Georgia Small Claims Court
Owed money in Georgia? Here's the dollar limit, the court that hears it, what filing costs — and a free demand letter to send first, which resolves many disputes without a case. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
Georgia small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $15,000
- Court
- Magistrate Court (Georgia's small claims court - there is no separately named small claims division)
- Filing fee
- Varies by county, roughly $50-$110 all-in (e.g. DeKalb County: $104 filing + $35 service per defendant); fees are set under O.C.G.A. §15-10-80
- Lawyers at the hearing
- allowed (not required)
Source: O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(5) · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Magistrate Court (Georgia's small claims court - there is no separately named small claims division) clerk before filing.
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How to file in Georgia — the short version
- Demand first. Send the letter above by a trackable method and keep proof — judges expect it, and it often gets you paid without a case.
- File with the Magistrate Court (Georgia's small claims court - there is no separately named small claims division) where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: Varies by county, roughly $50-$110 all-in (e.g. DeKalb County: $104 filing + $35 service per defendant); fees are set under O.C.G.A. §15-10-80.
- Serve the defendant the way Georgia rules require (clerk, sheriff, certified mail, or process server — ask the clerk). Bad service is the #1 way cases get thrown out.
- Bring evidence: contracts, invoices, photos, messages, this demand letter and its delivery proof, and any witnesses.
- Collect. If you win and they don't pay, ask the clerk about garnishment, levy, and liens.
Check the current Georgia small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in Georgia small claims court?
The limit is $15,000 (as of 2026). Civil claims up to $15,000; NO dollar limit applies in dispossessory (eviction) proceedings, which magistrate courts also hear. A plaintiff with a larger claim may still file in magistrate court but waives any recovery above $15,000. Source: O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(5). If you're owed more, you can sue in the regular civil court instead — or waive the excess and stay in small claims, which is usually faster and cheaper.
Where do I file?
In Georgia, small claims cases are heard by the Magistrate Court (Georgia's small claims court - there is no separately named small claims division), generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: Varies by county, roughly $50-$110 all-in (e.g. DeKalb County: $104 filing + $35 service per defendant); fees are set under O.C.G.A. §15-10-80. Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In Georgia: allowed (not required). Either way, small claims procedure is deliberately informal — you present your story, your documents, and your witnesses directly to the judge.
What happens if I win but they don't pay?
A judgment isn't a check — if the defendant doesn't pay voluntarily, you enforce it: wage garnishment, bank levy, or property liens, depending on Georgia law. The court clerk can point you to the forms. Judgments also accrue interest and stay enforceable for years, so a stubborn debtor doesn't run out the clock quickly.
How does Georgia compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Georgia compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Georgia: O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(5) ↗.
- Small claims limit
Small claims limit: $15,000 — above the national median of $10,000 across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
Ranked #7 of 51 states (tied with 1) — higher means larger disputes can use the small claims process.
1 other state uses the same figure.
Small claims limit in neighboring states — Alabama ($6,000), Florida ($8,000), North Carolina ($10,000), South Carolina ($7,500), Tennessee ($25,000).
The rest of what Georgia requires
The figures below are Georgia's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Georgia page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit Ga. Code §44-7-34 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out Ga. Code §44-7-34 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Ga. Code §44-7-34 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 3 days to pay or quit O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50 (HB 404, eff. 7/1/2024); § 44-7-7 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Georgia Code ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Georgia DOR (Form T-7) / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required · 1 witness Ga. Code §10-6B-5 (form §10-6B-70) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules O.C.G.A. § 14-11-101(18) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- Clerk of Superior Court (county) · 1 witness O.C.G.A. § 44-5-30 ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More Georgia legal forms
Different state? See small claims rules by state →