Start free

Small claims forms · District of Columbia

District of Columbia small claims court forms, filled in for you

Answer a few questions once. Vera fills in the District of Columbia court's own forms from your answers, walks you through anything left, and gives you one packet to file, with how to file it.

Fill in my forms — start free

To sue (you're the plaintiff)

  • Statement of Claim (CV-471, Small Claims Form 11)

    Only if the claim is not to collect a consumer debt.

    The court's own form (www.dccourts.gov)

    What to know
    • This is the court's Statement of Claim (CV-471/July 2023, Small Claims Form 11). For a claim to collect a consumer debt, the court has the Statement of Claim for Consumer Debt Cases instead (the form; DC Courts, Search Forms, Small Claims).
    • File in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Civil Division, Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, 510 4th Street, NW, Room 120, Washington, D.C. 20001, (202) 879-1120 (the form). It hears actions "only for the recovery of money, if the amount in controversy does not exceed $10,000, exclusive of interest, attorney fees, protest fees, and costs"; an action affecting an interest in real property may not be brought there (D.C. Code § 11-1321).
    • Vera filled you as the plaintiff, the other side as the defendant, and the case number only if your case has one (otherwise leave it for the clerk). From your answers in Court forms it filled each side's address, city, state and ZIP, phone and email (the defendant's only if you gave it). Check each one (the form). The Defendant(s) block has room for one address: if you are suing a second defendant, Vera leaves them off, so ask the Small Claims Clerk's Office at (202) 879-1120 how to add them and their address (the form).
    • The claim goes under STATEMENT OF CLAIM, "in concise form and free of technicalities" (D.C. Code § 16-3902(a)), and what you ask for, with the amount, under Request for Relief (the form). From your answers Vera wrote there why the money is owed, how you added up the amount and when it happened, and "Judgment against the defendant for" the amount you gave, then, if you said you ask for interest, "Plus interest" with the amount, rate and date you gave. Read them and change anything that is not exactly right; add any other relief you ask for yourself (the form).
    • If your words are longer than the form's lines, the last line says "(continued on the attached sheet)" and a sheet added at the end has them in full: file that sheet with the form. The form has no line for a business's registered agent, so Vera leaves the agent off it (the form).
    • The plaintiff or an agent must verify the statement of claim by oath or affirmation and sign it (D.C. Code § 16-3902(a)). The sworn part ("being first duly sworn on oath says the foregoing is a just and true statement of the amount owing by the defendant to plaintiff") is completed before a notary public or deputy clerk. Vera fills nothing in it and never signs or dates a form (the form).
    • At an individual's request the clerk of the Branch prepares the statement of claim and other papers, but that help is "not available to a corporation, partnership, or association" (D.C. Code § 16-3902(a)). The court's notice tells the defendant "You may come with or without an attorney" (D.C. Code § 16-3902(e)); the form has a block for an attorney for plaintiff, which you leave blank if you have none (the form).
    • The defendant gets a notice with a copy of the statement of claim, served by the United States marshal, by registered or certified mail with return receipt (the clerk mails it, with postage paid by the plaintiff), or by a person not a party to or otherwise interested in the action whom the clerk authorizes or the judge appoints; that person proves service by affidavit before the clerk (D.C. Code § 16-3902(a) to (c)). The court's information sheet says a special process server needs an "Application for Approval of Special Process Server" (Small Claims Information Sheet, CV-3046).
    • The clerk gives you the day and hour of the hearing, "not less than 5 nor more than 30 days" after filing; if the defendant is the District of Columbia or its officer or agency, at least 30 days, with a copy served on the Corporation Counsel within 15 days of filing (D.C. Code § 16-3902(g), (h)). Before any case goes to trial, a trained mediator meets with the parties; without a settlement, the trial may be set for another day (the form, Instructions to Defendants).
    • If the defendant does not appear and your claim is for a liquidated amount, the verification entitles you to a judgment by default without further proof; if the amount is unliquidated, you must prove your claim (D.C. Code § 16-3902(f)).
    • The court's Small Claims forms also include the Small Claims Information Sheet (CV-3046/Rev. Sept. 2018), whose information is "used solely for court administration and statistical purposes"; it asks the service method, the amount in controversy and the nature of the suit. Vera does not fill it; ask the Small Claims Clerk's Office at (202) 879-1120 whether to file it with your claim (the sheet; DC Courts, Search Forms, Small Claims).
    • If your claim is for a residential security deposit: within 45 days after the tenancy ends the housing provider must notify the tenant in writing of any alleged unpaid amounts, with photographs or other documentation; the tenant then has 30 calendar days to dispute them. The Office of Administrative Hearings may also hear complaints for the non-return of a deposit (D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(a), (b), (e)).

