Question 1 of 8. The fee above is the court's; ours is $49 for the paperwork.
- Filing fee
- $96
- Claim limit
- $10,000
- Service per defendant
- $30
- Pay online
- Yes
What Johnston County charges to file
Source: Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court — Magistrates (Small Claims) fee schedule
| Your claim | You pay |
|---|---|
| Up to $10,000 | $96 |
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 919-209-5400 before you file.
The costs that are not the filing fee
Filing is the first charge, not the only one. Johnston County also charges:
- Counterclaim or crossclaim filing fee: $96
- Alias and pluries summons: $15
- Motion notice of hearing fee: $20
None of these are optional once the case is moving, and all of them are recoverable in the judgment if you win. They are simply not quoted at the counter when you ask what it costs to file.
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 919-209-5400 before you file.
What it costs to serve the defendant
Johnston County charges $30 per defendant for service. That is on top of the filing fee, and you pay it for each person or business you are suing.
- Sheriff delivers a copy of the summons and complaint to the defendant, or leaves it at the defendant's dwelling with a person of suitable age and discretion residing there, for the statutory service fee
- Certified or registered mail, return receipt requested
- Mail with USPS signature confirmation
- A designated delivery service authorized under 26 U.S.C. §7502(f)(2), with a delivery receipt
Mail service is not complete unless the return receipt or delivery confirmation is obtained; an unreturned or unsigned receipt can stall the case.
How this clerk takes payment
Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court — Magistrates (Small Claims) accepts:
- Cash, certified check, cashier's check, or money order in person at the courthouse
- Credit or debit card in person (processing fee applies)
- Certified check, cashier's check, or money order by mail — no cash and no personal checks accepted by mail
- Visa, Mastercard, or Discover online via the NC courts' Online Services portal ($1.00 minimum transaction fee)
- Personal checks are not accepted
Filing through eCourts NC — File & Serve (Tyler Technologies), live in Wake County since February 13, 2023 (one of the four original pilot counties) takes card payment at the time you file.
Common questions
How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Johnston County?
$96 to file, plus $30 per defendant for service. Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 919-209-5400 before you file.
Can I get the filing fee back if I win?
Court costs, including the filing fee and service, are normally included in the judgment you ask for. Getting them back still depends on collecting the judgment.
What if I cannot afford the filing fee in Johnston County?
Courts have a fee-waiver application for filers below an income threshold. Ask the clerk for the indigency or fee-waiver form. We cannot tell you whether you qualify.
How do I pay the Johnston County filing fee?
Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court — Magistrates (Small Claims) takes 5 forms of payment, listed above.
The Johnston County filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your Johnston County filing forms, completed with your claim in the language the court expects
- A demand letter built from the same facts
- A filing checklist with Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court — Magistrates (Small Claims)'s address, hours, and the current 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 2026-08-31 · Sourced from nccourts.gov (Johnston County courthouse location page and county contact directory), NC General Statutes Chapter 7A (ncleg.gov), and the statewide Civil Court Costs and Fees Chart (fetched and read directly) and N.C.G.S. §7A-210 (small claim action defined; $10,000 amount-in-controversy ceiling). See how we verify.