How does small claims court work in Minnesota?

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Accepted Answer

1. Jurisdictional Limit    Minn. Stat. § 491A.01, subd. 3a, caps Conciliation Court jurisdiction at $20,000 for most claims and $4,000 for consumer credit transactions (debt collection by creditors).    2. Court Name    Conciliation Court — the small claims division of the District Court (Minnesota's distinctive name).    3. Filing Fee    Filing fees are tiered: $75 (up to $2,000), $90 ($2,001-$7,500), $125 (over $7,500). Indigent filers may submit an Affidavit for Proceeding in Forma Pauperis under Minn. Stat. § 563.01.    4. Filing the Claim    File a Statement of Claim and Summons in the county where the defendant resides or where the cause of action arose (Minn. Stat. § 491A.01, subd. 2). Service is performed by the court via U.S. mail to in-state defendants; out-of-state defendants require personal service.    5. Defendant's Response    No written answer is required. The court sets a hearing date 30-60 days from filing. Counterclaims may be raised orally at the hearing or filed in writing. Failure to appear results in default judgment.    6. Attorney Representation    Attorneys are permitted on both sides but rare (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 512). Corporations and LLCs may appear through an officer, manager, or other authorized employee. The relaxed format favors pro se litigants.    7. Hearing    A judge or referee conducts an informal hearing; the Minnesota Rules of Evidence apply only as guidance (Gen. R. Prac. 512). The decision is sent by mail several days later.    8. Judgment & Collection    Either party may "remove" the case to the District Court for a trial de novo within 20 days (Minn. Stat. § 491A.02, subd. 6) — this is automatic on request and effectively eliminates conciliation court informality. After 20 days, the conciliation court judgment becomes the District Court judgment. Collection tools include wage garnishment under Minn. Stat. ch. 571 (subject to 25% federal cap), bank levies, and judgment liens docketed under § 548.09.    9. Statute of Limitations    Standard SOLs apply: 6 years for contracts (Minn. Stat. § 541.05), 6 years for property damage (§ 541.05(1)(4)), 2 years for personal injury caused by intentional torts and 6 years for negligent injury (§ 541.07 and § 541.05), and 6 years for fraud (§ 541.05(1)(6)).  This is legal information, not legal advice.