  • Statement of Claim for Consumer Debt Cases

    Only if the claim is to collect a consumer debt.

    The court's own form (www.dccourts.gov)

    What to know
    • This is the court's Statement of Claim for Consumer Debt Cases (June 2023), for a claim to collect a consumer debt (the form; DC Courts, Search Forms, Small Claims).
    • File in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Civil Division, Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, 510 4th Street, NW, Room 120, Washington, D.C. 20001, (202) 879-1120 (the form). It hears actions "only for the recovery of money, if the amount in controversy does not exceed $10,000, exclusive of interest, attorney fees, protest fees, and costs"; an action affecting an interest in real property may not be brought there (D.C. Code § 11-1321).
    • Vera filled you as the plaintiff, the other side as the defendant, and the case number only if your case has one (otherwise leave it for the clerk). From your answers in Court forms it filled each side's address, city, state and ZIP, phone and email (the defendant's only if you gave it). Check each one (the form). The Defendant(s) block has room for one address: if you are suing a second defendant, Vera leaves them off, so ask the Small Claims Clerk's Office at (202) 879-1120 how to add them and their address (the form).
    • From your answers Vera wrote the claim on the lines under the heading (why the money is owed, how you added up the amount and when it happened) and "Judgment against the defendant for" the amount you gave under Request for Relief on page 3, with "Plus interest" and the amount, rate and date you gave if you said you ask for interest. Check both. The statute's itemized accounting below asks the interest separately, split by who imposed it: Vera leaves it to you (the form).
    • Still yours: the "Information Required by Statute (D.C. Code Section 28-3814)": the type of debt, the original creditor and current owner, the last 4 digits of the account number, the date the debt was incurred and of the last payment, the itemized accounting, the basis for interest and fees, any prejudgment interest under Small Claims Rule 19, and each prior owner and date of transfer. Vera was not told them and writes none of it (the form).
    • If your words are longer than the form's lines, the last line says "(continued on the attached sheet)" and a sheet added at the end has them in full: file that sheet with the form. The form has no line for a business's registered agent, so Vera leaves the agent off it (the form).
    • The form states that the suit "has been filed within the applicable statute of limitations period" and that the plaintiff or counsel has reviewed D.C. Code § 28-3814 and Small Claims Rule 19(b) and attached the documents they require (the form).
    • The plaintiff or an agent must verify the statement of claim by oath or affirmation and sign it (D.C. Code § 16-3902(a)). The sworn part ("being first duly sworn on oath says the foregoing is a just and true statement of the amount owing by the defendant to plaintiff") is completed before a notary public or deputy clerk. Vera fills nothing in it and never signs or dates a form (the form).
    • At an individual's request the clerk of the Branch prepares the statement of claim and other papers, but that help is "not available to a corporation, partnership, or association" (D.C. Code § 16-3902(a)). The court's notice tells the defendant "You may come with or without an attorney" (D.C. Code § 16-3902(e)); the form has a block for an attorney for plaintiff, which you leave blank if you have none (the form).
    • The defendant gets a notice with a copy of the statement of claim, served by the United States marshal, by registered or certified mail with return receipt (the clerk mails it, with postage paid by the plaintiff), or by a person not a party to or otherwise interested in the action whom the clerk authorizes or the judge appoints; that person proves service by affidavit before the clerk (D.C. Code § 16-3902(a) to (c)). The court's information sheet says a special process server needs an "Application for Approval of Special Process Server" (Small Claims Information Sheet, CV-3046).
    • The clerk gives you the day and hour of the hearing, "not less than 5 nor more than 30 days" after filing; if the defendant is the District of Columbia or its officer or agency, at least 30 days, with a copy served on the Corporation Counsel within 15 days of filing (D.C. Code § 16-3902(g), (h)). Before any case goes to trial, a trained mediator meets with the parties; without a settlement, the trial may be set for another day (the form, Instructions to Defendants).
    • If the defendant does not appear and your claim is for a liquidated amount, the verification entitles you to a judgment by default without further proof; if the amount is unliquidated, you must prove your claim (D.C. Code § 16-3902(f)).
    • The court's Small Claims forms also include the Small Claims Information Sheet (CV-3046/Rev. Sept. 2018), whose information is "used solely for court administration and statistical purposes"; it asks the service method, the amount in controversy and the nature of the suit. Vera does not fill it; ask the Small Claims Clerk's Office at (202) 879-1120 whether to file it with your claim (the sheet; DC Courts, Search Forms, Small Claims).

