Small claims in Texas
The court
- Justice Court
- The justice of the peace court for the precinct where the other side lives or where the dispute happened.
The most you can claim
| Claiming as | Most you can claim | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| An individual | $20,000 | Tex. Gov't Code §27.031(a)(1) |
| A business | $20,000 | Tex. Gov't Code §27.031(a)(1) |
| A public agency | $20,000 | Tex. Gov't Code §27.031(a)(1) |
What it costs to file
This state does not set one statewide fee. The court where you file publishes its own.
Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §118.121 · Justice court filing fees are set by statute and vary by county. Your precinct's justice court publishes its fee schedule.
How long you have
The shortest window in this state is 2 years from the day the damage happened.
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003(a) · A claim for damage to your property must be filed within two years of the damage.
Also worth knowing
- A claim against a city, county, or state agency usually needs written notice to that agency within six months of the event before it can go to court. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §101.101(a)
Does small claims fit your dispute in Texas?
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 Texas?
- An individual can claim up to $20,000. A business can claim up to $20,000. A public agency can claim up to $20,000. That comes from Tex. Gov't Code §27.031(a)(1).
- What does it cost to file a small claims claim in Texas?
- Texas 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 Texas?
- The shortest window is 2 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003(a). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
- Do you have to ask for the money before filing in Texas?
- No, Texas does not require it, per Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.3. 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 Texas?
- Justice Court. The justice of the peace court for the precinct where the other side lives or where the dispute happened.
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Texas's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.
Open the court's small claims pageVerified on 2026-09-05, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2026-07-01.
- Tex. Gov't Code §27.031(a)(1) · effective 2019-06-02 · A justice court can hear a money dispute of up to $20,000.
- Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §118.121 · effective 2021-09-01 · Justice court filing fees are set by statute and vary by county. Your precinct's justice court publishes its fee schedule.
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003(a) · effective 2005-09-01 · A claim for damage to your property must be filed within two years of the damage.
- Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.3 · effective 2026-07-01 · A small claims case is a claim for money of $20,000 or less in justice court. The rules do not require a written demand before filing.
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §101.101(a) · effective 1985-09-01 · A claim against a government body needs written notice to that body within six months of the incident.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.