Gwinnett County Small Claims Court (Magistrate Court, GA): How to File

Gwinnett County small claims: the limit and the 2027 change, fees, e-filing, Thursday hearing calendars and where to file. Checked 2026-10-27.

Navy cover with a drawn generic courthouse and the words Gwinnett County Small Claims, One magistrate court in Lawrenceville
Where and how to file small claims in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Home › States › Georgia › Gwinnett County

Quick answer: In Gwinnett County, small claims are heard by the Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County, Civil Division, for claims of $15,000 or less filed through December 31, 2026 ($25,000 or less from January 1, 2027). One court serves the whole county, at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. Filing costs $60, plus $50 for sheriff service on each defendant ($110 with one defendant). Civil Division Clerk: 770-822-8100.

Drawn generic courthouse beside a pinned info board for the Gwinnett County, Georgia Magistrate Court: 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville; hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (mon to Fri); and e-filing marked Yes, Through eFileGA.
Gwinnett County, Georgia small claims at a glance, checked 2026-10-27.

This independent guide covers small claims cases in Gwinnett County, Georgia, including Lawrenceville, Duluth, Snellville, Lilburn, Norcross, Suwanee, Buford, Peachtree Corners, Sugar Hill, Dacula, Grayson and the Gwinnett part of Loganville. Small Claims Coach is not the court; we link to the court's official pages throughout.

Checked on 2026-10-27 against the Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County website and the Georgia Code. Sources are listed below. Jump to court addresses and phones ↓ For the statewide rules, see our Georgia small claims guide.

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Gwinnett County small claims court: the Magistrate Court

  • Court: the Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County, Civil Division. The court's main page says it hears "civil claims of $15,000 or less".
  • Limit: under O.C.G.A. 15-10-2 (as amended by HB 999), $15,000 or less for cases filed through December 31, 2026, and $25,000 or less for cases filed from January 1, 2027.
  • No jury: there are no jury trials in magistrate court (O.C.G.A. 15-10-41).
  • Answer: the defendant has 30 days to answer. A default can be opened within the next 15 days on payment of costs.
  • Businesses: an employee may represent a business.
  • Appeal: by a "Petition for Review (formerly known as the Notice of Appeal)" (O.C.G.A. 5-3-7). "No appeal shall lie from a default judgment." Ask the clerk about the deadline right after the decision.

Which courthouse do I file in?

  • One court for the county. Wherever the defendant lives in Gwinnett County, the case goes to the Magistrate Court at the Gwinnett Justice & Administrative Center. You don't need to look up a precinct.
  • Which county: the court's FAQ says to file in "the county in which the Defendant (the party you are suing) resides". For an individual, that's "the county of the person's legal residence"; for a business, it depends on the business type.
  • Serving someone outside Gwinnett? If a defendant must be served in another county or state, get a "Second Original" copy of the Statement of Claim and send it with the service fee to that county's sheriff or another process server.

Addresses, phone numbers and hours

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. From the court's Hours and Location page.

Gwinnett Justice & Administrative Center

Address: 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046

Phone: 770-822-8100

Offices:

How much does small claims cost in Gwinnett County?

From the court's Fees page:

  • Civil action filing costs: $60.00
  • Sheriff service: $50.00 for each defendant to be served
  • Total with one defendant: $110.00
  • Issuance of Fi-Fa: $4.00
  • Recording Fi-Fa on GED: $25.00
  • Post-judgment interrogatories (Gwinnett Magistrate Court judgments): $10.00
  • eFileGA e-filing fee: a one-time flat fee of $14 per case per party

Fees can change; confirm with the clerk at 770-822-8100.

Can I e-file in Gwinnett County?

Yes, through eFileGA. The court's main page says: "Effective January 2, 2021, Magistrate Court e-filing fees are changed to a one-time flat fee of $14 per case per party."

