How much can you claim in small claims court in Georgia?

An individual can claim up to $15,000. A business can claim up to $15,000. A public agency can claim up to $15,000. That comes from O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(a)(5).

What does it cost to file a small claims claim in Georgia?

Georgia does not set one statewide fee. Each court publishes its own, so check the court where you will file.

How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Georgia?

The shortest window is 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under O.C.G.A. §9-3-25. Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.

Do you have to ask for the money before filing in Georgia?

No, Georgia does not require it, per Council of Magistrate Court Judges of Georgia. Sending a demand letter first is still the usual first step, and it is often what gets the money paid.

Which court handles small claims in Georgia?

Magistrate Court. The county magistrate court, usually in the county where the other side lives.

Small claims in Georgia

The court

Magistrate Court: The county magistrate court, usually in the county where the other side lives.

The court's own small claims page

The most you can claim

The small claims limit in Georgia
Claiming as	Most you can claim	Rule
An individual	$15,000	O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(a)(5)
A business	$15,000	O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(a)(5)
A public agency	$15,000	O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(a)(5)

What it costs to file

This state does not set one statewide fee. The court where you file publishes its own.

O.C.G.A. §15-10-80(a), (b) · Each county magistrate court sets its own filing deposit by local rule, up to $22, and adds the actual cost of serving each party plus other charges set by statute. Your county's magistrate court publishes the total.

How long you have

The shortest window in this state is 4 years from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken.

O.C.G.A. §9-3-25 · A claim based on a spoken agreement, an open account, or an implied promise must be filed within four years of when the right to claim arose.

Also worth knowing

A claim for damage to property against a city usually has to be presented in writing to the city's governing authority within six months of the event before it can go to court. Counties and state agencies have their own notice steps. O.C.G.A. §36-33-5

Does small claims fit your dispute in Georgia?

Pick what it is about. The next screens ask the amount and the dates. Nothing is saved, and no account is needed.

The detail

The limit
The limit is the most the court can award on one claim. It depends on who is claiming, and in some states on which court hears it.
What it costs
The court charges this when you hand in the claim. It is separate from the amount you are claiming.
How long you have
Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.

Common questions

How much can you claim in small claims court in Georgia?: An individual can claim up to $15,000. A business can claim up to $15,000. A public agency can claim up to $15,000. That comes from O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(a)(5).
What does it cost to file a small claims claim in Georgia?: Georgia does not set one statewide fee. Each court publishes its own, so check the court where you will file.
How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Georgia?: The shortest window is 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under O.C.G.A. §9-3-25. Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
Do you have to ask for the money before filing in Georgia?: No, Georgia does not require it, per Council of Magistrate Court Judges of Georgia. Sending a demand letter first is still the usual first step, and it is often what gets the money paid.
Which court handles small claims in Georgia?: Magistrate Court. The county magistrate court, usually in the county where the other side lives.

Verify with your court

Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Georgia's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.

Open the court's small claims page

Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2026-07-01.

O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(a)(5) · effective 2024-04-24 · Magistrate court hears civil claims where the amount demanded is $15,000 or less.
O.C.G.A. §15-10-80(a), (b) · effective 2026-07-01 · Each county magistrate court sets its own filing deposit by local rule, up to $22, and adds the actual cost of serving each party plus other charges set by statute. Your county's magistrate court publishes the total.
O.C.G.A. §9-3-25 · effective 1964-01-01 · A claim based on a spoken agreement, an open account, or an implied promise must be filed within four years of when the right to claim arose.
Council of Magistrate Court Judges of Georgia · effective 2026-09-05 · Georgia does not require a written demand before filing a magistrate court claim. Asking first is still the usual first step.
O.C.G.A. §36-33-5 · effective 2014-07-01 · A claim for damage to property against a city must first be presented in writing to the city's governing authority within six months of the event, stating the time, place, extent, and amount claimed.

FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.