Georgia Small Claims Court Guide
Everything you need to know about filing a small claims case in Georgia.
Maximum Claim
$15,000
Filing Fee
$45
Fee waiver available
Court Name
Magistrate Court
Hearing Timeline
30–45 days from filing
Find your courthouse in Georgia
Search by city, county, or ZIP code to get the courthouse address, phone number, hours, and filing options.
How Much Can You Sue For in Georgia?
In Georgia, individuals can file small claims cases for up to $15,000. This limit applies to both individuals and businesses.
Georgia Small Claims Court Filing Fees
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard filing fee (varies by county) | $45 |
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may qualify for a fee waiver. Ask the court clerk for a fee waiver application when you file.
Statutes of Limitations in Georgia
You must file your claim within the time limits below, or the court will dismiss your case regardless of its merits.
6
years — written contract
4
years — oral contract
4
years — property damage
2
years — personal injury
Ready to take action in Georgia?
A demand letter often resolves disputes before court. Our free guide shows you how to write one in minutes.
Read the demand letter guideWhere to File in Georgia
Small claims cases in Georgia are handled by the Magistrate Court. Georgia has 159 county Magistrate Courts.
Where to file: File in the county where the defendant lives
Not sure which court you need? Our step-by-step filing guide walks you through finding the right court for your case.
Find your specific courthouse: Search for your county courthouse below ↓ — get the address, phone number, hours, and see if e-filing is available.
How to Serve the Defendant in Georgia
After filing your claim, you must formally notify the defendant. This is called "service of process" and is required before your case can be heard.
Accepted methods: Personal service by marshal, sheriff, or certified mail (in some counties)
Deadline: Service must be completed at least 10 days before the hearing.
Georgia Small Claims Court Procedures
Can I bring a lawyer?
Yes, attorneys are allowed to represent parties in Georgia small claims court.
Can I appeal?
Either party may appeal within 30 days to state or superior court
Is e-filing available?
E-filing is available in some Georgia courts but not all. Check with your specific court location.
Are remote hearings available?
Remote hearings are available in some Georgia courts. Check with your specific court location for current policies.
Official Georgia Court Resources
Find Your Courthouse in Georgia
Select your county to get the courthouse address, phone number, hours, and filing options.
Appling County
Baxley area
(912) 367-8116
Atkinson County
Pearson area
(912) 422-3552
Bacon County
Alma area
(912) 632-5961
Baker County
Newton area
(229) 734-3007
Baldwin County
Milledgeville area
(478) 445-4446
Banks County
Homer area
(706) 677-6270
Barrow County
Winder area
(770) 307-3050
Bartow County
Cartersville area
(770) 387-5070
Ben Hill County
Fitzgerald area
(229) 426-5140
Berrien County
Nashville area
(229) 686-7019
Bibb County
Macon area
(478) 621-5801
Bleckley County
Cochran area
(478) 934-3202
Brantley County
Nahunta area
(912) 462-6780
Brooks County
Quitman area
(229) 263-9989
Bryan County
Pembroke area
(912) 653-5252
Bulloch County
Statesboro area
(912) 764-6458
Burke County
Waynesboro area
(706) 554-4281
Butts County
Jackson area
(770) 775-8220
Calhoun County
Morgan area
(229) 849-2115
Camden County
Woodbine area
(912) 576-5658
Candler County
Metter area
(912) 685-5257
Carroll County
Carrollton area
(770) 830-5874
Catoosa County
Ringgold area
(706) 935-3114
Charlton County
Folkston area
(912) 496-2230
Chatham County
Savannah area
(912) 652-7181
Chattahoochee County
Cusseta area
(706) 989-3424
Chattooga County
Summerville area
(706) 857-0711
Cherokee County
Canton area
(678) 493-6431
Clarke County
Athens area
(706) 613-3310
Clay County
Fort Gaines area
Clayton County
Jonesboro area
(770) 477-3443
Clinch County
Homerville area
(912) 487-2514
Cobb County
Marietta area
(770) 528-8900
Coffee County
Douglas area
(912) 384-1381
Colquitt County
Moultrie area
(229) 616-7450
Columbia County
Evans area
(706) 868-3316
Cook County
Adel area
(229) 896-3151
Coweta County
Newnan area
(770) 254-2610
Crawford County
Knoxville area
(478) 836-5804
Crisp County
Cordele area
(229) 271-4728
Dade County
Trenton area
(706) 657-4113
Dawson County
Dawsonville area
(706) 344-3730
Decatur County
Bainbridge area
(229) 248-3014
DeKalb County
Decatur area
(404) 371-2261
Dodge County
Eastman area
(478) 374-7243
Dooly County
Vienna area
(229) 268-4217
Dougherty County
Albany area
(229) 431-3216
Douglas County
Douglasville area
(770) 920-7540
Early County
Blakely area
(229) 723-3454
Echols County
Statenville area
(229) 559-7526
Effingham County
Springfield area
(912) 754-2124
Elbert County
Elberton area
