Pennsylvania County Small Claims Resources
County-specific filing links, fee notes, and local FAQs for Philadelphia, Allegheny, and Montgomery.
County court finder
Pennsylvania small claims is county-by-county even when the $12,000 cap looks uniform.
The useful local work is figuring out whether you are in Philadelphia Municipal Court or a magisterial district court, which office actually takes the filing, how service and fees are handled locally, and which map or jurisdiction tool the county expects you to use first.
How To Use These County Pages
Use the local court links first, then confirm filing channel, fee schedule, service rules, and help-desk availability before you submit anything.
Philadelphia is different
Most Pennsylvania counties use magisterial district judges for small civil claims up to $12,000. Philadelphia uses Municipal Court Civil instead, with its own forms, fees, and filing center.
Use the district finder before filing
Allegheny and Montgomery both publish local tools or directories because venue depends on the correct district office, not just the county name.
Do not guess on fees or service
Philadelphia publishes a detailed small claims fee sheet, while the magisterial district court counties rely more heavily on local office directories, cost tables, and court maps.
Philadelphia County
Philadelphia Municipal Court Civil Division
Philadelphia is where thin Pennsylvania content usually breaks down. It is not an MDJ county page. The city has a separate Municipal Court Civil workflow with a statement-of-claim packet, a current small claims fee sheet, and an FAQ written for local litigants.
Official Links
Philadelphia Municipal Court Civil
Official civil-division page for Philadelphia Municipal Court small claims users.
Statement Of Claim Form
Philadelphia's statement-of-claim packet and instructions for starting the case.
Philadelphia Small Claims FAQ
Court-written local FAQ for common Philadelphia small claims questions.
Philadelphia Filing Fees
Current Municipal Court small claims filing-fee sheet for Philadelphia cases.
Filing Details
- Philadelphia Municipal Court handles small claims actions up to $12,000 and uses its own Statement of Claim form and instructions.
- The current Philadelphia small claims filing-fee sheet shows a total of $94.75 for one Philadelphia defendant on claims up to $2,000 and $116.75 for claims from $2,000.01 to $12,000, with added fees for extra defendants or out-of-county service.
- The Office of Judicial Records Civil fee guide says litigants seeking a fee waiver should file the in forma pauperis petition at the same time as the document that requires a fee in Civil Filing Center, Room 296, City Hall.
Do I use a magisterial district court if my case is in Philadelphia?
No. Philadelphia County uses Municipal Court Civil for small claims, not the magisterial district judge system used across most other Pennsylvania counties.
What if I cannot afford the Philadelphia filing fee?
Philadelphia's Office of Judicial Records Civil guide says to file the in forma pauperis petition at the same time as the pleading that requires a fee, and to do it through the Civil Filing Center in Room 296 at City Hall.
Allegheny County
Allegheny County Magisterial District Courts
Allegheny County is a strong case for county-specific content because the county actually gives users a filing-location search, a live district directory, and central administration contact information. That is much more useful than a thin statewide paragraph.
Official Links
Allegheny Magisterial District Courts
Main county page for Allegheny magisterial district courts.
Search Filing Locations
Official Allegheny tool for finding the proper district court by address or ZIP.
Allegheny District Court Directory
Live directory of Allegheny district court offices, judges, and hours.
Allegheny Division Phone Numbers
County contact directory including magisterial district court administration.
Filing Details
- Allegheny's filing-location search says a civil action against an individual may be filed where the person may be served, where the cause of action arose, or where the relevant transaction or occurrence took place.
- The county's district court directory says 46 magisterial district courts serve the Fifth Judicial District and lists each office's address, phone number, and public hours.
- Magisterial District Court Administration is at 437 Grant Street, 340 Frick Building, Pittsburgh, with published hours of Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
How do I find the right Allegheny magisterial district court?
Use the county's filing-location search first. Allegheny built that tool specifically so users can match the address or ZIP to the correct district office before filing.
Is there one countywide small claims counter in downtown Pittsburgh?
No. Allegheny has countywide administration downtown, but the filing itself depends on the correct magisterial district court office. The local directory shows those community-based offices and their hours.
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Magisterial District Courts
Montgomery County gives litigants several better-than-average local tools: a county MDJ page, a 'find my court' tool, district-boundary materials, and a current judge-and-jurisdiction directory. That is exactly the kind of county-specific content the page should surface.
Official Links
Montgomery MDJ Courts
Main Montgomery County magisterial district court page with local court basics.
Find My Montgomery District Court
County tool for locating the correct Montgomery magisterial district court.
Current Addresses And Jurisdictions
Current county directory listing judge offices, municipalities, and contact details.
Montgomery District Boundaries
Boundary resource for checking which Montgomery district covers the dispute.
Filing Details
- Montgomery County says its magisterial district courts handle civil claims where damages do not exceed $12,000 and that the site provides commonly requested information, forms, and FAQs.
- The county's 'Find My Magisterial District Court' tool and district-boundary resources help identify the correct local office before filing.
- Montgomery's current district directory, effective January 5, 2026, lists each office's judge, municipality coverage, public hours, email, and phone number.
How many district courts does Montgomery County maintain?
Montgomery County says it maintains 29 district courts throughout the county, each run by an elected magisterial district judge.
Do I really need the Montgomery finder before filing?
Yes. Montgomery publishes both a finder tool and jurisdiction sheets because townships and boroughs are split across different district offices. Using the right office is part of getting venue right.
Find Another Pennsylvania Minor Court
Use Pennsylvania's official minor-court map if your county is not covered here or if you need to confirm the right magisterial district office.
Philadelphia filers should still use Municipal Court Civil, not the magisterial district map. Everywhere else, confirm the district office before relying on a county name alone.
Local court disclaimer
Pennsylvania filing location, service handling, and fee details change by court office. Recheck the county or court page before filing, especially if you are using a district map, fee sheet, or recent jurisdiction directory.