Rockland County, New York: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is described in the facts table in New City (county seat) - actual venue is the local Town/Village Justice Court. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: see the fee table. Claim limit varies by court. New York return time: 14 days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,819. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	No county-wide small claims court; filed in the Town or Village Justice Court where the rental property/landlord is located (e.g. Clarkstown Justice Court, Ramapo Justice Court)
City	New City (county seat) - actual venue is the local Town/Village Justice Court
Statewide filing fee	Sources conflict ($3,000 town/village monetary cap cited by one source vs statewide $15/$20 statutory small-claims fee cited elsewhere) - not verified from an official fee schedule
Small claims limit	$10,000 (New York City courts only)
State deposit return deadline	14 days after tenant vacates the premises (move-out).
Time limit to sue	6 years
Deposit statute	N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 (as amended by HSTPA 2019)

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: $10,000 (New York City courts 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 New York letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
New York 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 New York 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 New York kit for $29

Already sent a letter? Tell us if it worked

Details of the return rules

New York statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
Deposit return	14 days	tenant vacates the premises (move-out)

New York return rule: 14 days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: No county-wide small claims court; filed in the Town or Village Justice Court where the rental property/landlord is located (e.g. Clarkstown Justice Court, Ramapo Justice Court). 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 Rockland County.
The New York business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. New York Department of State, Division of Corporations

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.

Check the New York filing procedure before you go.

Court forms

Service methods: certified mail by clerk.

Procedure source (medium confidence): Small claims shall be commenced upon the payment by the claimant of a filing fee of fifteen dollars for claims in the amount of one thousand dollars or less and twenty dollars for claims in the amount of more than one thousand dollars

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 Rockland 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	$1,609	$1,609	$3,218	Check the applicable limit and remedy
2	$1,819	$1,819	$3,638	Check the applicable limit and remedy
3	$2,215	$2,215	$4,430	Check the applicable limit and remedy
4	$2,226	$2,226	$4,452	Check the applicable limit and remedy

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 Rockland County compare with other New York counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,819: rank 7 of 62 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 31.7% of households rent in Rockland County.

Rockland County two-bedroom rent $1,819, rank 7 of 62 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
New York County	$1,932
Putnam County	$1,852
Rockland County	$1,819
Kings County	$1,798
Richmond County	$1,749
Orange County	$1,681

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 62 of 65 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Rockland County

Airmont
Chestnut Ridge
Grand View-on-Hudson
Haverstraw
Hillburn
Kaser
Montebello
New Hempstead
New Square
Nyack
Piermont
Pomona
Sloatsburg
South Nyack
Spring Valley
Suffern
Upper Nyack
Wesley Hills
West Haverstraw

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 the Hudson Valley: Free civil legal services for eligible residents, including tenant-landlord disputes, eviction, housing discrimination and housing conditions.
Legal Services NYC: Free housing legal help for eligible tenants in New York City's five boroughs, including eviction, repairs, harassment and rent overcharges. Geographic scope is New York City; statewide is the required fallback because this source lists boroughs, not counties.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Rockland County?

Statewide filing fee: Sources conflict ($3,000 town/village monetary cap cited by one source vs statewide $15/$20 statutory small-claims fee cited elsewhere) - not verified from an official fee schedule.

Where do I file a deposit claim in Rockland County?

No county-wide small claims court; filed in the Town or Village Justice Court where the rental property/landlord is located (e.g. Clarkstown Justice Court, Ramapo Justice Court) 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.