Texas Small Claims Court: The $20,000 Limit and How to File
Texas no longer has a separate “small claims court.” Small claims cases are filed in justice of the peace court (justice court), and the most you can ask for is $20,000.
At a glance
- Limit
- $20,000
- Counts toward the limit
- The money you're owed, plus attorney fees
- Doesn't count
- Court costs and statutory interest
- Where
- Justice of the peace court in the right precinct
- Lawyer needed?
- No
| Case | Court |
|---|---|
| Money owed up to $20,000 | Justice court (small claims case) |
| Debt claim by a lender or collector, up to $20,000 | Justice court (debt claim case) |
| Eviction | Justice court (eviction case) |
| More than $20,000 | County or district court |
How to file
- Send a demand letter first. Say what’s owed and give a deadline. Many disputes end here, and the judge will want to see you tried.
- Pick the right precinct. Usually where the person you’re suing lives, or where the problem happened.
- File a petition with the justice court clerk (many counties take e-filing). You’ll pay a filing fee plus a fee to serve the other side; the clerk can tell you the amounts, or how to ask the court to waive them if you can’t afford them.
- Bring evidence to the hearing: contracts, receipts, photos, texts, and witnesses.
Winning isn’t the same as getting paid
A judgment doesn’t put money in your account. If the other side doesn’t pay, you’ll need to take further steps, and Texas protects a lot of property (like most wages and a person’s home) from collection.
Sources
Common questions
What is the small claims limit in Texas?
$20,000. That includes attorney fees, if any, but not court costs or interest.
Do I need a lawyer for small claims in Texas?
No. Small claims cases in justice court are designed for people representing themselves, though you can hire a lawyer.