Small Claims De Novo Requests

Small Claims De Novo Request/Demand for Trial Request

If you disagree with a decision (judgment or order) made by a Circuit Court Commissioner, you have the right to appeal that decision to a Circuit Court Judge.

In Small Claims cases, the Court Commissioner's decision becomes a judgment unless one or both parties object to the decision and request a Trial De Novo before a Circuit Court Judge.

There are two specific situations in which parties can request that an issue originally decided by a Circuit Court Commissioner be reconsidered by a Judge: review of a decision made on a motion or a new trial. In both instances, a Circuit Court Judge will hear the case anew, as if it had not been previously heard. You can find the necessary forms to initiate the De Novo/Demand for Trial process below. The Demand for Trial must be filed within ten (10) days of an oral decision or within fifteen (15) days of the mailing of a written decision. Please pay close attention to the service requirements.