Up to $5,000 · 6 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In New Jersey, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims Section (Special Civil Part, Superior Court), where you can sue for up to $5,000.
Your deadline: New Jersey 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 $35 (About $15–$35 plus a mileage/service fee.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: N.J. Ct. R. 6:11; deadlines: N.J. Stat. §§ 2A:14-1, 2A:14-2. 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 New Jersey: New Jersey unpaid loan · New Jersey property damage · New Jersey unpaid rent · New Jersey contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: New York ($10,000, 6 years) · Pennsylvania ($12,000, 4 years) · Delaware ($25,000, 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