court: Kings County. At filing, the court settles the location from the defendant's address or the place the dispute arose.
Can you bring an attorney?+
A lawyer is not required. These procedures assume self-representation, and most people appear without one. New York does allow attorneys at the hearing (N.Y. City Civ. Ct. Act sec. 1809(2) (corporation may appear "by an attorney as well as by any authorized officer, director or employee") - https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CCA/1809).
How long until the hearing?+
Expect roughly 30-90 days between filing and the hearing, subject to how busy the court is. The judge decides then or sends the outcome on.
How long do you have to bring a claim?+
It depends on the claim: 6 years for a written contract, 6 years for an oral contract, 3 years for property damage, and 3 years for personal injury. Particular claims can run to other periods, and a filing made after the deadline can be barred.
Can you file online in Kings County?+
Yes. Small claims cases in Kings County can be started electronically; hearings are held at the courthouse.
Where is the courthouse in Kings County?+
New York City Civil Court: Kings County is at 141 Livingston Street, Room 905, Brooklyn, NY 11202. Public hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Saturday to Sunday Closed. The clerk can be reached on (646) 386-5700.
Which towns does Kings County cover?+
Kings County covers 2 towns and cities across 53 ZIP codes, including Brooklyn, Jamaica. A dispute with an address in any of them is generally handled by this county.

Official sources

Reviewed August 2026. Fees, limits and procedures are revised from time to time, so confirm them with the court before you file.

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