Texas Small Claims Court
Owed money in Texas? 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.
Texas small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $20,000
- Court
- Justice Court (Justice of the Peace Court)
- Filing fee
- Set per county: $54 base filing fee under Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §118.121, plus service of citation (typically ~$75-$85 per defendant, set locally), so total upfront cost is commonly $130-$160. Confirm with the county's JP precinct clerk.
- Lawyers at the hearing
- Yes — Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.4 lets parties appear pro se, through an attorney, or (for entities) through an authorized agent; the court is designed for self-represented litigants and no attorney is required.
Source: Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031; Tex. R. Civ. P. 500-507 · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Justice Court (Justice of the Peace Court) clerk before filing.
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How to file in Texas — 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 Justice Court (Justice of the Peace Court) where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: Set per county: $54 base filing fee under Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §118.121, plus service of citation (typically ~$75-$85 per defendant, set locally), so total upfront cost is commonly $130-$160. Confirm with the county's JP precinct clerk..
- Serve the defendant the way Texas 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 Texas small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in Texas small claims court?
The limit is $20,000 (as of 2026). $20,000 exclusive of interest (Tex. Gov't Code §27.031(a)(1)), raised from $10,000 effective Sept. 1, 2020 (SB 2342) and still current in 2026. The cap applies to the amount demanded; among the highest small-claims limits in the U.S. (now matched by Utah's $20,000 and West Virginia's $20,000). Source: Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031; Tex. R. Civ. P. 500-507. 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 Texas, small claims cases are heard by the Justice Court (Justice of the Peace Court), generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: Set per county: $54 base filing fee under Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §118.121, plus service of citation (typically ~$75-$85 per defendant, set locally), so total upfront cost is commonly $130-$160. Confirm with the county's JP precinct clerk.. Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In Texas: Yes — Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.4 lets parties appear pro se, through an attorney, or (for entities) through an authorized agent; the court is designed for self-represented litigants and no attorney is 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 Texas 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 Texas compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Texas compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Texas: Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031; Tex. R. Civ. P. 500-507 ↗.
- Small claims limit
Small claims limit: $20,000 — about 2× the national median of $10,000 across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
Ranked #3 of 51 states (tied with 3) — higher means larger disputes can use the small claims process.
3 other states use the same figure.
Small claims limit in neighboring states — Arkansas ($5,000), Louisiana ($5,000), New Mexico ($10,000), Oklahoma ($10,000). Texas's $20,000 is the longest among its neighbors.
The rest of what Texas requires
The figures below are Texas'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 Texas page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit Tex. Prop. Code §92.103 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out Tex. Prop. Code §92.103 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Tex. Prop. Code §92.103 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 3 days to pay or quit Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005; § 91.001 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Texas Statutes ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Texas DMV / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required Tex. Est. Code §751.0021 (form §752.051) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code §§ 101.001(1), 101.052 ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Clerk (Tex. Prop. Code § 12.001(b)(2); recording in the county where the land lies) · no witnesses Tex. Prop. Code § 12.001; § 5.021 (conveyance must be in writing, subscribed and delivered); § 13.006 (quitclaim/BFP rule) ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More Texas legal forms
Different state? See small claims rules by state →