An action for forcible entry and detainer brought pursuant to procedures prescribed otherwise in this title standing alone or when joined with a claim for recovery of rent, damages to the premises, or a claim arising under the Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, where the total recovery sought, exclusive of attorney's fees and other court costs, does not exceed the jurisdictional amount for the small claims court, shall be placed on the small claims docket of the district court. The district courts may provide by court rule that any action for forcible entry and detainer may be assigned to the small claims division for determination of the right to possession, regardless of the underlying amount in controversy, at the conclusion of which, the matter shall be returned to the assigned judge for further proceedings. The court clerk shall in connection with such actions prepare the affidavit, by which the action is commenced, and the summons, and generally assist unrepresented plaintiffs to the same extent that he is now required so to do under the Small Claims Procedure Act, Section 1751 et seq. of this title.
§ 1148.14.Forcible Entry and Detainer Action Not Exceeding Jurisdictional Amount For Small Claims Court - Small Claims Docket
Chapter 20: Actions Regarding Real Property · Last amended September 1, 1994 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1148.14 sends a forcible entry and detainer case to the small claims docket when the recovery sought fits the small claims jurisdictional amount, lets courts assign any eviction case there to decide possession regardless of amount, and has the court clerk assist unrepresented plaintiffs.
Full Text of § 1148.14
Amendment History
Laws 1971, HB 1105, c. 339, § 5, eff. 10/1/1971; Amended by Laws 1978, HB 1279, c. 257, § 35, eff. 10/1/1978; Amended by Laws 1994, SB 1155, c. 343, § 7, eff. 9/1/1994.
Plain-English Summary
When the total recovery sought in a forcible entry and detainer case -- not counting attorney's fees and court costs -- stays within the small claims court's jurisdictional amount, the case goes on the small claims docket of the district court, whether it's an eviction claim standing alone or joined with a claim for rent, damages, or one arising under the Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
District courts also have a broader option: by court rule, they can send any forcible entry and detainer case to the small claims division to decide the right to possession, no matter how much money is in controversy, and then send the case back to the assigned judge for whatever comes next. Either way, the court clerk prepares the commencing affidavit and the summons and assists unrepresented plaintiffs to the same extent the Small Claims Procedure Act already requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does an eviction case go on the small claims docket?
When the total recovery sought, not counting attorney's fees and court costs, doesn't exceed the small claims court's jurisdictional amount.
Can a bigger eviction case still go to small claims for the possession question?
Yes. A district court may, by rule, assign any forcible entry and detainer case to the small claims division to determine the right to possession, regardless of the amount in controversy, and then return it to the assigned judge.
Who prepares the paperwork for an unrepresented plaintiff in these cases?
The court clerk prepares the affidavit that commences the action and the summons, and assists unrepresented plaintiffs to the same extent required under the Small Claims Procedure Act.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: small claims eviction oklahomaforcible entry detainer small claims docket12 O.S. § 1148.14eviction jurisdictional amount oklahoma