Martin County, Minnesota: Small Claims for a Security Deposit
Limits: $20,000 (conciliation court (statewide) only). Court: Martin County Conciliation Court.
Filing facts
| State small claims limits | $20,000 (conciliation court (statewide) only) |
|---|---|
| Statewide filing fee | Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory |
| E-filing | Not verified |
| Time limit to sue in Minnesota | 6 years. |
| State deposit return deadline |
|
| Penalty formula | failure to provide timely written statement (or other listed duties) = liability for the withheld portion plus interest as a penalty, in addition to the portion wrongfully withheld plus interest; separate bad-faith punitive damages up to $500 per deposit. Bad faith required: No. |
| Deposit statute | Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 |
Where to file
Martin County Conciliation Court
Courthouse city: Fairmont
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.
Court site located; the court's server blocks automated checks
See how to file in Minnesota for the state filing procedure.
Rent and deposits in Martin County
County median gross rent: $735 per month.
| Bedrooms | Monthly rent |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $658 |
| 2 bedrooms | $770 |
| 3 bedrooms | $977 |
| 4 bedrooms | $831 |
Rent estimates for the other bedroom sizes were suppressed or not published by the Census Bureau.
Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $770; two months is $1,540. 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 $770.
State legal maximum deposit in Minnesota: No general statewide statutory maximum for ordinary residential deposits under § 504B.178.
Total households in Martin County: 8,840.
Renter households: 2,441 (27.6% of all households).
Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 14.3%. 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 .
Will my deposit claim fit the limit?
Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Martin County, $770 per month.
The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.
- Compared with $20,000 (conciliation court (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.
- Ceylon
- Dunnell
- Fairmont
- Granada
- Northrop
- Ormsby
- Sherburn
- Trimont
- Truman
- Welcome
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.
Free help in Martin County
- Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
free legal help for eligible clients, including landlord/tenant issues such as eviction, rent increase, utility shut-off, security deposit, repairs, housing discrimination, and housing subsidies
Phone: (888) 575-2954
Statewide help
- Justice North
free civil legal help for people facing loss of housing or other civil legal challenges; Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota merged into Justice North
Phone: (877) 696-6529
- HOME Line
free legal help for Minnesota renters, including a tenant hotline on evictions, repairs, deposits, and other landlord-tenant problems
Phone: (612) 728-5767
- Anishinabe Legal Services
free civil legal help for low-income people living on or near the Leech Lake, Red Lake, and White Earth Reservations, including evictions from tribal/public housing and lease-violation cases
Phone: 1-800-422-1335
These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.
From letter to filing
- Send a Minnesota security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records. Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
- Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 21 days after your letter.
- Time limit to sue in Minnesota: 6 years.
- Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.
This template uses Minnesota law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.
Free Minnesota template, built from verified state data
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 Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. § 504B.178), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [21 calendar days / 5 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].
FAQ
How much does it cost to file in Martin County?
Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory
How long do I have to sue?
Time limit to sue in Minnesota: 6 years.
Where do I file?
Martin County Conciliation Court. Courthouse city: Fairmont. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.