Nassau County Small Claims Court Fees and Forms Guide

One wrong fee, an incomplete defendant address, or an outdated form can delay an otherwise valid case. Nassau County small claims court filing fees are $15 for claims of $1,000 or less and $20 for claims over $1,000 up to the $5,000 small claims limit.

Those amounts cover an ordinary small claim filed by an individual in Nassau County District Court. The correct courthouse, form, and payment method depend on where the defendant is located and whether the claimant is an individual, partnership, corporation, LLC, association, or assignee.

Which Nassau County court handles your small claim?

Most Nassau County small claims cases are filed in Nassau County District Court, but claims connected to defendants in Long Beach or Glen Cove are filed in those cities’ respective City Courts. Small Claims Court is a simplified court section for money claims within its jurisdictional limit.

The claimant is the person bringing the case, while the defendant is the person or business being sued. In Nassau County, the maximum small claims demand is $5,000, excluding interest and allowable costs; a claimant cannot divide a larger demand into separate cases simply to remain under the limit. The court can award money, but an ordinary small claim is not the procedure for obtaining an order requiring someone to perform an act.

The New York Courts small claims handbook identifies the appropriate Nassau County locations:

If the defendant lives, works, has a place of business, or owns rental property connected to the dispute in Long Beach, file with Long Beach City Court at One West Chester Street, Long Beach, NY 11561.
If the same connection exists in Glen Cove, file with Glen Cove City Court at 13 Glen Street, Glen Cove, NY 11542.
For qualifying defendants elsewhere in Nassau County, file with Nassau County District Court at 99 Main Street, Second Floor, Hempstead, NY 11550.

The Hempstead courthouse’s current public hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with court business required to begin by 4:30 p.m. Hours and calendars can change, so confirm them with the clerk before traveling.

Does the claimant’s business type affect the court process?

Yes. An individual age 18 or older may start an ordinary small claim, and a parent or guardian may bring a claim for a minor. Corporations, LLCs, associations, and assignees generally must use the commercial small claims process; partnerships may file either a small claim or commercial small claim in Nassau County District Court.

Commercial small claims have different forms, fees, and demand-letter requirements. Do not use an individual small claims complaint solely because its filing fee is lower.

How are Nassau County small claims court filing fees determined?

The filing fee for an ordinary claim depends on the amount demanded, not on the amount the claimant expects the judge to award. Nassau County District Court’s current fee schedule lists the following charges:

Filing	Current court charge
Small claim for $1,000 or less	$15
Small claim over $1,000, up to $5,000	$20
Defendant’s small claims counterclaim	$5 plus postage
Commercial claim against one defendant	$34.60
Each additional commercial-claim defendant	$9.60

A counterclaim is a monetary claim filed by the defendant against the claimant in the same case. A commercial small claim is a qualifying money claim brought by a corporation, LLC, association, partnership, or assignee under the applicable New York rules.

The $45 general civil “first paper” charge shown on the court’s schedule is not the ordinary Nassau County District Court filing fee for a small claim. The dedicated $15 or $20 small claims charge applies when the case qualifies for the simplified small claims part. Verify amounts on the official Nassau District Court fee schedule immediately before filing because court fees can change.

Court charges are separate from document-preparation services, postage, personal-service expenses, witness fees, and later judgment-enforcement costs. Budget for those possible expenses rather than treating the filing fee as the total cost of pursuing the claim.

Which Nassau County small claims court forms do you need?

An individual claimant ordinarily starts with the Nassau District Court Small Claims Complaint. Additional-party, counterclaim, and subpoena forms are used only when the facts or procedural stage require them.

The court’s Nassau small claims forms page provides these principal documents:

Small Claims Instruction Sheet
Small Claims Complaint
Small Claims Counterclaim
Additional Parties/Defendants Form
Application for a Subpoena
Separate commercial small claims forms, including demand-letter documents

Use the Nassau-specific complaint rather than a form designed for New York City, Suffolk County, or a local court in another county. The current complaint requests the date of the occurrence or transaction, the amount sought, party contact information, the type of dispute, any interpreter request, and a short statement explaining the claim.

