Reference tool
Civil claim limits for courts and tribunals in Victoria, NSW and Queensland
The court or tribunal you use depends on how much you are claiming and which state you are in. Lower courts hear claims up to $100,000 in Victoria and New South Wales and up to $150,000 in Queensland. The NSW District Court goes up to $1,250,000 and the Queensland District Court up to $750,000. Tribunals (VCAT, NCAT and QCAT) handle many consumer, tenancy and building disputes with their own limits.
Showing all states
Monetary limits compared
Where a claim usually starts, by amount. Choose a state to highlight it.
| Level | Victoria | New South Wales | Queensland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower court | Up to $100,000Magistrates' Court of Victoria | Up to $100,000Local Court of New South Wales | Up to $150,000Magistrates Court of Queensland |
| Intermediate court | Over $100,000County Court of Victoria | Up to $1,250,000District Court of New South Wales | Up to $750,000District Court of Queensland |
| Supreme Court | Larger claimsSupreme Court of Victoria | Larger claimsSupreme Court of New South Wales | Over $750,000Supreme Court of Queensland |
| Tribunal: consumer claims | No monetary limit (consumer claims)VCAT – Civil Claims List | Up to $100,000NCAT – consumer claims | Up to $25,000QCAT – minor civil disputes |
Victoria
| Court or tribunal | Limit | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magistrates' Court of Victoria (opens in a new tab) | Up to $100,000 | Hears civil disputes up to the value of $100,000. Larger disputes go to a higher court. | Magistrates' Court of Victoria(opens in a new tab) |
| County Court of Victoria (opens in a new tab) | Over $100,000 | Deals with civil claims for amounts over $100,000. | Court Services Victoria(opens in a new tab) |
| Supreme Court of Victoria (opens in a new tab) | Larger claims | Court Services Victoria describes civil claims of $200,000 and above as heard in the Supreme Court; it also hears complex cases. | Court Services Victoria(opens in a new tab) |
| VCAT – Civil Claims List (opens in a new tab) | No monetary limit (consumer claims) | A consumer can bring a claim against a trader without a monetary limit. Claims of $15,000 or less are small claims with simpler rules. Claims must generally be brought within six years. | The Law Handbook (Fitzroy Legal Service)(opens in a new tab) |
New South Wales
| Court or tribunal | Limit | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Court of New South Wales (opens in a new tab) | Up to $100,000 | Small Claims Division up to $20,000; General Division above $20,000 up to $100,000. | Local Court of New South Wales(opens in a new tab) |
| District Court of New South Wales (opens in a new tab) | Up to $1,250,000 | Hears most civil claims above the Local Court limit up to $1,250,000, or more if the parties consent. Motor accident cases can be heard whatever the amount. | District Court of New South Wales(opens in a new tab) |
| Supreme Court of New South Wales (opens in a new tab) | Larger claims | Hears larger and more complex civil and commercial disputes, including Corporations Act matters. | Supreme Court of New South Wales(opens in a new tab) |
| NCAT – consumer claims (opens in a new tab) | Up to $100,000 | Consumer claims about goods and services. Lodge within 3 years of the cause of action. | NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal(opens in a new tab) |
| NCAT – home building (opens in a new tab) | Under $500,000 | Home building claims between homeowners, builders and insurers, starting with conciliation. | Legal Aid NSW(opens in a new tab) |
| NCAT – residential tenancy (opens in a new tab) | $15,000 (general money orders) | General limit for money orders in residential tenancy applications. | NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal(opens in a new tab) |
| NCAT – retail leases (opens in a new tab) | Up to $750,000 | For leases entered into on or after 1 July 2017 ($400,000 for earlier leases). Most claims need mediation first. | NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal(opens in a new tab) |
Queensland
| Court or tribunal | Limit | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magistrates Court of Queensland (opens in a new tab) | Up to $150,000 | Hears civil money claims where the amount in dispute is $150,000 or less. | Queensland Courts(opens in a new tab) |
| District Court of Queensland (opens in a new tab) | Up to $750,000 | Hears civil claims above $150,000 up to $750,000. | Queensland Courts(opens in a new tab) |
| Supreme Court of Queensland (opens in a new tab) | Over $750,000 | Hears claims over $750,000 and complex cases, including Corporations Act matters. | Queensland Courts(opens in a new tab) |
| QCAT – minor civil disputes (opens in a new tab) | Up to $25,000 | Minor debts and consumer or trader disputes up to and including $25,000. | Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal(opens in a new tab) |
| QCAT – building disputes (opens in a new tab) | Domestic: no limit; commercial: $50,000 | Domestic building disputes have no monetary limit. Commercial building disputes are limited to $50,000 unless the parties agree in writing. QBCC dispute resolution must be tried first. | Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal(opens in a new tab) |
| QCAT – retail shop leases (opens in a new tab) | Up to $750,000 | Retail tenancy disputes referred after mediation, excluding disputes about the amount of rent or outgoings. | Queensland Legislation(opens in a new tab) |
General information only
This page is general information, not legal advice. Time limits can be shorter in your situation, and the law changes, so get advice early about your own circumstances.
Limits describe where a claim usually starts. Some courts can hear larger claims with the parties' consent, and some kinds of claim go to a particular court or tribunal whatever the amount.
Last checked:
Official sources
- Magistrates' Court of Victoria: mcv.vic.gov.au/civil-matters/starting-civil-matter(opens in a new tab)
- Court Services Victoria: courts.vic.gov.au/court-system/victorian-courts-and-tribunals(opens in a new tab)
- The Law Handbook (Fitzroy Legal Service): thelawhandbook.org.au/74-taking-action-as-a-consumer/small-claims-the-victorian-civil-and-administrative-tribunals-civil-claims-list(opens in a new tab)
- Local Court of New South Wales: localcourt.nsw.gov.au/about-us/jurisdictions0/civil-jurisdiction.html(opens in a new tab)
- District Court of New South Wales: districtcourt.nsw.gov.au/about-us/jurisdiction.html(opens in a new tab)
- Supreme Court of New South Wales: supremecourt.nsw.gov.au/about-us/equity-division.html(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal: ncat.nsw.gov.au/case-types/consumers-and-businesses/consumer-claims.html(opens in a new tab)
- Legal Aid NSW: legalaid.nsw.gov.au/lawprompt/legal-topics/consumers/home-building-and-renovating(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal: ncat.nsw.gov.au/case-types/housing-and-property/tenancy/tenancy-and-social-housing-orders.html(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal: ncat.nsw.gov.au/case-types/consumers-and-businesses/retail-leases.html(opens in a new tab)
- Queensland Courts: courts.qld.gov.au/the-courts/magistrates-court/about-the-magistrates-court(opens in a new tab)
- Queensland Courts: courts.qld.gov.au/the-courts/district-court(opens in a new tab)
- Queensland Courts: courts.qld.gov.au/the-courts/supreme-court(opens in a new tab)
- Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal: qcat.qld.gov.au/case-types/debt-disputes(opens in a new tab)
- Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal: qcat.qld.gov.au/case-types/building-and-construction(opens in a new tab)
- Queensland Legislation: legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1994-047(opens in a new tab)