Question 1 of 8. The fee above is the court's; ours is $49 for the paperwork.
- Filing fee
- $54
- Claim limit
- $20,000
- Service per defendant
- $90
- Pay online
- Yes
What Tarrant County charges to file
Source: Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Courts fee schedule
| Your claim | You pay |
|---|---|
| Up to $20,000 | $54 |
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 817-884-1395 before you file.
The costs that are not the filing fee
Filing is the first charge, not the only one. Tarrant County also charges:
- Constable service per defendant in county: $90
- Total small claims file and serve one defendant: $144
- Counterclaim cross action or third party: $54
- Counterclaim service: $90
- Amended suit service one defendant: $90
- Jury fee: $22
- Motion for new trial: $54
- Abstract of judgment: $5
- Writ of execution: $185
- Garnishment application: $54
- Garnishment writ with service: $95
- Certified mail service: $17.26
- Subpoena with service and tendering fee: $100
- Copy first page: $1
- Copy each additional page: $0.25
- Certified copy first page: $2
- Certified copy each additional page: $0.25
- Appeal bond with transcript includes county clerk fee: $414
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 817-884-1395 before you file.
What it costs to serve the defendant
Tarrant County charges $90 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 or constable (for a fee, per county constable fee schedule)
- Private process server certified under order of the Texas Supreme Court
- Clerk of the court by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested
- Any other person authorized by written court order who is 18 or older and not a party to or interested in the outcome (Tex. R. Civ. P. 501.2)
Service by certified mail is not complete unless the return receipt is signed by the addressee; an unsigned or unreturned green card will stall the case.
How this clerk takes payment
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Courts accepts:
- Credit or debit card through the eFileTexas electronic filing provider at the time of filing
- In-person payment at the Justice Court clerk window (JP Fee Payments)
- Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs (fee waiver) in lieu of payment
Filing through eFileTexas.gov (Odyssey File & Serve) / Guide & File takes card payment at the time you file.
Common questions
How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Tarrant County?
$54 to file, plus $90 per defendant for service. Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 817-884-1395 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 Tarrant County?
Courts have a fee-waiver application for filers below an income threshold. Tarrant County's self-help center can point you at it. We cannot tell you whether you qualify.
How do I pay the Tarrant County filing fee?
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Courts takes 3 forms of payment, listed above.
The Tarrant County filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your Tarrant 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 Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Courts'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 2026-08-20 · Sourced from tarrantcountytx.gov (Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Courts, Precinct 1 and Precinct 5 filing fee schedule effective 2026-01-01), txcourts.gov, and statutes.capitol.texas.gov and Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 27 (Justice Courts) — §27.031 (civil jurisdiction, $20,000), §27.031(d) (corporation need not be represented by attorney), §27.060 (small claims). See how we verify.