Start free

Small claims forms · Wisconsin

Wisconsin small claims court forms, filled in for you

Answer a few questions once. Vera fills in the Wisconsin 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
Sign online where the court accepts it. E-filing: The person's own eFiling account (Wis. Stat. 801.18(12)). Forms sworn before a notary or the clerk are still signed by hand.

To sue (you're the plaintiff)

  • Summons and Complaint (Small Claims) (SC-500)Sign online

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

    What to know
    • This is the Wisconsin circuit court's form, which may not be modified. The court's Pre-Judgment: Basic Steps for Handling a Small Claims Case for RECOVERY OF MONEY (SC-6020V) names this form, or the same form with instructions on the left (SC-500I), to start a small claims case.
    • Small claims covers a claim for money of $10,000 or less, and a tort or personal injury claim of $5,000 or less (s. 799.01(1)(cr), (d), Wis. Stats.). From January 1, 2027, the limit for a claim for money and other civil actions under s. 799.01(1)(d) is $15,000 (2025 Wis. Act 105); the tort and personal injury limit in s. 799.01(1)(cr) is $5,000. The form (03/26) prints "Claim for money ($10,000 or less)".
    • File in the county where the claim arose, where the property that is the subject of your claim is located, or where the defendant lives or does business (SC-6020V). Make two copies for each person you are suing and bring them with the signed original to the clerk of circuit court (the form). The court's fee table lists $94.50 to commence a small claims action of $10,000 or less (Wisconsin Circuit Court Fee, Forfeiture, Fine and Surcharge Tables, updated September 2, 2026). If you cannot afford a court fee, you can ask the court to waive it with the Petition for Waiver of Filing Fees and Costs - Declaration of Indigency (CV-410A) and the Order on Waiver of Filing Fees and Costs (CV-410B) (SC-6000V).
    • Vera filled the county when your court's name gives it, you as plaintiff and the other side as defendant on the first line of each block, the case number if your case has one, and your name on the line "Plaintiff’s Name Printed or Typed". From your answers in Court forms it filled the address lines under both names, the brief statement of facts in item 2 (what the money is for, and how you added it up), and your address, email and telephone number on page 2. Check each one. The form has room for one defendant: list any other defendant, such as a second one you named, on an attached sheet and check "See attached for additional defendants." (the form).
    • From what your claim is about, Vera checked the case type on the right and the same box in item 1 of the complaint with the amount on its line: "Claim for money ($10,000 or less)" for a loan, an unpaid bill, a contract, rent or a security deposit, and "Tort/Personal injury ($5,000 or less)" for an injury. For damage to property or another claim, Vera checks neither and fills no amount: check the one that fits and write the amount on its line (the form). Item 1 prints "Plus interest, costs, attorney fees, if any": there is no blank for them.
    • Still yours: add the dates to item 2 ("Briefly explain the facts and why the court should award you what you are asking for", SC-500I), and check "I am the: plaintiff." (the form).
    • If your claim is for the return of a residential security deposit: the landlord must deliver or mail the deposit, less the amounts the law allows it to withhold, within 21 days after the rental agreement ends (or the other date the law gives), with a written statement of each amount withheld (s. 704.28(4), Wis. Stats.; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06(2), (4)), and a person who suffers a monetary loss because of a violation of ch. ATCP 134 "may recover twice the amount of the loss, together with costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees" (s. 100.20(5), Wis. Stats.; note to ch. ATCP 134). Use this same form and check "Claim for money" (Vera checks it if you said the claim is for a security deposit).
    • Leave the summons part blank: "The clerk will check one or both" boxes, and "Leave dates blank; the clerk or plaintiff’s attorney will enter them" (SC-500I). The return date is 8 to 30 days after the summons is issued for a Wisconsin resident, and at least 20 days for a nonresident (s. 799.05(3)(b), (c), Wis. Stats.).
    • Each defendant must be served at least 8 days before the return date (s. 799.05(3)(b), Wis. Stats.); the court's service guide says "Not less than eight (8) business days before the return date" and no later than 90 calendar days after filing (Pre-Judgment: Basic Steps to Small Claims Service, SC-6050V). How depends on the county: by the sheriff, a private process server, or another adult resident of Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan or Minnesota who is not a party, by substitute service at the defendant's home, or by mail from the clerk only where a local court rule allows it (SC-6050V; s. 799.12(2), (3), Wis. Stats.).
    • Complete a Declaration of Nonmilitary Service (GF-175) for each defendant, and file it and any proof of service with the clerk at or before the first court date or answer deadline. Follow the local court rules for attending the first court date: "Some counties require all parties to come to court. Other counties allow the other party to answer in writing" (SC-6020V).
    • You may bring or defend the case yourself or with a lawyer. A business may appear by a member, agent or authorized employee; an assignee of a claim may not appear by an employee unless that employee is a lawyer (s. 799.06(2), Wis. Stats.).
    • The complaint does not need to be notarized: a court may not require it (s. 799.06(3)(b), Wis. Stats.). Vera never signs or dates a form. Sign it and write the date after you print it.

