Up to $10,000 · 3 years to file.
Money you lent to a person or business that was never paid back. In District of Columbia, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch (DC Superior Court), where you can sue for up to $10,000.
Your deadline: District of Columbia generally gives you 3 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 $45 (About $45 to file plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: D.C. Code § 11-1321; deadlines: D.C. Code § 12-301. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Contract, property damage, and personal injury all 3 yrs.
Suing for something else in District of Columbia: District of Columbia security deposit · District of Columbia property damage · District of Columbia unpaid rent · District of Columbia contractor dispute.
Suing for unpaid loan in nearby states: Maryland ($5,000, 3 years) · Virginia ($5,000, 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