Tennessee Small Claims Court (2026): Limit, Fees and How to File
How small claims court works in Tennessee: the dollar limit, filing fees, serving the other side, the hearing, appeals and collecting your money — each answer linked to the court rule or statute.
Quick answers for Tennessee
- Small claims limit
- $25,000 for civil cases in general sessions court, not counting attorney fees, court costs and discretionary costs. Forcible entry and detainer (eviction) cases and actions to recover personal property have no dollar limit. T.C.A. 16-15-501(d)
- Filing fee
- Fees are set by each county. Example: in Davidson County (Nashville), filing a civil warrant costs $145.75 (clerk $50, sheriff service $52, litigation tax $43.75), plus $52 for each additional defendant (effective July 12, 2026). Davidson County General Sessions Civil Division Filing Fees
- Appeals
- Any party may appeal within 10 days of the general sessions decision to the circuit court of the county, where the case is heard de novo (a new trial). The 10-day period applies in every county regardless of any private act. T.C.A. 27-5-108
Court: General Sessions Court (civil warrant; Tennessee has no separate small claims court). Last verified: 2026-10-24.
How to file a small claims case in Tennessee
- Confirm your claim is $25,000 or less (eviction and personal property recovery cases have no limit) and file a civil warrant with the general sessions court clerk.
- Pay the county's filing and service fees; in Davidson County a civil warrant against one defendant costs $145.75.
- Have the civil warrant served by the sheriff, a constable or a non-party adult you designate.
- Raise any objection to the court's jurisdiction before the hearing, or it is waived.
- Attend the hearing on the date set in the warrant with your evidence and witnesses.
- Any party may appeal to circuit court within 10 days for a new trial.
Can you use small claims court?
| Small claims limit | $25,000 for civil cases in general sessions court, not counting attorney fees, court costs and discretionary costs. Forcible entry and detainer (eviction) cases and actions to recover personal property have no dollar limit. Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024). Jurisdiction in some counties is modified by private acts. Source: T.C.A. 16-15-501(d) |
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Filing your case
| Filing fee | Fees are set by each county. Example: in Davidson County (Nashville), filing a civil warrant costs $145.75 (clerk $50, sheriff service $52, litigation tax $43.75), plus $52 for each additional defendant (effective July 12, 2026). |
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| Filing online | Example: in Davidson County (Nashville), new general sessions warrants must be e-filed and are generated in the clerk's E-File system. People filing without a lawyer are asked to call the clerk's office at 615-862-5195 for instructions on which form to use. Filing methods are set locally; check with your county's general sessions clerk. |
| Serving the defendant | The clerk issues the civil warrant and sends it for service to the person the filing party designates. A civil warrant may be served by the sheriff, a constable, or any non-party adult (18 or older) designated by the party, and may be served in any county. The server's return is proof of service. Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024). Source: T.C.A. 16-15-901 |
Before and at the hearing
| Does the defendant file an answer? | A defendant who objects to the court's jurisdiction must raise the objection before the hearing or it is waived. Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024). Source: T.C.A. 16-15-505 |
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After the decision
| Appeals | Any party may appeal within 10 days of the general sessions decision to the circuit court of the county, where the case is heard de novo (a new trial). The 10-day period applies in every county regardless of any private act. Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024). Source: T.C.A. 27-5-108 |
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Deadline to sue
6 years. Actions for the use and occupation of land and for rent, and actions on contracts not otherwise provided for, must be brought within six years after the cause of action accrues. Same period for written and oral leases. T.C.A. § 28-3-109(a)(1), (3)
Official forms and help
Suing a landlord or tenant in Tennessee
Tennessee landlords file detainer warrants for possession and civil warrants for unpaid rent or damages in general sessions court, and tenants file civil warrants for security deposit refunds. General sessions court has unlimited jurisdiction over forcible entry and detainer cases, and a tenant's deposit suit may be filed in general sessions or circuit court (T.C.A. 66-28-301(d)).
- Tennessee security deposit demand letter (send before you sue)
- Tennessee security deposit law
- Tenant lawyers and free legal aid in Tennessee
Tennessee small claims FAQ
What is the small claims limit in Tennessee?
$25,000 for civil cases in general sessions court, not counting attorney fees, court costs and discretionary costs. Forcible entry and detainer (eviction) cases and actions to recover personal property have no dollar limit.
How much does it cost to file in small claims court in Tennessee?
Fees are set by each county. Example: in Davidson County (Nashville), filing a civil warrant costs $145.75 (clerk $50, sheriff service $52, litigation tax $43.75), plus $52 for each additional defendant (effective July 12, 2026).
How do I serve the other side in a Tennessee small claims case?
The clerk issues the civil warrant and sends it for service to the person the filing party designates. A civil warrant may be served by the sheriff, a constable, or any non-party adult (18 or older) designated by the party, and may be served in any county. The server's return is proof of service.
Does a defendant have to file an answer in Tennessee small claims court?
A defendant who objects to the court's jurisdiction must raise the objection before the hearing or it is waived.
Can you appeal a small claims decision in Tennessee?
Any party may appeal within 10 days of the general sessions decision to the circuit court of the county, where the case is heard de novo (a new trial). The 10-day period applies in every county regardless of any private act.
Can I file a small claims case online in Tennessee?
Example: in Davidson County (Nashville), new general sessions warrants must be e-filed and are generated in the clerk's E-File system. People filing without a lawyer are asked to call the clerk's office at 615-862-5195 for instructions on which form to use.
Small claims limits in all 50 states and DC · Small claims court in other states
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.