In short
Up to what amount can I file a small claim in Israel?
Up to NIS 39,900, as of January 2026, and the amount is updated each year by the price index. The parties appear in person, and a lawyer represents a party at the hearing only with the court's permission. A lawyer can help prepare the statement of claim or defense, and when the amount exceeds the cap a regular claim should be considered.
What a Small Claim Is and the Amount Cap
The Small Claims Court (beit mishpat litvi'ot ktanot) operates within the Magistrates' Courts and hears money claims filed by a private individual against another person, a business or a company. The cap is NIS 39,900 as of January 2026, and it is updated each year by the consumer price index. The procedure is meant for consumer and everyday disputes: a defective product, a service not provided, a deposit not returned, minor damage to a car or an apartment.
The procedure is simpler than a regular claim. The court is not bound by the usual rules of procedure, and acts in the way it considers most effective for a just and speedy decision. An employment claim, such as wages or severance pay, is not filed in small claims but in the Labor Court.
How to File and What It Costs
The claim is filed in the court for the area where the defendant lives or has its business, or where the act or omission at issue took place. It can be filed at the Magistrates' Court registry or on the Net HaMishpat website.
In the statement of claim, describe briefly what happened, how much you are claiming and how you reached the amount, and attach all the documents: invoices, the agreement or order, photos and correspondence. The court fee is 1% of the amount claimed, with a minimum amount, and it is not refunded even if the claim is withdrawn.
Under the Small Claims Court (Rules of Procedure) Regulations, 5737-1976, the defendant files a statement of defense within 15 days of being served with the summons, and may also file a counterclaim. In proceedings opened from April 11, 2025, the court recess counts toward the deadline unless the court orders otherwise. A hearing is then set, at which each side presents its version, its documents and its witnesses.
Can You Be Represented by a Lawyer?
As a rule, no. In a small claim the parties appear in person. A lawyer represents a party at the hearing only when the court has permitted it, on a request filed in advance, or when the lawyer is himself a party to the claim. When the court allows one side to be represented, it may allow the other side as well.
The restriction applies to the hearing, not to the preparation. A lawyer can check whether there is a cause of action and whom to sue, calculate the amount, draft the statement of claim or of defense, organize the documents and prepare you for questions the court may ask. The preparation takes place behind the scenes, and you appear at the hearing yourself.
When a Regular Claim Is Better
A small claim fits when the amount is below the cap, the facts are simple and the documents are in your hands. The Small Claims Court does not award more than the cap, so a person who sues there when the loss is higher in effect gives up the difference.
A regular claim in the Magistrates' Court is also better when the dispute is complex: a contract with many clauses, a need for a professional opinion from an engineer or appraiser, several defendants, or a business dispute in which the other side is likely to be represented. In such cases the file is prepared like any breach of contract claim.
There is no appeal as of right from a small claims judgment. A party that wishes to appeal files an application for leave to appeal with the District Court. In proceedings opened from April 11, 2025, the deadline is 30 days; before that it was 15 days. The count starts on the day the judgment was served, or on the day of the hearing if it was given in the parties' presence.
What the service includes
- Checking whether the case fits small claims or a regular claim
- Calculating the amount of the claim and identifying the defendants
- Drafting a statement of claim or of defense in a small claim
- Preparing documents and witnesses for the hearing
- A request for representation with the court's permission, where justified
- A regular claim in the Magistrates' Court when the amount or complexity requires it
When to contact us
- A product or service you paid for was not delivered or was defective
- A landlord does not return a deposit or security
- You received a small claim and want to defend it
- You are unsure whether to file a small claim or a regular claim
What to bring to the meeting
- Invoices, receipts and the agreement or order
- Correspondence with the other side, including WhatsApp and email
- Photos, repair quotes and any professional opinion
- The defendant's details: full name, ID or company number and address
Small Claims throughout Israel
The firm represents clients from all over Israel: Jerusalem and the Shfela, Be'er Sheva, Ashdod and Ashkelon, Haifa and the North, the Sharon and Gush Dan. Meetings take place at our two Modiin branches, at the WE Towers branch in Tel Aviv or by video call, and documents can be sent in advance on WhatsApp. We represent clients in the courts, the Labor Courts and before planning committees throughout Israel. How we work with clients across Israel.
Frequently asked questions
Up to what amount can I file a small claim?
Up to NIS 39,900, as of January 2026. The amount is updated each year by the price index. The Small Claims Court does not award more than the cap, so when the loss is higher, consider a regular claim in the Magistrates' Court.
May I bring a lawyer to small claims court?
As a rule, the parties appear in person. A lawyer represents a party at the hearing only with the court's permission, requested in advance, or when the lawyer is himself a party. Nothing prevents you from using a lawyer to prepare the statement of claim or of defense and to prepare for the hearing.
How much does it cost to file a small claim?
The court fee is 1% of the amount claimed, and no less than a set minimum. It is not refunded if you withdraw the claim, but the court may order the defendant to reimburse it to a plaintiff who wins.
Can I appeal a small claims judgment?
There is no appeal as of right. You file an application for leave to appeal with the District Court; in proceedings opened from April 11, 2025, within 30 days of the day the judgment was served, or of the hearing if it was given in the parties' presence. The District Court grants leave only in suitable cases, so assess the chances before filing.
How long do I have to file a defense in a small claim?
15 days from the day the summons was served on the defendant, under regulation 4(b) of the Small Claims Court (Rules of Procedure) Regulations. In proceedings opened from April 11, 2025, the court recess counts toward the deadline unless the court orders otherwise. A defendant who does not file on time may face a judgment without his version being heard.