If you were sued (you're the defendant)

  • Answer and Counterclaim (Small Claims) (SC-5200V)Sign online

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

    What to know
    • This is the Wisconsin circuit court's voluntary form, which may not be modified. The court's Basic Guide to Wisconsin Small Claims Actions (SC-6000V) and Pre-Judgment: Basic Steps for Filing an Answer to Complaint (SC-6040V) name it for a written answer and a counterclaim.
    • Read your Summons and Complaint (Small Claims) (SC-500). It says: "You must appear at the time and place stated. AND / OR ... You must file a written answer and provide a copy to the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney on or before the date and time stated." Do what it says, by the date and time it gives. "If you do not appear or answer, the plaintiff may win this case and a judgment entered for what the plaintiff is asking" (the summons). Rules differ by county (SC-6000V).
    • Bring the form and 3 copies to the clerk of court in the county where the case was filed, and give a copy to the plaintiff as the local rules require. If you mail it, file a Declaration of Mailing (SC-5130V) (SC-6040V).
    • Check the county, names and case number at the top against your summons and complaint. Vera fills the county only when your court's name gives it. Vera filled the plaintiff, you as defendant, the case number if your case has one, and your printed name under the signature line. From your answers in Court forms it filled both addresses (the plaintiff's as you gave it) and, under your signature, your address, email and telephone number.
    • From your answers, Vera checked 1 in the Answer ("This matter IS NOT contested") if you agree you owe it, or 2 ("This matter IS contested") with your reasons if you disagree with all or part of it (with the amount you agree you owe, if you gave it); and on page 2 whether you have a counterclaim/demand against the plaintiff, with the amount, the date if you gave it, and why if you do. Check each one against your own words (the form).
    • There is no fee for a counterclaim unless it is for more than $10,000, or a tort or personal injury counterclaim for more than $5,000 (SC-6000V). Above that, the fee table lists $125.50 for a counterclaim over $10,000 (updated September 2, 2026), the counterclaim must be served on the plaintiff personally within 60 days of filing, the case may move to regular civil court, and you must mail the Notice of Counterclaim (SC-5250V) the same day you file (SC-6000V; s. 799.02, Wis. Stats.). From January 1, 2027, the limit of s. 799.01(1)(d) is $15,000 (2025 Wis. Act 105), while these forms print $10,000.
    • You may bring or defend the case yourself or with a lawyer. A business may appear by a member, agent or authorized employee; an assignee of a claim may not appear by an employee unless that employee is a lawyer (s. 799.06(2), Wis. Stats.).
    • If you cannot afford a court fee, you can ask the court to waive it with the Petition for Waiver of Filing Fees and Costs - Declaration of Indigency (CV-410A) and the Order on Waiver of Filing Fees and Costs (CV-410B) (SC-6000V).
    • The signature does not need to be notarized (the form). Vera never signs or dates a form. Sign it and write the date after you print it.

  • Notice of Counterclaim - Claim against Plaintiff(s) (Small Claims) (SC-5250V)

    Only if your counterclaim is for more than the small claims limit.

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

    What to know
    • This is the Wisconsin circuit court's voluntary form, which may not be modified. Use it only if your counterclaim is beyond the limits of s. 799.01: then you must mail a notice to the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney at the address listed on the summons, on the same day you file the counterclaim (s. 799.02(3), Wis. Stats.). "Unless both parties are eFiling parties, the defendant(s) must mail this notice to the plaintiff(s) on the same day it is filed with the court" (the form).
    • The form prints the limits as "$10,000" and, for a tort or personal injury counterclaim, "$5,000". From January 1, 2027, the limit of s. 799.01(1)(d) is $15,000 (2025 Wis. Act 105); the form (10/21) had not been revised when Vera checked it on September 28, 2026.
    • Vera filled the county when your court's name gives it, the plaintiff, you as defendant and the case number if your case has one. In item 1, enter the name of each defendant filing the counterclaim and each plaintiff it is against, and in item 3 the telephone number of the clerk of circuit court (the form). Vera fills neither.
    • After you mail it, complete the Declaration of Mailing (SC-5130V) and file it with the clerk of court (SC-6000V). The counterclaim itself goes on the Answer and Counterclaim (SC-5200V), with the filing fee, and must be served on the plaintiff personally within 60 days of filing (SC-6000V).
    • A counterclaim beyond the limit that arises from the same transaction as the plaintiff's claim moves the whole case to regular civil procedure; one that does not is dismissed and the case stays in small claims (s. 799.02(1), (2), Wis. Stats.).

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.