Cape Girardeau County, Missouri: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court - Small Claims Division in Jackson. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claims up to $5,000. Missouri return time: 30 calendar days or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $881. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court - Small Claims Division
City	Jackson
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
Small claims limit	$5,000 (statewide small claims only)
State deposit return deadline	30 calendar days after the date of termination of the tenancy. 30 calendar days after the end of the tenancy. Applies when: 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.
Time limit to sue	5 years
Deposit statute	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300

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.

Details

Limits: $5,000 (statewide small claims only).

Your dates and your letter

Calculate your deadline and next letter

Choose how to send your letter

We mail it, or you mail it.

$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

$29, you send it.

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.

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

Get the Missouri kit for $29

Self-help document service. No account is required on Demand Letter Lab.

Your free letter

Get a DOCX letter with the dates and amount you entered.

Write and mail my letter for $49

Get the Missouri kit for $29

Already sent a letter? Tell us if it worked

Details of the return rules

Missouri statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
Deposit return	30 days	after the date of termination of the tenancy

Missouri return rule: 30 calendar days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court - Small Claims Division. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Cape Girardeau County.
The Missouri business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Missouri Secretary of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Cape Girardeau County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$671	$671	$1,342	Fits under the $5,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$881	$881	$1,762	Fits under the $5,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,188	$1,188	$2,376	Fits under the $5,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,399	$1,399	$2,798	Fits under the $5,000 limit for this illustrated claim

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Cape Girardeau County compare with other Missouri counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $881: rank 22 of 115 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 34% of households rent in Cape Girardeau County.

Cape Girardeau County two-bedroom rent $881, rank 22 of 115 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
DeKalb County	$891
Buchanan County	$889
Cape Girardeau County	$881
Franklin County	$866
Clinton County	$857
Marion County	$857

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 115 of 115 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Cape Girardeau County

Allenville
Cape Girardeau
Delta
Gordonville
Jackson
Oak Ridge
Old Appleton
Pocahontas
Scott City
Whitewater

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

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

Free legal help

Legal Services of Southern Missouri: Free civil legal assistance for eligible low-income and older residents, including housing and landlord-tenant cases.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Cape Girardeau County?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in Cape Girardeau County?

Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court - Small Claims Division is listed. 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 page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.