What is small claims court, and is it right for your invoice?
Key takeaways
It is for money claims under a cap: $20,000 in Texas, $15,000 in Georgia, $8,000 in Florida.
No lawyer is required, and businesses use it constantly.
Texas saw 60,556 small claims filed in FY2024.
Winning gets you a judgment. Collecting it is a separate step.
What is small claims court, in plain terms?
It is the part of the court system built for smaller money disputes. The paperwork is shorter, the fees are lower and the judge expects most people to show up without a lawyer. You tell your side, show your documents, the other side tells theirs and the judge decides. Many hearings take less time than the drive to the courthouse.
What is small claims court called in Texas, Florida and Georgia?
| State | Court | Limit | Who hears it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Justice court, small claims case | $20,000 | Justice of the peace (jury on request) |
| Florida | County court, small claims | $8,000, not counting costs, interest and fees | County court judge |
| Georgia | Magistrate court | $15,000 | Magistrate |
Sources: Texas State Law Library, The Florida Bar and O.C.G.A. 15-10-2.
How is small claims different from regular court?
- No lawyer needed. Owners and employees can present a business's case in many courts.
- Simpler rules. Fewer formal motions, limited pretrial discovery, relaxed evidence rules.
- Lower fees. Filing usually costs tens of dollars, not hundreds. Florida's statute caps small claims filing fees at $295 for the largest claims.
- Faster. Weeks to a few months to a hearing, not a year or more.
- Money only, mostly. The court awards a sum. It rarely orders anyone to do or stop doing something.
How busy is small claims court?
Busy. Texas justice courts took in 60,556 small claims cases in FY2024, and about 29% were decided at a hearing. The rest ended in other ways, such as default, settlement or dismissal. Full figures from the Office of Court Administration are on our Texas small claims statistics page.
Should a business use small claims court?
It suits an unpaid invoice with clear paperwork: a quote or contract, an invoice, proof the work was done and a record of asking for payment. Start with a demand letter. If that is ignored, filing a small claims case is usually the next step before a lawyer. It is a weaker choice if the customer has closed, cannot be found to be served, or has no money to pay a judgment.
Can someone handle it for my business?
Easy Small Claims runs the whole process for businesses in Texas, Florida and Georgia: letter, filing, service and a hearing pack. $99 to start, $299 through the hearing, court costs at cost and no cut of what you recover. See small claims for businesses.
Last updated October 2026. Easy Small Claims is not a law firm and this page is general information, not legal advice.
Questions, answered
What kind of cases go to small claims court?
Disputes over money under the state limit: unpaid invoices, bounced checks, unpaid rent, security deposits, damaged property and broken agreements. For businesses the most common use is an unpaid invoice from a customer who stopped responding. Cases over the limit, and most cases asking the court to order something other than money, go elsewhere.
Is small claims court worth it for a business?
Often, when the invoice is clear and the customer can pay. Fees are low compared with the amount at stake, and a court date often prompts a settlement. It is less useful when the customer has closed or has no assets, because a judgment still has to be collected. Weigh the amount, your paperwork and the customer's ability to pay.
Who decides a small claims case?
A judge, a magistrate or a justice of the peace, depending on the state. In Texas a justice of the peace hears small claims cases, and either side can ask for a jury. In Georgia a magistrate hears them. Florida small claims cases are heard by a county court judge. Hearings are usually short and less formal than other trials.
What happens if you win in small claims court?
The court enters a judgment saying the other side owes you a set amount. Many pay once the judgment is entered. If they do not, you can use the collection tools your state allows, such as abstracts of judgment, writs of execution or garnishment where permitted. These steps take extra paperwork and sometimes extra fees.
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.