Columbia County, Wisconsin: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $10,000 (statewide small claims (confirm current Wis. Stat. small-claims cap in county of filing) only). Court: Columbia County Circuit Court - Small Claims.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$10,000 (statewide small claims (confirm current Wis. Stat. small-claims cap in county of filing) only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in Wisconsin	6 years.
State deposit return deadline	21 calendar days after the rental agreement terminates. tenant vacates on the termination date of the rental agreement. 21 calendar days after the tenant's rental agreement terminates, or after the new tenant's tenancy begins if re-rented earlier. tenant vacates or is evicted before the termination date. 21 calendar days after landlord learns tenant vacated or was removed under s. 799.45(2). tenant vacates or is evicted after the termination date of the rental agreement.
Penalty formula	civil recovery of double the amount wrongfully withheld plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees under unfair trade practice framework (ATCP 134 via Wis. Stat. ch. 100); statute § 704.28 itself states timing and withholding rules. Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	Wis. Stat. § 704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § 134.06

Where to file

Columbia County Circuit Court - Small Claims

Courthouse city: Portage

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.

Official court website

Court page checked 2026-09-20

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

Rent and deposits in Columbia County

County median gross rent: $926 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$590
1 bedroom	$714
2 bedrooms	$986
3 bedrooms	$1,229
4 bedrooms	$1,298

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $986; two months is $1,972. 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 $986.

State legal maximum deposit in Wisconsin: No statewide statutory maximum. Amounts prepaid beyond one month's rent are treated as security deposit for return/withholding rules.

Total households in Columbia County: 24,231.

Renter households: 5,597 (23.1% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 6.2%. 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 Columbia County, $986 per month.

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

Compared with $10,000 (statewide small claims (confirm current Wis. Stat. small-claims cap in county of filing) 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.

Arlington
Cambria
Columbus
Doylestown
Fall River
Friesland
Lodi
Pardeeville
Portage
Poynette
Randolph
Rio
Wisconsin Dells
Wyocena

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

Courthouse details

Address: 400 DeWitt St, Portage, WI 53901-0587

Phone: (608) 742-9642

Statewide self-help centre: Wisconsin Courts Self-help Law Center

From the state court directory; the source is a PDF our automated check cannot read

Court contact source

Statewide help

Legal Action of Wisconsin
Free civil legal help for eligible Wisconsin residents, including housing matters. Judicare Legal Aid merged into Legal Action on January 1, 2026; the combined organization serves the entire state and Tribal Nations.
Phone: (855) 947-2529

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Wisconsin 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 21 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Wisconsin: 6 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Wisconsin 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.

Write and mail my letter for $49

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

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

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Free Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. § 704.28), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [21 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Columbia County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Wisconsin: 6 years.

Where do I file?

Columbia County Circuit Court - Small Claims. Courthouse city: Portage. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.