Dane County, Wisconsin: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Dane County Circuit Court - Small Claims in Madison. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: $94.50 statewide small-claims filing fee; service is extra. Claims up to $10,000. Wisconsin return time: 21 calendar days or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,408. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Dane County Circuit Court - Small Claims
City	Madison
Address	215 S Hamilton St, Madison, WI 53703
Phone	(608) 266-4311 (listed in the state court directory 2026-09-21; not confirmed by the court)
Statewide filing fee	$94.50 statewide small-claims filing fee; service is extra
E-filing	Yes, see filing page
Small claims limit	$10,000 (statewide small claims (confirm current Wis. Stat. small-claims cap in county of filing) only)
State deposit return deadline	21 calendar days after the rental agreement terminates. Applies when: 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. Applies when: 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). Applies when: tenant vacates or is evicted after the termination date of the rental agreement.
Time limit to sue	6 years
Deposit statute	Wis. Stat. § 704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § 134.06

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 (statewide small claims (confirm current Wis. Stat. small-claims cap in county of filing) only).

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Details of the return rules

Wisconsin statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
On the end date	21 days	after the rental agreement terminates
Before the end date, or I was evicted before it	21 days	after the tenant's rental agreement terminates, or after the new tenant's tenancy begins if re-rented earlier
After the end date, or I was removed after it	21 days	after landlord learns tenant vacated or was removed under s. 799.45(2)

Wisconsin return rule: 21 calendar days (tenant vacates on the termination date of the rental agreement). Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Dane County Circuit Court - Small Claims. 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 Dane County.
The Wisconsin business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (check the link; report an error if it is wrong)

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

Listed filing or service charges: $94.50 statewide small-claims filing fee; service is extra

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 Dane 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	$1,206	$1,206	$2,412	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$1,408	$1,408	$2,816	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,700	$1,700	$3,400	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,917	$1,917	$3,834	Fits under the $10,000 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 Dane County compare with other Wisconsin counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,408: rank 1 of 72 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 42.3% of households rent in Dane County.

Dane County two-bedroom rent $1,408, rank 1 of 72 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Dane County	$1,408
Waukesha County	$1,342
Kenosha County	$1,176
Washington County	$1,114
Walworth County	$1,107
Milwaukee County	$1,102

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 72 of 72 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Dane County

Belleville
Black Earth
Blue Mounds
Brooklyn
Cambridge
Cottage Grove
Cross Plains
Dane
Deerfield
DeForest
Edgerton
Fitchburg
Madison
Maple Bluff
Marshall
Mazomanie
McFarland
Middleton
Monona
Mount Horeb
Oregon
Rockdale
Shorewood Hills
Stoughton
Sun Prairie

And 3 more.

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 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.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Dane County?

Statewide filing fee: $94.50 statewide small-claims filing fee; service is extra.

Where do I file a deposit claim in Dane County?

Dane County Circuit Court - Small Claims 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.