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SC-500I

Summons and Complaint (Small Claims) with Instructions

Wisconsin · Wisconsin Court System · Effective March 5, 2026

This form is used to start a small claims case in Wisconsin. It asks the person filing the case (the plaintiff) to state who they are suing (the defendant) and what they are asking the court for, such as money or the return of property.

The court describes it as: To open or start a small claims action. This version has instructions for self-represented parties. Correction published on 7/6/26. See https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/smallclaims.htm for more information.

Open the official PDFfrom Wisconsin Court System

Where this fits in a case

Start a case

Stage: Start a case

This form is used by someone who wants to start a lawsuit in small claims court. It includes instructions for people who are representing themselves in court.

Usually filed by the person starting the case.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

Who fills out this form?
The person bringing the lawsuit, called the plaintiff, fills out this form. It can also be filled out by the plaintiff's attorney.
What does the summons part say?
The summons tells the defendant that they are being sued and what they must do if they want to disagree with the claim.
Does this form tell me how much money I can sue for?
The form lists different types of small claims cases and includes a section for claiming money, noting limits like $10,000 or less for some claims.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 10, 2026. The current version took effect March 5, 2026.

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