Mississippi Small Claims Playbook: Filing, Service, Hearing and Collecting

Checked against official court sources, updated October 2026.

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Quick answer: Mississippi has no separately named small claims court. Small civil money claims go to Justice Court, run county by county under statewide rules. The limit is $3,500. Fees vary by county, the county constable usually serves the defendant, and either side can appeal within 30 days for a new trial in circuit court.

Mississippi small claims at a glance: you can sue for up to $3,500 in your county's Justice Court, and filing fees vary by county, so ask the clerk.
Mississippi small claims at a glance.

How does small claims court work in Mississippi?

Mississippi doesn't have a separately named small claims court. Small civil money claims go to Justice Court. There are 82 Justice Courts, run county by county. The limit is set by one statute (Miss. Code § 9-11-9), and the Supreme Court's Rules of Justice Court apply everywhere. What changes locally is the county clerk and courthouse, the total fees the clerk collects, and any complaint form the county supplies.

Official sources are listed under Sources below.

Jump to your county ↓

How much can I sue for in Mississippi?

$3,500. The law measures this by the principal of the debt, the amount of the demand, or the value of the property you want back. If the defendant files a counterclaim over the limit, the judge dismisses the counterclaim without prejudice.

Sources: Mississippi Judiciary, Justice Court; Rules of Justice Court, Rule 16. Checked October 2026.

Where do I file a small claim in Mississippi?

Usually the Justice Court of the county where the defendant lives or where the claim arose. The venue rule wasn't confirmed, so check your court's rules before you file.

How much does it cost to file?

Fees vary by county, so we don't show one total. Rankin County, for example, lists $75 for one defendant. Check your court's rules for your county's total: ask the clerk what you'll pay, and pay it in advance when you file.

ItemAmount
Example: what Rankin County Justice Court lists for one defendant$75
What your county's clerk collectsCheck your court's rules
Service by a constable, sheriff, or process serverCheck your court's rules

Source: Rankin County Justice Court, Filing Civil Suits. Checked October 2026.

What forms do I need in Mississippi?

We didn't find a statewide Justice Court complaint form. The Rules of Justice Court say what a complaint must contain rather than providing a form, and some counties supply their own. Ask the clerk whether your county has one. The rules are in the Rules of Justice Court (PDF), Rules 12 and 15.

How do I file a small claim in Mississippi?

Write a complaint that meets the Rules of Justice Court, file it with the Justice Court clerk and pay the fees in advance; the clerk issues a summons.

  1. Check that your claim is within the limit: $3,500.
  2. Write the complaint, following the Rules of Justice Court (PDF). State the basis for the claim (the debt, the account, or what happened), make a specific demand for the amount, and attach a copy of any account or written agreement. Sign it with your name, address, and phone number, on 8½ × 11 paper.
  3. File it with the Justice Court clerk and pay the fees in advance.
  4. The clerk issues a summons with the date and time the defendant must appear. The county constable serves it.
  5. Go to the trial with your proof. If you don't show up, the judge may dismiss your case without prejudice.

Can a business sue in Mississippi small claims?

A business files the same complaint in the same Justice Court under the same rules.

WhoWho can appear for it without a lawyer
Corporation, LLC, partnership, or other businessAsk the Justice Court clerk whether it must appear through an attorney.

If the claim is on an account or a written agreement, attach a copy to the complaint. Source: Rules of Justice Court, Rule 12(a), checked 2026-10-24.

Which court handles small claims in my Mississippi county?

In every Mississippi county, small civil claims go to that county's Justice Court. Some of Mississippi's larger counties:

  1. Hinds County
  2. Harrison County
  3. DeSoto County
  4. Rankin County
  5. Jackson County
  6. Madison County
  7. Lee County
  8. Forrest County
  9. Lauderdale County
  10. Jones County

Next step

  1. Confirm the county's Justice Court with the clerk.
  2. Write a complaint that meets the Rules of Justice Court.
  3. Ask the clerk for the county's total fees before you file.

Mississippi small claims FAQ

Do I need a lawyer for small claims in Mississippi?

Individuals don't need one. The rules don't settle whether a business must appear through a lawyer, so check your court's rules.

How is the defendant served in Mississippi Justice Court?

The clerk issues a summons and the county constable serves it. Service must be made within 120 days of filing, or the case may be dismissed.

Can I appeal a Mississippi Justice Court judgment?

Yes. File a written notice of appeal and pay costs with the circuit court clerk within 30 days of the judgment. The appeal is a new trial. To stop collection while it's pending, you post a bond of 125% of the judgment.

Related guides

Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists).

  1. Mississippi Courts: Justice Court (checked 2026-10-24)
  2. Rules of Justice Court (PDF) (checked 2026-10-24)
  3. Uniform Civil Rules of Circuit and County Court, Rules 5.01 to 5.09 (PDF) (checked 2026-10-24)
  4. Rankin County Justice Court: Filing Civil Suits (checked 2026-10-24)

What's in the Mississippi Playbook section

  • How much should I ask for in Mississippi small claims?
  • Mississippi Justice Court forms and fees
  • Serving the defendant: options and fees
  • How to file a small claim in Mississippi, step by step (made-up example)
  • Mississippi small claims checklist
  • Mississippi small claims timeline and deadlines
  • What to expect at your Mississippi small claims hearing
  • Appeals in Mississippi Justice Court
  • Collecting after you win in Mississippi

Want the whole game plan for Mississippi? The Mississippi Playbook takes you from filing to hearing day: what to gather, how to label your exhibits, a one-page timeline, and a day-of plan for your hearing. One yearly membership covers every state guide. See the Playbook

Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer — but if your situation is complicated, does not fit our samples, or a deadline is close, you may want to call a lawyer.

Small Claims Coach uses public information to build the Playbook, which coaches you as you organize and present your own case. We are not your lawyer, there is no attorney-client relationship, and we don't want the details of your case.

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice.