Benton County, Arkansas: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $5,000 (District Court small claims division statewide only). E-filing: Yes. Court: Benton County District Court - Small Claims Division.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$5,000 (District Court small claims division statewide only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
E-filing	Yes
Time limit to sue in Arkansas	5 years.
State deposit return deadline	60 calendar days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession by the tenant. subchapter applies (see notes: generally landlords with six or more units, or any landlord using paid third-party management; five-or-fewer self-managed individual owners exempt under § 18-16-303). 180 calendar days after from the date the refund payment was mailed. letter with payment returned and landlord unable to locate tenant after reasonable effort; payment then becomes landlord property.
Penalty formula	tenant may recover property/money due, damages equal to two times the amount wrongfully withheld, costs, and reasonable attorney's fees; if landlord shows by preponderance that noncompliance was an error despite reasonable procedures or a good-faith dispute as to amount due, liability limited to costs and the sum erroneously withheld. Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-16-303 to 18-16-306

Where to file

Benton County District Court - Small Claims Division

Courthouse city: Bentonville

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Official court website

Court page check not recorded

See how to file in Arkansas for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Benton County

County median gross rent: $1,193 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$739
1 bedroom	$966
2 bedrooms	$1,088
3 bedrooms	$1,380
4 bedrooms	$1,714

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,088; two months is $2,176. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,088.

State legal maximum deposit in Arkansas: Not more than two months' periodic rent ($2,176 at the example rent), for landlords covered by the subchapter (six or more dwellings, or any landlord with paid third-party management). No statutory cap for exempt small self-managed landlords under § 18-16-303.

Total households in Benton County: 107,667.

Renter households: 35,311 (32.8% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 6.8%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Benton County, $1,088 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $5,000 (District Court small claims division statewide only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Avoca
Bella Vista
Bentonville
Bethel Heights
Cave Springs
Centerton
Decatur
Elm Springs
Garfield
Gateway
Gentry
Gravette
Highfill
Little Flock
Lowell
Pea Ridge
Rogers
Siloam Springs
Springdale
Springtown
Sulphur Springs

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.

Statewide help

Legal Aid of Arkansas
free civil legal services for low-income Arkansans, including help with evictions; statewide fair housing helpline at 1-870-338-9834 for housing discrimination
Phone: 1-800-952-9243

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send an Arkansas security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 60 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Arkansas: 5 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Arkansas law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

Write and mail my letter for $49

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A print-ready PDF of the Arkansas letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Arkansas small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

If you cannot access or use the kit files, contact us for a replacement or a full refund.

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Free Arkansas template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Arkansas law (Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-16-303 to 18-16-306), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [60 calendar days / 180 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Benton County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Arkansas: 5 years.

Where do I file?

Benton County District Court - Small Claims Division. Courthouse city: Bentonville. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.