Madison County, Ohio: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Madison County Municipal Court - Small Claims Division in London. 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 $6,000. Ohio return time: 30 days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $976. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Madison County Municipal Court - Small Claims Division
City	London
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
Small claims limit	$6,000 (statewide)
State deposit return deadline	30 days after Termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession by the tenant.
Time limit to sue	6 years
Deposit statute	Ohio Revised Code § 5321.16 (Security deposits - procedures)

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: $6,000 (statewide).

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 Ohio letter template, ready to download after payment.

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

Already sent a letter? Tell us if it worked

Details of the return rules

Ohio statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
Deposit return	30 days	Termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession by the tenant

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

Court listed for this county: Madison County Municipal 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 Madison County.
The Ohio business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Ohio 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.

Check the Ohio filing procedure before you go.

Service methods: certified mail by clerk.

Procedure source (medium confidence): The time set for such trial shall be not less than fifteen or more than forty days after the commencement of the action.

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 Madison 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	$633	$633	$1,266	Fits under the $6,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$976	$976	$1,952	Fits under the $6,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$999	$999	$1,998	Fits under the $6,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,170	$1,170	$2,340	Fits under the $6,000 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 Madison County compare with other Ohio counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $976: rank 13 of 62 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 24.1% of households rent in Madison County.

Madison County two-bedroom rent $976, rank 13 of 62 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Summit County	$1,025
Wood County	$990
Madison County	$976
Montgomery County	$967
Lucas County	$944
Pickaway County	$942

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

Places in Madison County

London
Midway
Mount Sterling
Plain City
South Solon
West Jefferson

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 Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio: Free civil legal assistance for eligible low-income residents, including eviction, housing conditions and other housing problems.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Madison County?

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

Where do I file a deposit claim in Madison County?

Madison County Municipal 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.