Overview
The General District Court decides civil suits involving amounts of money up to $50,000. However, unlawful detainer (eviction) suits that include a request for rent for commercial or agricultural property can be heard by the general district court even if the amount of rent requested is more than $50,000.
A suit is begun by filing a civil warrant, summons, or complaint with the clerk of the court and paying a filing fee.
Small claims cases are civil cases in which the plaintiff is seeking a money judgment up to $5,000 or recovery of personal property valued up to $5,000. If a case is filed as a small claims case, the judge conducts the trial in an informal manner, with less restrictions on certain procedural matters, in order to better provide justice to both sides.
Below are the most common topics in the Civil Division. These pages explain the Court's procedures regarding these topics. These pages are not legal advice - if you are unsure of what to do in your situation, you should contact an attorney.
