Up to $15,000 · 6 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In Minnesota, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Conciliation Court (District Court), where you can sue for up to $15,000.
Your deadline: Minnesota generally gives you 6 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–$80 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 491A.01; deadlines: Minn. Stat. §§ 541.05, 541.07. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Contract and property damage 6 yrs; personal injury 2 yrs.
Suing for something else in Minnesota: Minnesota unpaid loan · Minnesota property damage · Minnesota unpaid rent · Minnesota contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Wisconsin ($10,000, 6 years) · Iowa ($6,500, 10 years) · South Dakota ($12,000, 6 years) · North Dakota ($15,000, 6 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