What information should you prepare before filing?

Collect and verify the following before completing the form:

Your full legal name, street address, phone number, and email address
Each defendant’s complete legal name and Nassau County street address
The date of the transaction, loss, or other event
The exact amount requested, supported by a clear calculation
A one- or two-sentence explanation of why the defendant owes that amount
The correct dispute category, such as unpaid services, property damage, return of a deposit, or breach of contract
Whether any party or witness needs an interpreter
Whether you are requesting day or night court in Hempstead
An additional-party form if the case names more parties than the complaint accommodates

The Nassau instruction sheet tells claimants not to attach evidence to the complaint. Keep contracts, photographs, invoices, receipts, messages, estimates, and other proof organized for the hearing instead.

How do you choose the proper defendant name and court location?

Use the defendant’s exact legal name and a qualifying physical address within the court’s geographic jurisdiction. A trade name, incomplete corporate name, or P.O. box can create service problems and make a judgment harder to enforce.

For an individual, confirm the person’s full name and street address. For a registered business entity, search the New York Department of State Corporation and Business Entity Database. Local assumed-name or “doing business as” records may be available through the Nassau County Clerk.

Naming “ABC Plumbing” may be incomplete if the legal entity is “ABC Plumbing Services LLC.” When the contract, receipt, invoice, or payment record identifies both a company and an individual, do not assume both are automatically proper defendants; that can require a legal determination about who is responsible.

Venue means the legally proper geographic place for the case. For Nassau County small claims, the complaint generally needs a Nassau County address where the defendant lives, works, or has a place of business. A tenancy-related claim may also qualify where the defendant owns the rented property and the rent was paid, subject to the court’s rules.

The fact that an incident occurred in Nassau County does not eliminate the need to establish an accepted connection to the defendant. If the defendant has several possible addresses, verify venue before paying the fee.

How do payment, submission, and filing confirmation work?

A Nassau County District Court claim may be submitted in person or by mail with the correct complaint and payment. In-person and mailed submissions have different practical requirements.

The current District Court fee page accepts cash, debit card, Mastercard, Visa, certified check, postal money order, or bank check. Checks and money orders should be payable to “Nassau County District Court,” and personal checks are not accepted.

For filing by mail, send the entire signed complaint, the proper fee in an accepted mail-safe form, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Nassau County District Court
Small Claims Department
99 Main Street
Hempstead, NY 11550

Do not mail cash or a debit or credit card. Before mailing, call the Small Claims Department at 516-493-4125 to confirm the current payee, payment form, postage, and signature requirements.

A properly opened case receives an index number and hearing information. Keep a copy of the completed complaint, payment record, mailing receipt, index number, and every notice from the court. If filing by mail, use the returned paperwork to confirm that the court accepted the case rather than assuming delivery alone completed the filing.

What happens with service after you file?

The court clerk initially sends notice of the claim to the defendant by regular first-class mail and certified mail. Service is the legally required delivery of notice that informs the defendant about the claim and hearing.

Under the New York Courts handbook, an ordinary small claims defendant is generally considered served if the first-class mailing is not returned to the clerk within 21 days. The period is 30 days for a consumer-transaction case. An undelivered certified mailing alone does not necessarily defeat service when the regular mailing was not returned.

If neither notice can be delivered, the clerk will provide instructions and a new hearing date. Personal service may then be completed by an adult who is not the claimant and is not otherwise involved in the case, or by a hired process server. The claimant cannot personally serve the papers.

The handbook states that the court may dismiss the case if four months pass after filing without successful personal service. Follow the clerk’s instructions exactly and review this detailed guide to how to serve a small claims case in Nassau County.

How should you prepare for the small claims hearing?

Prepare a short chronological explanation, a damages calculation, and organized proof for each fact you need to establish. Filing the complaint starts the case; it does not prove it.

