Tennessee Small Claims Court
Owed money in Tennessee? 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.
Tennessee small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $25,000
- Court
- General Sessions Court
- Filing fee
- Varies by county: state base filing fee per Tenn. Code Ann. §8-21-401 plus county litigation taxes and service of the civil warrant; typical all-in cost roughly $100-$150 (evictions can run higher). Check the county General Sessions clerk for exact amounts.
- Lawyers at the hearing
- Yes — Tennessee places no restriction on attorney representation in General Sessions Court; either side may appear with or without counsel.
Source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501 · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the General Sessions Court clerk before filing.
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How to file in Tennessee — 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 General Sessions Court where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: Varies by county: state base filing fee per Tenn. Code Ann. §8-21-401 plus county litigation taxes and service of the civil warrant; typical all-in cost roughly $100-$150 (evictions can run higher). Check the county General Sessions clerk for exact amounts..
- Serve the defendant the way Tennessee 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 Tennessee small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in Tennessee small claims court?
The limit is $25,000 (as of 2026). $25,000 in all counties (Tenn. Code Ann. §16-15-501(d)(1)); attorney fees, court costs and discretionary costs are excluded from the limit calculation. Unlimited jurisdiction in forcible entry and detainer (eviction) cases and in actions to recover personal property, including an alternative money judgment. The '$15,000 in some counties' figure on aggregator sites is outdated. Source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501. 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 Tennessee, small claims cases are heard by the General Sessions Court, generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: Varies by county: state base filing fee per Tenn. Code Ann. §8-21-401 plus county litigation taxes and service of the civil warrant; typical all-in cost roughly $100-$150 (evictions can run higher). Check the county General Sessions clerk for exact amounts.. Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In Tennessee: Yes — Tennessee places no restriction on attorney representation in General Sessions Court; either side may appear with or without counsel.. 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Tennessee compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Tennessee: Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501 ↗.
- Small claims limit
Small claims limit: $25,000 — about 3× the national median of $10,000 across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
Ranked #1 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), Arkansas ($5,000), Georgia ($15,000), Kentucky ($2,500), Mississippi ($3,500), Missouri ($5,000), North Carolina ($10,000), Virginia ($5,000). Tennessee's $25,000 is the longest among its neighbors.
The rest of what Tennessee requires
The figures below are Tennessee'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 Tennessee page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit Tenn. Code §66-28-301 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out Tenn. Code §66-28-301 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Tenn. Code §66-28-301 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 14 days to pay or quit Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505; § 66-28-512 (URLTA counties) ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 14 days Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505; § 66-28-512 (URLTA counties) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Tennessee Code ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Tennessee DOR / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization recommended Tenn. Code §34-6-101 et seq. ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 48-249-102(24), 48-249-203 ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Register of Deeds ('county register', Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-24-101) · no witnesses Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-22-101 ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More Tennessee legal forms
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