Up to $5,000 · 5 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In Arkansas, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims Division (District Court), where you can sue for up to $5,000.
Your deadline: Arkansas generally gives you 5 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $75 (About $65–$75 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Ark. Code § 16-17-605; deadlines: Ark. Code §§ 16-56-105, 16-56-111. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Written contract 5 yrs; oral contract 3; property damage and personal injury 3 yrs.
Suing for something else in Arkansas: Arkansas unpaid loan · Arkansas property damage · Arkansas unpaid rent · Arkansas contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Texas ($20,000, 4 years) · Louisiana ($5,000, 10 years) · Mississippi ($3,500, 3 years) · Tennessee ($25,000, 6 years) · Missouri ($5,000, 10 years) · Oklahoma ($10,000, 5 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026