Shawnee, Kansas: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $10,000 (District Court small claims procedure (K.S.A. 61-2703) only). E-filing: Not verified. Court: Shawnee County District Court.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$10,000 (District Court small claims procedure (K.S.A. 61-2703) only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in Kansas	5 years.
State deposit return deadline	14 calendar days after the determination of the amount of expenses, damages, or other charges (other than rent). landlord proposes to retain any portion for expenses/damages/other allowable charges other than rent; hard cap remains 30 days after termination, delivery of possession, and demand. 30 calendar days after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant. outer maximum for return of any balance when landlord is retaining for non-rent charges; also the window for tenant to make demand. 30 calendar days after termination of the tenancy (no tenant demand). if the tenant does not demand within 30 days after termination, landlord must mail the portion due to the tenant at the last known address.
Penalty formula	tenant may recover the portion of the security deposit due together with damages equal to 1.5 times the amount wrongfully withheld. Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2550

Where to file

Shawnee County District Court

Courthouse city: Topeka

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 Kansas for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Shawnee

County median gross rent: $970 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$687
1 bedroom	$760
2 bedrooms	$980
3 bedrooms	$1,188
4 bedrooms	$1,366

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $980; two months is $1,960. 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 $980.

State legal maximum deposit in Kansas: Unfurnished dwelling: not more than one month's periodic rent ($980 at the example rent). Furnished (tenant uses landlord-owned furniture): not more than 1.5 months' rent ($1,470 at the example rent). Additional pet security deposit not to exceed 1/2 of one month's rent ($490 at the example rent) if pets permitted. Separate schedule may apply for certain federally subsidized municipal housing authorities.

Total households in Shawnee: 74,528.

Renter households: 24,607 (33% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 5%. 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 Shawnee, $980 per month.

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

Compared with $10,000 (District Court small claims procedure (K.S.A. 61-2703) 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.

Auburn
Rossville
Silver Lake
Topeka
Willard

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

Statewide help

Kansas Legal Services, Inc.
free or low-cost civil legal help for eligible Kansans, including landlord/tenant disputes and housing cases such as eviction and foreclosure
Phone: (316) 267-3975
Community Housing of Wyandotte County, Inc.
HUD-approved rental housing counseling
Phone: (913) 342-7580
Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas
HUD-approved rental housing counseling
Phone: (620) 227-1562
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corporation - Wichita Branch
HUD-approved rental housing counseling
Phone: (800) 757-1788

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Kansas 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 30 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Kansas: 5 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Kansas 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 Kansas letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Kansas 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 Kansas 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 Kansas law (Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2550), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [14 calendar days / 30 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Shawnee?

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 Kansas: 5 years.

Where do I file?

Shawnee County District Court. Courthouse city: Topeka. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.