Up to $5,000 · 10 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In Louisiana, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the City Court / Parish Court (small claims), where you can sue for up to $5,000.
Your deadline: Louisiana generally gives you 10 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 $50–$100 plus service, by parish.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: La. Rev. Stat. § 13:5200; deadlines: La. Civ. Code arts. 3492, 3499. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Contract (prescription) 10 yrs; delictual/property damage and personal injury 1 yr (Louisiana is uniquely short on torts).
Suing for something else in Louisiana: Louisiana unpaid loan · Louisiana property damage · Louisiana unpaid rent · Louisiana contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Texas ($20,000, 4 years) · Arkansas ($5,000, 5 years) · Mississippi ($3,500, 3 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