Georgia: State guide

This is general information, not legal advice. Georgia's forum for smaller civil disputes is magistrate court, a county court. The Judicial Council page 'Navigating the Courts' says magistrate courts issue warrants, hear minor criminal offenses, and hear civil claims involving amounts of $15,000 or less. The same court system describes magistrate court as the place many people go for county-ordinance cases, dispossessory and other landlord-tenant cases, and bad checks. There is no jury trial in magistrate court. Parties often present civil cases themselves. A chief magistrate is usually elected in each county. Georgia once had courts called small claims courts. Under the 1983 Constitution they were classified as magistrate courts.

Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

The $15,000 figure on the Judicial Council page is the civil amount this directory reports. Bills introduced in the 2025-2026 session proposed raising magistrate civil jurisdiction, including one bill that described the existing amount as $15,000 and proposed $30,000. Those bill pages showed the proposals still moving or tabled, not signed into law, when this directory was compiled. Use the court system's published $15,000 description unless a later official page says the statute has changed. Because magistrate court is county by county, the clerk of the magistrate court where the defendant can be sued is the person who confirms filing details.

Magistrate court is busy with cases that are not 'small claims' in the consumer sense. Warrant applications, preliminary hearings, and county ordinances share the building with civil claims. When you file a civil statement of claim, label it clearly and use the civil form. Dispossessory cases, which are eviction cases, have their own forms and a fast calendar. Do not file an eviction on a generic money form. Bad-check cases may have a statutory path the clerk will point out. If you need a jury, magistrate court is the wrong room. The Judicial Council materials say no jury trials are held there.

A magistrate-court money judgment is enforced through the collection process that court uses, which can include garnishment when the statutes allow it. This directory does not state a filing fee or an appeal deadline, because the page used for the dollar figure does not set those out as a single statewide number. Ask the clerk of the magistrate court that will hear the case. If your claim is above $15,000, state court or superior court is the usual next step, depending on the relief you need. Superior court is the court of general jurisdiction.

Official resources in Georgia

Navigating the Georgia courts

Judicial Council page stating that magistrate courts hear civil claims of $15,000 or less.

Georgia courts

Judicial branch site for magistrate-court information and self-help.

Georgia General Assembly

Official bills and the code, including the magistrate-court title.

Key facts for Georgia

Georgia uses magistrate court for smaller civil claims.
The Judicial Council page states a civil amount of $15,000 or less.
Magistrate court holds no jury trials.
The court also hears dispossessory, ordinance, and bad-check matters.
Parties often present civil cases without a lawyer.
Proposed 2026 bills to raise the amount were not treated as enacted law here.

What to do next

Use the magistrate court's civil form, not a criminal-warrant form, for a money claim.
Use the dispossessory form if you need possession of a rental.
Confirm the $15,000 figure with the clerk if you are close to the line.
Choose state or superior court if you need a jury or a larger award.

Looking for your city or county in Georgia?

We haven't found official court-level pages for Georgia we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:

General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Georgia, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.
Judicial Council of Georgia
Website →
Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.
Your city or county office: Local governments →
Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Georgia page on USA.gov can point you to the right office.
Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.

Helpful guides

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