Bring the original evidence when available and enough readable copies for the court and the defendant. Useful materials may include:

Contracts, leases, estimates, warranties, or written agreements
Invoices, receipts, canceled checks, and proof of payment
Photographs, videos, inspection reports, or damaged items
Emails, text messages, letters, and demand notices
A one-page calculation showing how the requested amount was determined
Witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the dispute

New York’s handbook instructs claimants seeking repair costs to obtain two signed, itemized written estimates. If an essential witness or record holder will not cooperate, ask the clerk about an application for a subpoena; a subpoena is a court order requiring testimony or production of specified records.

What are the boundaries of self-representation and document preparation?

A self-represented, or pro se, claimant handles the case in their own name without courtroom representation by an attorney. New York small claims parties do not have to hire a lawyer, although New York permits a party to consult or retain one.

A document-preparation service can organize information supplied by the claimant, prepare court forms, assist with filing, explain procedural steps, and help arrange evidence. It cannot decide whom the claimant should sue, select legal claims or defenses, predict whether the claimant will win, or appear in court as the claimant’s lawyer.

trysmallclaims prepares and files small claims forms and demand letters based on the client’s information. The client signs the papers, remains the named party, arranges service when required, and attends the hearing. See how the filing assistance service works for a clear breakdown of those responsibilities.

Not a law firm. Not a substitute for a licensed attorney. No guarantees—the judge makes the final call in every case. Procedures, fees, and dollar limits vary by state and can change.

What filing mistakes should you check before submission?

The most preventable filing problems involve the wrong court, wrong party name, incomplete street address, incorrect fee, or missing filing instructions. Review every field against source documents before signing.

Use this final check:

Confirm that the demand is for money and does not exceed $5,000.
Confirm that the claimant is using the correct individual or commercial process.
Verify the defendant’s exact legal name.
Confirm a qualifying Nassau County street address; do not list only a P.O. box.
Select Hempstead, Long Beach, or Glen Cove based on the defendant’s connection to the location.
State the claim briefly and include the correct event date and amount.
Specify day or night court if required by the Nassau instructions.
Sign the form and include any necessary additional-party page.
Use an accepted payment method for the exact filing fee.
Keep copies and confirm that an index number and hearing information were issued.

Frequently asked questions about filing in Nassau County

These answers cover the most common fee and form issues, but the clerk should confirm requirements for a particular submission.

How much does it cost to file a small claim in Nassau County?

The fee is $15 when the claim is for $1,000 or less. The fee is $20 when the claim is over $1,000 and no more than Nassau County’s $5,000 small claims limit.

Can I pay the Nassau County District Court filing fee with a personal check?

No. Nassau County District Court’s fee schedule states that personal checks are not accepted. The court accepts specified alternatives, including cash, cards, certified checks, postal money orders, and bank checks, although cash and cards should not be sent through the mail.

Can I file a Nassau County small claim by mail?

Yes, Nassau County permits small claims filings by mail. Include the entire complaint, an accepted form of payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope, and confirm current mailing requirements with the clerk before sending it.

Do I attach my receipts and photographs to the complaint?

No. Nassau County’s filing instructions direct claimants not to attach evidence to the initial complaint. Preserve and organize the documents for the hearing.

Does the court serve the defendant for me?

The clerk first sends the claim notice by regular and certified mail. If both mailings cannot be delivered, the claimant must follow the clerk’s directions for personal service by an eligible nonparty or process server.

File your Nassau County small claim with the right fee and forms

A clean Nassau County filing comes down to four things: the correct court, the correct defendant, the current complaint form, and the exact filing fee. Verify each one before submission, then preserve the index number and prepare the evidence needed for the hearing.

If you want help preparing and filing the paperwork, trysmallclaims offers its Full Filing Service for a $299 flat fee; court filing and service expenses are paid separately. You keep 100% of any amount the judge awards, with no contingency percentage, while remaining responsible for attending and presenting your own case.

No guarantees — the judge makes the final call on every case.

Procedures, fees, and dollar limits vary by state.

trysmallclaims prepares and files court forms and demand letters based on information the client provides; it does not select legal strategy, give legal advice on the merits of a case, or represent clients in court.

The client remains the named party in the case and attends any hearings themselves.