- Claim limit
- $15,000
- Court
- Magistrate Court
- File online
- Yes (statewide)
- Appeal window
- 30 days
Common questions
Who can I sue in small claims court in Georgia?
An individual or a business, as long as your claim is within the $15,000 limit. You must name and serve the correct legal person or entity.
How much can I sue for in Georgia?
Up to $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Over that, you can waive the excess and still use small claims.
Do I need a lawyer to sue in Georgia small claims?
No — small claims is designed for self-representation.
What are the steps to sue someone in Georgia?
Send a demand, file your county's claim form in Magistrate Court, pay the fee, and serve the defendant. We prepare the demand and the filing from the same facts.
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.
Pick the county where you'll sue
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 claimYour 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.