(706) 283-2016
Emanuel County
Swainsboro area
(478) 237-7271
Evans County
Claxton area
(912) 739-3745
Fannin County
Blue Ridge area
(706) 632-5558
Fayette County
Fayetteville area
(770) 716-4230
Floyd County
Rome area
(706) 291-5250
Forsyth County
Cumming area
(770) 781-2211
Franklin County
Carnesville area
(706) 384-7473
Fulton County
Atlanta area
404-613-5360
Gilmer County
Ellijay area
(706) 635-2515
Glascock County
Gibson area
(706) 598-3241
Glynn County
Brunswick area
(912) 554-7250
Gordon County
Calhoun area
(706) 629-6818
Grady County
Cairo area
(229) 377-4132
Greene County
Greensboro area
(706) 453-3346
Gwinnett County
Lawrenceville area
(770) 822-8100
Habersham County
Clarkesville area
(706) 839-0350
Hall County
Gainesville area
(770) 531-6912
Hancock County
Sparta area
(706) 444-6234
Haralson County
Buchanan area
(770) 646-2015
Harris County
Hamilton area
(706) 628-4977
Hart County
Hartwell area
(706) 376-6817
Heard County
Franklin area
(706) 675-3002
Henry County
McDonough area
(770) 288-7700
Houston County
Perry area
(478) 987-4695
Irwin County
Ocilla area
(229) 468-7671
Jackson County
Jefferson area
(706) 387-6358
Jasper County
Monticello area
(706) 468-4909
Jeff Davis County
Hazlehurst area
(912) 375-6630
Jefferson County
Louisville area
(478) 625-8834
Jenkins County
Millen area
(478) 982-5580
Johnson County
Wrightsville area
(478) 864-3484
Jones County
Gray area
(478) 986-5113
Lamar County
Barnesville area
(770) 358-5154
Lanier County
Lakeland area
(229) 482-2207
Laurens County
Dublin area
(478) 272-3210
Lee County
Leesburg area
(229) 759-6016
Liberty County
Hinesville area
(912) 876-3625
Lincoln County
Lincolnton area
(706) 359-5528
Long County
Ludowici area
(912) 545-2315
Lowndes County
Valdosta area
(229) 671-2610
Lumpkin County
Dahlonega area
(706) 864-3736
Macon County
Oglethorpe area
(478) 472-8509
Madison County
Danielsville area
(706) 795-6375
Marion County
Buena Vista area
(229) 649-5542
McDuffie County
Thomson area
(706) 597-2618
McIntosh County
Darien area
(912) 437-4888
Meriwether County
Greenville area
(706) 672-1247
Miller County
Colquitt area
(229) 758-4110
Mitchell County
Camilla area
(229) 336-2077
Monroe County
Forsyth area
(478) 994-7018
Montgomery County
Mount Vernon area
(912) 583-2170
Morgan County
Madison area
(706) 342-3088
Murray County
Chatsworth area
(706) 695-3021
Muscogee County
Columbus area
(706) 653-4790
Newton County
Covington area
(770) 784-2050
Oconee County
Watkinsville area
(706) 769-3940
Oglethorpe County
Lexington area
(706) 743-8321
Paulding County
Dallas area
770-443-7533
Peach County
Fort Valley area
(478) 825-2060
Pickens County
Jasper area
(706) 253-8747
Pierce County
Blackshear area
(912) 449-2027
Pike County
Zebulon area
(770) 567-2004
Polk County
Cedartown area
(770) 749-2187
Pulaski County
Hawkinsville area
(478) 783-1357
Putnam County
Eatonton area
(706) 485-4306
Quitman County
Georgetown area
(229) 334-2224
Rabun County
Clayton area
(706) 782-3615
Randolph County
Cuthbert area
(229) 732-2218
Richmond County
Augusta area
(706) 821-2370
Rockdale County
Conyers area
(770) 278-7800
Schley County
Ellaville area
(229) 937-5110
Screven County
Sylvania area
(912) 564-7375
Seminole County
Donalsonville area
(229) 524-5256
Spalding County
Griffin area
(770) 467-4321
Stephens County
Toccoa area
(706) 886-6205
Stewart County
Lumpkin area
(229) 838-6769
Sumter County
Americus area
(229) 928-4524
Talbot County
Talbotton area
(706) 665-3595
Taliaferro County
Crawfordville area
(706) 456-2253
Tattnall County
Reidsville area
(912) 557-4372
Taylor County
Butler area
(478) 862-3357
Telfair County
McRae-Helena area
(229) 868-6772
Terrell County
Dawson area
(229) 995-3757
Thomas County
Thomasville area
(229) 225-3330
Tift County
Tifton area
(229) 386-7907
Toombs County
Lyons area
(912) 526-4602
Towns County
Hiawassee area
(706) 896-3467
Treutlen County
Soperton area
(912) 529-3342
Troup County
LaGrange area
(706) 883-1695
Turner County
Ashburn area
(229) 567-3155
Twiggs County
Jeffersonville area
(478) 945-3428
Union County
Blairsville area
(706) 439-6008
Upson County
Thomaston area
(706) 647-6891
Walker County
LaFayette area
(706) 638-1217
Walton County
Monroe area
(770) 267-1349
Ware County
Waycross area
(912) 490-4373
Warren County
Warrenton area
(706) 465-2227
Washington County
Sandersville area
(478) 552-3591
Wayne County
Jesup area
(912) 427-5960
Webster County
Preston area
(229) 828-3615
Wheeler County
Alamo area
(912) 568-7133
White County
Cleveland area
(706) 865-2613
Whitfield County
Dalton area
(706) 278-5052
Wilcox County
Abbeville area
(229) 467-2442
Wilkes County
Washington area
(706) 678-1881
Wilkinson County
Irwinton area
(478) 946-2222
Worth County
Sylvester area
(229) 776-8210
Don't see your county? Let us know here!
Ready to take action in Georgia?
A demand letter often resolves disputes before court — our free guide shows you how to write one.
Read the demand letter guide