Small claims court for an unpaid invoice in Georgia
Key takeaways
Georgia magistrate courts hear money claims under $15,000. Interest and court costs do not count toward the limit.
Each county sets its own fees: Fulton charges $60 to file and Cobb $60.50, plus $50 per defendant for service in both.
The defendant gets 30 days from service to answer, and either side can appeal within 30 days of the judgment.
We charge $99 to start and $299 through the hearing. Court costs are at cost and collection steps are quoted separately.
How does small claims court work in Georgia?
Georgia has no court called small claims. Money claims under $15,000 go to the magistrate court in each county, where a judge decides the case without a jury. You can file and present the claim yourself, and the clerk can help with the forms, though not with whether to sue or whom.
Some counties send cases to free mediation before the hearing. Fulton and Cobb both do. If the client disputes the work rather than just stalling, a session can settle it faster than a ruling.
Georgia magistrate court rules at a glance
Statewide rules first, then the county figures we have checked. Fees change, so confirm with the clerk before you file.
| Rule | Georgia magistrate court |
|---|---|
| Claim limit | Under $15,000, not counting interest and court costs |
| Where to file | The county where the defendant lives; for a corporation, the county of its registered agent; for an unincorporated business, where it is located |
| Filing fee | Set by each county. About $45 to $55 in many counties per the Attorney General; Fulton $60, Cobb $60.50 |
| Service | Sheriff or marshal, $50 per defendant in Fulton and Cobb; a private process server where the court allows it |
| Answer deadline | 30 days from service. Fulton and Henry accept a late answer with costs from day 31 to day 45 |
| Hearing | Before a magistrate judge, usually 15 to 30 days after an answer is filed |
| Appeal | Within 30 days, to state or superior court, where either side can ask for a jury |
| Collecting | Your job, not the court's: fi.fa. lien, garnishment, post-judgment interrogatories |
The Georgia Attorney General's consumer division publishes a plain guide to the magistrate court process. For a claim that is close to the line, the small claims limit lookup shows where it fits.
Who can appear for your business?
You can file as the agent of your own company. Fulton's magistrate court says so in its FAQ, and adds that a non-lawyer cannot represent someone else. Sue the right party, too: a sole proprietorship is sued through its owner, a corporation or LLC under its exact registered name. The Secretary of State business search gives the legal name and the registered agent, which also tells you which county to file in.
If the client never answers, you can usually ask for judgment without a hearing. Our guide to default judgment in small claims covers what the court needs.
How Easy Small Claims handles a Georgia claim
- You send the invoice, the contract or accepted quote, and the emails where the client agreed to the work.
- We send a demand letter built from those documents, by email and certified mail, and follow up twice. Our demand letter service page has the detail.
- If the invoice is still unpaid, we prepare the Statement of Claim for the right county and send it to you to approve.
- We file it, pay the court and service fees at cost, and track service.
- Someone from your business attends the hearing with the pack and outline we prepare.
What it costs
| Stage | Price |
|---|---|
| Start: document check, demand letter, two follow-ups | $99 |
| Through the hearing: Statement of Claim, filing, service with one retry, hearing pack | $299 total |
| Court filing and service fees | At cost, paid to the court |
| Collection steps after a judgment | Quoted separately |
No cut of what you recover. You approve every step before it happens. The same offer covers Texas and Florida on our small claims for business page.
What we will not do
- Act as your lawyer. Easy Small Claims is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
- Stand in for you at the hearing. A Georgia hearing needs someone from your business there.
- Promise a result. The judge decides, and some clients have nothing to collect from.
- Take a claim at or over $15,000 into magistrate court.
Counties:Cobb County magistrate court · Henry County magistrate court
Last updated November 2026. Easy Small Claims is not a law firm and this page is general information, not legal advice.
Questions, answered
How much does it cost to take someone to small claims court in GA?
It depends on the county, because each magistrate court sets its own fees. The Georgia Attorney General's guide puts filing at about $45 to $55 in many counties. Metro courts run higher once service is added: Fulton charges $60 to file and Cobb $60.50, plus $50 per defendant for the marshal or sheriff. Ask the clerk for the current figure before you file.
How do I take someone to small claims court in Georgia?
Find the business's exact legal name and registered agent on the Secretary of State's business search, then file a sworn Statement of Claim with the magistrate court in the county where it is based. Pay the filing and service fees. The sheriff or marshal serves the papers, the defendant has 30 days to answer, and the court sets a hearing if they do.
What happens if a defendant does not pay a judgment in Georgia?
The magistrate court will not collect for you. Once you have the judgment you can ask the clerk for a writ of fieri facias, which becomes a lien and lets the sheriff levy on property, or file a garnishment against a bank account or wages. Post-judgment interrogatories make the debtor list assets under oath. Each step has its own fee.
What is the small claims limit in Georgia?
Georgia magistrate courts hear civil claims for money under $15,000. The limit covers the principal you are owed; interest and court costs sit on top of it. A larger claim belongs in state or superior court, or you can give up the amount above the limit to stay in magistrate court. A counterclaim must also stay under $15,000.
A small business owner himself, Nitin has been on the wrong end of an unpaid invoice and knows how easy it is to give up on one. He built Easy Small Claims so owners can get that money back. He is also a practicing barrister.