Up to $10,000 · 6 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In Wisconsin, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims Court (Circuit Court), where you can sue for up to $10,000.
Your deadline: Wisconsin 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 $95 (About $90–$95 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Wis. Stat. § 799.01; deadlines: Wis. Stat. §§ 893.43, 893.52, 893.54. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Contract and property damage 6 yrs; personal injury 3 yrs.
Suing for something else in Wisconsin: Wisconsin unpaid loan · Wisconsin property damage · Wisconsin unpaid rent · Wisconsin contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Minnesota ($15,000, 6 years) · Iowa ($6,500, 10 years) · Illinois ($10,000, 10 years) · Michigan ($7,000, 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