Buchanan County, Missouri: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $5,000 (statewide small claims only). Court: Buchanan County Circuit Court - Small Claims Division.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$5,000 (statewide small claims 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 Missouri	5 years.
State deposit return deadline	30 calendar days after the date of termination of the tenancy. 30 calendar days after the end of the tenancy. when carpet-cleaning costs are withheld under a lease clause allowing carpet cleaning charges; landlord must provide a receipt for actual carpet cleaning costs within 30 days of end of tenancy.
Penalty formula	if landlord wrongfully withholds all or any portion of the deposit, tenant recovers twice the amount wrongfully withheld. Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300

Where to file

Buchanan County Circuit Court - Small Claims Division

Courthouse city: Saint Joseph

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.

State court directory

Court site located; the court's server blocks automated checks

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

Rent and deposits in Buchanan County

County median gross rent: $889 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$665
1 bedroom	$706
2 bedrooms	$889
3 bedrooms	$1,035
4 bedrooms	$1,204

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $889; two months is $1,778. 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 $889.

State legal maximum deposit in Missouri: Not more than two months' rent ($1,778 at the example rent). Pet deposits denominated as pet deposits are excluded from the 'security deposit' definition.

Total households in Buchanan County: 33,398.

Renter households: 11,724 (35.1% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 8.2%. 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 Buchanan County, $889 per month.

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

Compared with $5,000 (statewide small claims 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.

Agency
De Kalb
Dearborn
Easton
Gower
Lewis and Clark Village
Rushville
St. Joseph

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

Free help in Buchanan County

Legal Aid of Western Missouri
Free civil legal assistance for eligible low-income tenants, including housing law and eviction defense.
Phone: (816) 474-6750

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Missouri 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 Missouri: 5 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Missouri 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.

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

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Missouri 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.

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Free Missouri 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 Missouri law (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 30 calendar days after the date of termination of the tenancy.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Buchanan 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 Missouri: 5 years.

Where do I file?

Buchanan County Circuit Court - Small Claims Division. Courthouse city: Saint Joseph. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.