Tennessee Small Claims Court Guide
Everything you need to know about filing a small claims case in Tennessee.
Maximum Claim
$25,000
Filing Fee
$130
Fee waiver available
Court Name
General Sessions Court
Hearing Timeline
30–60 days from filing
Find your courthouse in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
In Tennessee, individuals can file small claims cases for up to $25,000. This limit applies to both individuals and businesses.
Tennessee Small Claims Court Filing Fees
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard filing fee (varies by county) | $130 |
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 Tennessee
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
6
years — oral contract
3
years — property damage
1
years — personal injury
Ready to take action in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee
Small claims cases in Tennessee are handled by the General Sessions Court. Tennessee has 95 county General Sessions Courts.
Where to file: File in the county where the defendant lives or where the cause of action arose
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 Tennessee
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 sheriff, process server, or certified mail
Deadline: Service must be completed at least 6 days before the hearing.
Tennessee Small Claims Court Procedures
Can I bring a lawyer?
Yes, attorneys are allowed to represent parties in Tennessee small claims court.
Can I appeal?
Either party may appeal within 10 days for new trial in circuit court
Is e-filing available?
E-filing is available in some Tennessee courts but not all. Check with your specific court location.
Are remote hearings available?
Remote hearings are available in some Tennessee courts. Check with your specific court location for current policies.
Official Tennessee Court Resources
Find Your Courthouse in Tennessee
Select your county to get the courthouse address, phone number, hours, and filing options.
Anderson County
Clinton area
(865) 264-6323
Bedford County
Shelbyville area
(931) 684-3223
Benton County
Camden area
(731) 584-6711
Bledsoe County
Pikeville area
(423) 447-6488
Blount County
Maryville area
(865) 273-5450
Bradley County
Cleveland area
(423) 728-7265
Campbell County
Jacksboro area
(423) 562-2624
Cannon County
Woodbury area
(615) 563-4461
Carroll County
Huntingdon area
(731) 986-1926
Carter County
Elizabethton area
(423) 542-1825
Cheatham County
Ashland City area
(615) 792-4866
Chester County
Henderson area
(731) 989-2454
Claiborne County
Tazewell area
(423) 626-5208
Clay County
Celina area
(931) 243-2557
Cocke County
Newport area
(423) 623-8619
Coffee County
Manchester area
(931) 723-5110
Crockett County
Alamo area
(731) 696-5462
Cumberland County
Crossville area
(931) 484-6647
Davidson County
Nashville area
(615) 862-5195
Decatur County
Decaturville area
(731) 852-3125
DeKalb County
Smithville area
(615) 597-5711
Dickson County
Charlotte area
(615) 789-5414
Dyer County
Dyersburg area
(731) 286-7809
Fayette County
Somerville area
(901) 465-5205
Fentress County
Jamestown area
(931) 879-6724
Franklin County
Winchester area
(931) 967-2089
Gibson County
Trenton area
(731) 855-7664
Giles County
Pulaski area
(931) 363-5311
Grainger County
Rutledge area
(865) 828-3605
Greene County
Greeneville area
(423) 798-1760
Grundy County
Altamont area
(931) 692-3368
Hamblen County
Morristown area
(423) 586-5640
Hamilton County
Chattanooga area
(423) 209-7630
Hancock County
Sneedville area
(423) 733-2954
Hardeman County
Bolivar area
(731) 658-6524
Hardin County
Savannah area
(731) 925-3583
Hawkins County
Rogersville area
(423) 272-3397, (423) 272-4517
Haywood County
Brownsville area
(731) 772-1112
Henderson County
Lexington area
(731) 968-2031
Henry County
Paris area
(731) 642-0461
Hickman County
Centerville area
(931) 729-4415
Houston County
Erin area
(931) 289-4673
Humphreys County
Waverly area
(931) 296-2461
Jackson County
Gainesboro area
(931) 268-9314
Jefferson County
Dandridge area
(865) 397-2786
Johnson County
Mountain City area
(423) 727-9012
Knox County
Knoxville area
(865) 215-2518
Lake County
Tiptonville area
(731) 253-7137
Lauderdale County
Ripley area
(731) 635-2572
Lawrence County
Lawrenceburg area
(931) 762-4398
Lewis County
Hohenwald area
(931) 796-3724
Lincoln County
Fayetteville area
(931) 433-2334
Loudon County
Loudon area
(865) 986-3505
Macon County
Lafayette area
(615) 666-2354
Madison County
Jackson area
(731) 423-6016
Marion County
Jasper area
(423) 942-2134
Marshall County
Lewisburg area
(931) 359-1312
Maury County
Columbia area
(931) 375-1103
McMinn County
Athens area
(423) 745-1923
McNairy County
Selmer area
(731) 645-1015
Meigs County
Decatur area
(423) 334-5821
Monroe County
Madisonville area
(423) 442-2396
Montgomery County
Clarksville area
(931) 648-5700
Moore County
Lynchburg area
(931) 759-7208
Morgan County
Wartburg area
(423) 346-6943
Obion County
Union City area
(731) 507-0999 Ext.#1, then #2
Overton County
Livingston area
(931) 823-2312
Perry County
Linden area
(931) 589-2218
Pickett County
Byrdstown area
(931) 864-3958
Polk County
Benton area
(423) 338-4524
Putnam County
Cookeville area
(931) 528-1508
Rhea County
Dayton area
(423) 775-7818
Roane County
Kingston area
(865) 376-5584
Robertson County
Springfield area
(615) 384-5895
Rutherford County
Murfreesboro area
(615) 217-0069
Scott County
Huntsville area
(423) 663-2440
Sequatchie County
Dunlap area
(423) 949-2618
Sevier County
Sevierville area
(865) 429-5671
Shelby County
Memphis area
(901) 222-3413
Smith County
Carthage area
(615) 735-0500
Stewart County
Dover area
(931) 232-8474
Sullivan County
Blountville area
(423) 989-4352
Sumner County
Gallatin area
(615) 452-4367 ext. 3 (Civil)
Tipton County
Covington area
(901) 475-3310
Trousdale County
Hartsville area
(615) 374-2112
Unicoi County
Erwin area
(423) 743-3541
Union County
Maynardville area
(865) 992-5493
Van Buren County
Spencer area
(931) 946-2153
Warren County
McMinnville area
(931) 473-2373
Washington County
Jonesborough area
(423) 788-1481
Wayne County
Waynesboro area
(931) 722-5519
Weakley County
Dresden area
(731) 364-3455
White County
Sparta area
(931) 836-3205
Williamson County
Franklin area
(615) 790-5483
Wilson County
Lebanon area
(615) 444-2045
Don't see your county? Let us know here!
Ready to take action in Tennessee?
A demand letter often resolves disputes before court — our free guide shows you how to write one.
Read the demand letter guide