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.

How long do you have on a property damage claim in Texas?

2 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003(a).

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).

How long you have in Texas

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.

How long you have in Texas
Kind of claim	Window	Counted from	Rule
Unpaid Invoice	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.004(a)(3)
Unpaid Loan	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.004(a)(3)
Contractor Dispute	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.004(a)(3)
Auto Repair	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.004(a)(3)
Security Deposit	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.004(a)(3)
Other	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.004(a)(3)
Property Damage	2 years	the day the damage happened	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003(a)
Sale of Goods	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Tex. Bus. & Com. Code §2.725(a)

Worked example

If the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken was 2026-03-15, a window of 4 years runs out on 2030-03-15. That is the same arithmetic the check uses: calendar months, clamped to the end of the month, and no roll forward to the next court day.

More about Texas

Common questions

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.
How long do you have on a property damage claim in Texas?: 2 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003(a).
How long do you have on a sale of goods claim in Texas?: 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under Tex. Bus. & Com. Code §2.725(a).
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).

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 page

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

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.004(a)(3) · effective 1999-08-30 · A claim to collect a debt or enforce an agreement must be filed within four years of when it was broken, whether the agreement was written or spoken.
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. Bus. & Com. Code §2.725(a) · effective 1967-09-01 · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.

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