- Claim limit
- $15,000
- Court
- Magistrate Court
- File online
- Yes (statewide)
- Appeal window
- 30 days
Serving the defendant
The plaintiff selects and pays for the method of service after filing; the county marshal, sheriff, or constable (terminology varies by county) executes it, or the plaintiff may use a court-approved private process server. Clerks do not perform physical service themselves.
- County marshal, sheriff, or constable (fee-based; fee varies by county)
- Court-approved private process server
- Court-appointed special agent for service, where the plaintiff/attorney cannot otherwise effect service (e.g., Gwinnett MAG 10-05/10-06/10-07)
- Second original for a defendant residing outside the filing county (O.C.G.A. § 9-10-72)
- Defendant's signed waiver of service (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4), which extends the answer deadline from 30 to 60 days from when the notice was sent
If the defendant signs a waiver of service, the 30-day answer window becomes 60 days — build that into any hearing-date expectations. Service outside the filing county requires a second original under O.C.G.A. § 9-10-72; using the wrong method can void a later default judgment on petition for review.
Find your county court
Small claims is filed at the county level. Pick your county for its court, fee, and forms — or start your claim and we'll ask where you'd sue.
Start my claimCommon questions
How much can I sue for in small claims court in Georgia?
Up to $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs. If your claim is larger, you can sue for the limit and waive the rest.
What court hears small claims in Georgia?
Magistrate Court. Cases are filed in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened.
Who can file a small claims case in Georgia?
Any individual 18 years of age or older; Partnership; Corporation or other legal entity — may be represented before the magistrate court by a non-attorney officer or employee rather than an attorney (O.C.G.A. Title 15, Ch. 10, Art. 3; confirmed via Gwinnett County Magistrate Court's official civil-jurisdiction page, which quotes this rule but the exact subsection could not be pinned down because the official LexisNexis/Georgia Code Revision Commission statute pages are CAPTCHA-gated and could not be opened directly).
Can I file small claims online in Georgia?
Georgia offers statewide e-filing through eFileGA (Odyssey File & Serve, operated by Tyler Technologies for Georgia's magistrate and other trial courts). Some counties also accept in-person or mail filing.
How long do I have to appeal in Georgia?
Generally 30 days from the judgment. Confirm the exact window for your court.
Your small claims filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your court's own forms, with your claim written in the language the court expects
- A demand letter built from the same facts
- A filing checklist with your court's address, hours, and fee
- What to bring to your hearing
Answer a few questions first. See your claim written out before you pay anything.
Reviewed by Small Claims Desk · Last reviewed 2026-08-23 · Sourced from Georgia judiciary self-help resources and each county's clerk of court and O.C.G.A. § 15-10-2 (General jurisdiction; authority of magistrate to act — sets the $15,000 civil jurisdictional limit). See how we verify.