Debt recovery by state and city
Limitation periods, local court fees, and small-claims thresholds vary by state. Pick yours below for a jurisdiction-specific guide to recovering an unpaid B2B debt.
Australia's five biggest metros
City-specific guides covering the local court your debtor would be served in, typical filing fees, and recovery options for businesses based in or owed money from each metro.
Sydney
NSW Local Court small claims, NCAT, and recovery options for Sydney-based creditors.
Open guide →Melbourne
VCAT, Magistrates' Court of Victoria, and Melbourne-specific recovery paths.
Open guide →Brisbane
QCAT minor debts, Magistrates Court Queensland, and Brisbane recovery.
Open guide →Perth
Magistrates Court of WA minor cases jurisdiction and Perth-specific recovery.
Open guide →Adelaide
SACAT, Magistrates Court of SA minor claims, and Adelaide recovery options.
Open guide →Statewide guides
If your debtor is outside the main metros, pick your state. Each state guide covers the limitation period (how long you have to act), the small-claims threshold, and what court has jurisdiction.
New South Wales
6-year limitation under the Limitation Act 1969. NSW Local Court small-claims division up to $20,000.
Open guide →Victoria
6-year limitation. Magistrates' Court Victoria handles claims up to $100,000; smaller via the small-claims list.
Open guide →Queensland
6-year limitation. QCAT handles minor debt claims up to $25,000; Magistrates Court above that.
Open guide →A letter of demand works in every state
A formal letter of demand is the same first step regardless of jurisdiction. State-specific rules only kick in if you have to escalate to court — and most debtors pay before that. See how a letter of demand works →
Send a letter of demand today
Australia-wide. Lawyer-approved template, $29 flat, 5 minutes to send.
Send a letter of demand