Which District of Columbia court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Superior Court: Small Claims and Conciliation Branch Raised from $5,000 in 2017. | Up to $10,000 | D.C. Code § 11-1321 |
| General civil | Superior Court: Civil Division General civil jurisdiction. | No limit | D.C. Code § 11-921 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 21 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12(a)).
11 District of Columbia forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to District of Columbia practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- SummonsD.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 4 / 12(a): 21-day answer
- Civil Information SheetD.C. Superior Court: required with new civil filings
- Affidavit of ServiceD.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 4(l): proof of service
- Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs (In Forma Pauperis)D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 54-II: fee waiver
- Notice of DismissalD.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 41(a)(1): voluntary dismissal
- Application for Entry of Default and Motion for Default JudgmentD.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 55(a)-(b): two-stage default
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931 (strictly enforced)
- Default JudgmentD.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 55(b): interest per D.C. Code § 28-3302(c)
- Writ of Attachment on Wages (Garnishment)D.C. Code §§ 16-571 to 16-584: 25% of disposable wages (§ 16-572)
- Writ of Attachment on Credits (Financial Institution)D.C. Code § 16-544 et seq.: garnishee answers interrogatories
- Oral Examination of Judgment DebtorD.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 69-I: post-judgment asset discovery
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a District of Columbia matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Summons · Civil Information Sheet · Affidavit of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Summons · Civil Information Sheet · Affidavit of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Application for Entry of Default and Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Writ of Attachment on Wages (Garnishment) · Writ of Attachment on Credits (Financial Institution) · Oral Examination of Judgment Debtor
Fee Waiver
Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs (In Forma Pauperis)
Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every District of Columbia county are in the 1Court Directory: District of Columbia.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.