The Tarrant County forms you need
Tarrant County requires 2 forms to open a small claims case:
- Small Claims Petition (Tarrant County JP1)
- Justice Court Civil Case Information Sheet (OCA, Rule 502)
We keep the current Tarrant County versions. The forms are not the hard part — filling them out is. The claim has to describe what happened in the language the court expects, and that is where most first-time filers get sent home to try again.
- Claim limit
- $20,000
- Filing fee
- $54
- Court
- Justice Court
- File online
- Yes
Where to file these forms
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Courts
100 W. Weatherford St., Room 450, Fort Worth, TX 76196
817-884-1395
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday
- Electronically via eFileTexas.gov — e-filing is mandatory for all filings in the Tarrant County Justice Courts (effective August 1, 2021)
- Guide & File guided-interview petition through eFileTexas (self-represented filers)
- A filer using a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs files directly through eFileTexas rather than Guide & File
Walk-in filing is available at 8 locations: Precinct 1, Precinct 2, Precinct 3, Precinct 4, Precinct 5, Precinct 6, Precinct 7, Precinct 8.
Common questions
What forms do I need for small claims in Tarrant County?
Tarrant County requires: Small Claims Petition (Tarrant County JP1); Justice Court Civil Case Information Sheet (OCA, Rule 502). File them at Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Courts.
Where do I file small claims forms in Tarrant County?
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Courts, 100 W. Weatherford St., Room 450, Fort Worth. You may also be able to file online.
How much does it cost to file in Tarrant County?
The filing fee is $54, plus $90 per defendant for service. Fees change — confirm with the clerk at 817-884-1395.
The Tarrant County filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Both Tarrant County 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 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.