Small Claims Complaint - Wisconsin

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT FORM

Use official court form SC-500 (Summons and Complaint — Small Claims) to open the action. The form states that it shall not be modified, but it may be supplemented with additional material. This guide can help prepare a concise attachment; it is not a replacement form. The current official form
is available at wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?FormName=SC-500.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

LIMIT CHANGE: Through December 31, 2026, Wis. Stat. § 799.01(1)(d) covers qualifying non-tort civil money actions claiming $10,000 or less. Under 2025 Wisconsin Act 105, that limit becomes $15,000 on January 1, 2027. The Section 799.01(1)(cr) limit for third-party complaints, personal-injury claims, and tort claims remains $5,000 or less. Select the correct SC-500 claim type and confirm the limit in effect on the filing date.

STATE OF WISCONSIN

CIRCUIT COURT – [COUNTY] COUNTY

SMALL CLAIMS DIVISION

______________________________________
[PLAINTIFF FULL LEGAL NAME],
 Plaintiff,
v.
[DEFENDANT FULL LEGAL NAME],
 Defendant.

Case No.: ___________
Classification Code: 31001 (Money Judgment)
Amount Claimed: $ [INSERT AMOUNT — CONFIRM CLAIM TYPE AND FILING-DATE LIMIT]

SMALL CLAIMS COMPLAINT (MONEY DAMAGES)

1. PARTIES

1.1 Plaintiff. [PLAINTIFF NAME] is an individual/corporation/LLC with a principal residence/office at [ADDRESS], County of [COUNTY], State of Wisconsin.
1.2 Defendant. [DEFENDANT NAME] is an individual/corporation/LLC with a principal residence/office at [ADDRESS], County of [COUNTY], State of Wisconsin.
1.3 Additional Parties (if any). [ADD AS NEEDED OR DELETE.]

2. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

2.1 This is a non-tort civil action for a money judgment within Wis. Stat. § 799.01(1)(d). The amount claimed is $[________], which is within the limit in effect on the filing date.

2.2 Venue has been evaluated under Wis. Stat. § 799.11. If the claim arises from a consumer transaction or consumer credit transaction, subsection (1)(b) directs venue to Wis. Stat. § 421.401. For other actions, subsection (1)(e) directs venue to Wis. Stat. § 801.50. The selected county and precise statutory basis are: [________________________________].

3. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

3.1 On or about [DATE], Plaintiff and Defendant entered into an agreement whereby Defendant agreed to [BRIEFLY DESCRIBE AGREEMENT OR TRANSACTION].
3.2 Plaintiff fully performed all obligations or was excused from performance.
3.3 Defendant breached the agreement and/or unjustly retained money/property by [DESCRIBE BREACH OR WRONGFUL ACT].
3.4 As a direct and proximate result, Plaintiff has been damaged in the principal amount of $ [CLAIM AMOUNT].

4. CAUSE(S) OF ACTION

Count I – Breach of Contract (or Other Legal Theory)
4.1 Plaintiff realleges ¶¶ 1–3 as if fully set forth herein.
4.2 A valid and enforceable contract existed between Plaintiff and Defendant.
4.3 Defendant materially breached said contract as described above.
4.4 Plaintiff incurred damages of $ [CLAIM AMOUNT] as a foreseeable result of Defendant’s breach.

5. DAMAGES

5.1 Principal Amount ............................................ $ [AMOUNT]
5.2 Pre-judgment interest (if contractual/statutory) ......... $ [AMOUNT]
5.3 Costs, disbursements, and statutory fees .................. To be taxed by the Clerk
5.4 Interest after entry of judgment as provided by Wis. Stat. § 815.05(8), subject to applicable statutory exceptions, from entry until payment.

6. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant as follows:
A. For money damages in the amount of $ [PRINCIPAL + INTEREST];
B. For statutory costs and disbursements as allowed by law;
C. For postjudgment interest as provided by Wis. Stat. § 815.05(8); and
D. For such other and further relief as the Court deems just and equitable.

7. JURY AND APPEAL SCREEN

Under Wis. Stat. § 799.21, the case is tried to the court unless a party timely files a written jury demand and pays the prescribed fees. For this non-eviction action, subsection (3)(a) generally places the demand within 20 days after joinder of issue; county procedures described in subsection (3)(b) may affect how competing demands are made. Confirm the local procedure immediately after joinder.

Do not use Wis. Stat. § 799.445 for this ordinary money claim; that section governs appeals in eviction actions. Review the entered judgment or order, any notice of entry, and current Wis. Stat. ch. 808 and appellate rules immediately to calculate the applicable deadline and preservation requirements.

8. OFFICIAL-FORM SIGNATURE

The current SC-500 provides separate signature lines for the plaintiff and the plaintiff's attorney and does not contain the penalty-of-perjury verification formerly placed here. Complete the applicable signature line on the unmodified official form.

SERVICE PLANNING — DO NOT FILE AS A GENERIC CERTIFICATE

Wis. Stat. § 799.12 generally incorporates the civil rules governing personal jurisdiction, commencement, and service, while allowing a circuit court by local rule to authorize clerk mailing for some small-claims actions. Confirm the filing county's current procedure with the clerk, arrange the permitted method, and file the proof actually required for that method. Do not assume that a party-created certificate establishes service of the summons.

SOURCES AND VERIFICATION

• Wisconsin Court System, SC-500 — Summons and Complaint (Small Claims) (current form page states correction published July 6, 2026).
• Wisconsin Legislature, Wis. Stat. ch. 799 — Small Claims Actions.
• Wisconsin Legislature, Wis. Stat. § 815.05(8) — interest after entry of money judgment.

Current official sources verified August 3, 2026. The certified statutory text is current through 2025 Wisconsin Act 247 and orders effective July 1, 2026. Amendment screening confirmed 2025 Wisconsin Act 105's January 1, 2027 increase of the Section 799.01(1)(d) ordinary-money limit to $15,000; the 2025 proposals to change the tort limit failed.