If you were sued (you're the defendant)

  • Answer of Defendant (Form CV(6)-451)

    The court's own form (www.dccourts.gov)

    What to know
    • This is the Superior Court's Answer of Defendant (Form CV(6)-451/Jan. 2020), shared by three branches of the Civil Division; it cites "Super. Ct. SC R. 5" (the form).
    • Vera marked the Small Claims & Conciliation Branch box and filled the plaintiff, you as the defendant, the case number if your case has one (it is on your papers), and your printed name (the form).
    • From your answers in Court forms Vera wrote your answer on the lines (whether you dispute all, part or none of the claim, how much you agree you owe if you dispute part, and why) and your street address, city, state and ZIP, email and phone beside the signature. Read the answer and change anything that is not exactly right (the form). If it is longer than the lines, the last line says "(continued on the attached sheet)" and a sheet added at the end has it in full: file that sheet with the answer (the form has five lines).
    • Complete the certificate of service: the date, whether you e-served or mailed the answer, and the name and address of each party or attorney you sent it to. Vera leaves it for you, as it certifies what you did (the form). Vera never signs or dates a form: sign and date it.
    • "You must participate in your hearing on the date and time stated on the Notice to avoid the entry of a judgment by default." "Even if you want to admit the claim, and just need more time to pay, you must still come to court to explain your situation." If you cannot attend, call the Small Claims Clerk's Office at (202) 879-1120 (Statement of Claim, Instructions to Defendants).
    • Before trial a trained mediator meets with the parties. Bring witnesses, books, receipts or other documents about the case; to have witnesses summoned, contact the Small Claims Clerk's Office. "You do not have to have a lawyer" (Statement of Claim, Instructions to Defendants).
    • If you claim the plaintiff owes you, the judge may require a formal plea of set-off or waive it; a counterclaim over the Branch's limit stays in the Branch and is tried there (D.C. Code § 16-3904). The court's Counterclaim form is offered with this answer.

  • Counterclaim (Small Claims and Conciliation Branch)

    Only if you have a claim against the plaintiff.

    The court's own form (www.dccourts.gov)

    What to know
    • This is the court's Counterclaim for the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch ("SCCC"; no revision date printed) (the form; DC Courts, Search Forms, Small Claims).
    • Vera filled the plaintiff, you as the defendant on line (1), and the case number if your case has one. From your answers in Court forms it filled the plaintiff's address under the plaintiff's name. Add any other defendants on lines (2) and (3) (the form).
    • If you told Vera you are suing the plaintiff back, it wrote on the counterclaim lines the amount you claim, what it is for, in your words, and when it happened if you gave the date. Check them: the sworn statement below says it is "a just and true statement of the amount owing by the plaintiff to defendant" (the form). Words longer than the four lines end with "(continued on the attached sheet)" and go in full on a sheet added at the end (the form has four lines).
    • The counterclaim is sworn: "being first duly sworn, on oath says the foregoing is a just and true statement of the amount owing by the plaintiff to defendant", subscribed before the clerk or a notary public. Vera fills nothing in it and never signs or dates a form (the form).
    • The form has a line for the plaintiff to sign under "I hereby accept service" (the form). If the counterclaim is for more than the Branch's limit but within the Superior Court's jurisdiction, the action stays in the Branch and is tried there in its entirety (D.C. Code § 16-3904). A claim or defense affecting an interest in real property sends the action to the Civil Division (D.C. Code § 11-1321).
    • "You must participate in your hearing on the date and time stated on the Notice to avoid the entry of a judgment by default." "Even if you want to admit the claim, and just need more time to pay, you must still come to court to explain your situation." If you cannot attend, call the Small Claims Clerk's Office at (202) 879-1120 (Statement of Claim, Instructions to Defendants).

Checked against the court's own forms and rules. Courts change forms; check with the clerk before you file. This page is general information, not legal advice.