Rule 146.01 Filing Fee and Costs of Service

When you file a small claims case in Missouri, you have to pay the filing fee right away. You pay this fee at the same time you turn in your paperwork to start the case.

If you need the court to serve papers on the other person before a summons is issued, you also have to pay for that service upfront. In short, both the filing fee and any early service costs are due at the start, before the case moves forward.