Small Claims Plainly

State guide

Texas

This is general information, not legal advice. Texas small claims are filed in justice court. The State Law Library's FAQ, updated November 25, 2025, says the total amount of a small claim cannot exceed $20,000. It says Government Code section 27.031 gives justice courts jurisdiction over civil matters in disputes of less than $20,000. It quotes Rule of Civil Procedure 500.3(a): a small claims case is a lawsuit for money damages, civil penalties, personal property, or other relief allowed by law, and the claim can be for no more than $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees. Rules 500 through 507 govern. The library says you cannot agree to take less just to squeeze a larger case into this court.

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

Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
Which court hears it
Justice court, on the small claims docket
Dollar limit we could verify
The Texas State Law Library says a small claim cannot exceed $20,000. It cites Government Code section 27.031 for justice-court civil jurisdiction in disputes of less than $20,000, and Rule 500.3(a) for a claim of no more than $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees.
Statute or court page
Official page →
Filing or self-help page
Official page →

Three phrasings appear on the same official page, and they are aimed at the same line. The FAQ's own sentence is 'cannot exceed $20,000.' The statute summary is 'less than $20,000.' The rule quote is 'no more than $20,000,' with statutory interest and court costs excluded and attorney fees included. When you add up the claim, include attorney fees if you are asking for them, and leave statutory interest and court costs out of that addition. The library says a judge in a small claims case can award financial compensation and may not be able to order someone to do something instead of paying money.

The FAQ says that if you want more than $20,000 you must file in a different court, and that you cannot agree to accept less just so you can file in small claims. That is a warning against shaving the demand. File the case you actually have, in the court that can award it. The library's small-claims guide, linked from the FAQ, covers filing, sample forms, and related questions such as suing a business, choosing the precinct, remote appearance, and whether a lawyer is required. Justice courts are precinct courts. Venue is a precinct question. The FAQ points to a separate question on which court to file in.

The library cannot interpret the law for your facts. Its page says so. Use the FAQ for the dollar rule and a lawyer or a legal-aid office for strategy. After a judgment, collection uses the justice-court writs the clerk can identify. This directory does not state a filing fee. The precinct clerk quotes the fee. If attorney fees plus the underlying damages would top $20,000, the rule's 'including attorney fees' language is the reason to recalculate before you file. The FAQ was current as of November 25, 2025, on the library's own date line. Reopen that page if you are filing much later.

Official resources in Texas

Texas State Law Library small-claims maximum FAQ

Official FAQ stating the $20,000 limit and quoting Rule 500.3 and Government Code section 27.031.

Texas State Law Library

Library site with the small-claims guide and related FAQs.

Texas Constitution and Statutes

Official statutes, including Government Code chapter 27.

Texas Judicial Branch

Court site for justice-court information and rules.

Key facts for Texas

What to do next

  1. Include attorney fees in the $20,000 calculation if you are asking for them.
  2. Do not reduce a larger claim just to file in justice court.
  3. Confirm the precinct before you file.
  4. Reopen the library FAQ if its November 25, 2025 date line is no longer the latest.

Looking for your city or county in Texas?

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

  1. General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Texas, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
  2. Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.
    Texas State Law Library
    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 Texas page on USA.gov can point you to the right office.
  3. 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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