By The Big Buy desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
The Small Claims Tribunals (SCT), part of Singapore’s State Courts, let you claim money from a business or person without a lawyer – in fact, lawyers are not allowed to represent parties. The limit is S$20,000, or S$30,000 if both sides sign a Memorandum of Consent. You must file within two years of the event behind the claim. Filing is online through the Community Justice and Tribunals System (CJTS), and an individual pays just S$10 for a claim up to S$5,000, S$20 up to S$10,000, and 1% of the claim above that. The tribunals hear disputes over goods, services, short residential tenancies and some property damage, and most cases finish within four months.
It is a small, friendly court designed for ordinary people. If you have a fair claim and your paperwork in order, you can do this yourself.
Quick facts
- Claim limit: S$20,000, or S$30,000 with a Memorandum of Consent signed by both parties.
- Deadline: within two years of the event that gives rise to the claim.
- No lawyers may represent either side.
- File and pay online through CJTS, which also offers a pre-filing eligibility check.
- Serve the claim and Notice of Consultation on the other side within seven days of filing.
- Most SCT cases conclude within four months of filing.
What can the tribunals hear?
| Usually accepted | Not accepted |
|---|---|
| Contracts for the sale of goods, such as a faulty appliance | Claims above S$30,000 |
| Contracts for services, such as renovation work | Respondents outside Singapore |
| Residential tenancy agreements of up to two years | Damage caused by motor vehicles |
| Damage to property (other than by vehicles or neighbours) | Disputes between neighbours over property damage |
| Consumer protection claims under the relevant laws, and refunds of motor vehicle deposits | Employment matters |
How much does it cost to file?
| Amount claimed | Individual | Other entity (company, sole proprietor, partnership) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to S$5,000 | S$10 | S$50 |
| S$5,001 to S$10,000 | S$20 | S$100 |
| S$10,001 to S$30,000 | 1% of the claim | 3% of the claim |
Worked example: you claim S$12,000 from a renovation contractor. As an individual you pay 1% of S$12,000, which is S$120. If the contractor’s company sued you for the same sum, its fee would be 3%, or S$360.
How to file a small claim, step by step
- Gather evidence: contract, receipts, chat messages, photos and a short timeline.
- Run the pre-filing assessment on CJTS to confirm the SCT can hear your claim.
- Try to settle using the online negotiation and mediation options; many cases end here.
- File and pay on CJTS, then choose a consultation date and print the claim and Notice of Consultation.
- Serve the papers on the respondent within seven days, by hand or registered post.
- File a Declaration of Service with proof, before the first consultation.
- Attend the consultation with a tribunal registrar; if there is no settlement, the case goes to a hearing before a tribunal magistrate.
The WahLiao Verdict
Write to the other side first, with a clear sum and a deadline; a letter that mentions the Small Claims Tribunals often settles things on its own. If it does not, file well within the two years, keep your story short and your evidence in date order, and stay polite at every step. Claim what you can prove, not what would feel fair. At S$10 to S$120 for most individual claims, this is one of the best-value public services Singapore offers.
Questions people ask
My claim is S$25,000. Can I still use the SCT?
Only if both you and the other party sign a Memorandum of Consent, which raises the limit to S$30,000. Otherwise you would need to go to court, or reduce your claim to S$20,000 and give up the rest.
Can I bring a lawyer?
No. Lawyers are not allowed to represent parties in SCT matters, though you can get advice beforehand.
Can I sue my neighbour over water damage?
Not at the SCT; property damage caused by neighbours is excluded. Such disputes go to other channels, such as the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals.
Can I claim against an overseas online shop?
No. The SCT does not accept claims against respondents located outside Singapore.
Sources: Singapore Courts (Judiciary), cases eligible for a small claim; Singapore Courts, filing a small claim and the claim limit; Singapore Courts, filing fees and service. The Big Buy explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Your Consumer Rights · HDB Renovation Rules · Back to The Big Buy
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