Gwinnett County small claims forms: the Statement of Claim and Second Original

The claim is a Statement of Claim. If a defendant has to be served in another county or state, ask the clerk for a "Second Original" copy of the Statement of Claim. See the court's Civil Filing FAQs, or call the clerk at 770-822-8100.

How to file in Gwinnett County, step by step

Illustrated winding road with seven numbered stations for Gwinnett County, Georgia small claims: check your claim fits the limit, check the defendant is in Gwinnett, prepare your Statement of Claim, file: eFileGA or Clerk's Office, defendant gets time to answer, check your Thursday hearing time, go to your hearing.
The steps to file a small claims case in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
  1. Make sure your claim is $15,000 or less (or $25,000 or less if you file on or after January 1, 2027).
  2. Confirm the defendant resides in Gwinnett County.
  3. Prepare your Statement of Claim.
  4. File through eFileGA or at the Civil Division Clerk's Office, and pay $60 plus $50 sheriff service for each defendant.
  5. The defendant has 30 days to answer.
  6. Check your hearing notice for your exact Thursday time.
  7. Go to your hearing with your evidence. Statewide rules are in our Georgia guide.

Ready to fill in your own form?

The steps above are free. The Playbook helps you do each one: a filled-in sample of the Georgia Statement of Claim (MAG 10-01) with every box explained, plus your Georgia Playbook section on serving the other side, hearing day, appeals by Petition for Review, and collecting a judgment.

You also get prep guides that work in any state: a document checklist, exhibit labels, a prep timeline and a hearing-day outline. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

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How to look up a Gwinnett County small claims case

  • The court's FAQ mentions re:SearchGA for case search, with a free account. We couldn't confirm its address or search steps.
  • To check on your case, call the Civil Division Clerk at 770-822-8100.

What does it cost to collect a judgment?

Winning doesn't mean you get paid automatically. The court lists issuance of a Fi-Fa at $4.00, recording it on the General Execution Docket at $25.00, and post-judgment interrogatories at $10.00. See our Georgia guide for the statewide steps.

Fee waivers and venue changes

  • Can't afford the fees? Ask the clerk what options the court offers.
  • Default: a defendant who misses the 30-day answer deadline can open the default within the next 15 days on payment of costs.
  • Appeal: by Petition for Review. There's no appeal from a default judgment.

Coach's Tips for Gwinnett County

  • Evening calendar. Gwinnett holds a Thursday 6:30 PM civil calendar, which helps if you can't miss work.
  • Check your hearing notice for the time. The court's Hours page lists Thursday calendars at 9:00 AM, 1:30 PM and 6:30 PM, while its FAQ says trials are at 8:30 AM, 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Your hearing notice gives your exact time.
  • Serving someone outside Gwinnett? If a defendant must be served in another county or state, get a "Second Original" copy of the Statement of Claim and send it with the service fee to that county's sheriff or another process server. Not sure you can sue that person in Gwinnett? Call the clerk at 770-822-8100.

Gwinnett County small claims checklist

  • My claim is within the limit for my filing date.
  • The defendant resides in Gwinnett County.
  • I have my Statement of Claim ready.
  • I budgeted $60 to file and $50 per defendant for sheriff service.
  • I know the defendant has 30 days to answer.
  • I checked my hearing notice for my Thursday time.
  • My evidence is organized and copied for court.

Gwinnett County small claims FAQ

Which court hears small claims in Gwinnett County?

Small claims in Gwinnett County are heard by the Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County, Civil Division. It is not the State Court.

How do I file a Statement of Claim in Gwinnett County Magistrate Court?

You file a Statement of Claim with the Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County, Civil Division. The fee and limit are in the sections above; confirm them with the clerk before you file.

Where is small claims court in Lawrenceville, GA?

The Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County is at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.

What is a "Second Original" Statement of Claim?

A Second Original is an extra original of the Statement of Claim used when the defendant must be served outside Gwinnett County.

How do I look up a Gwinnett County Magistrate Court case?

Use the case search on the Gwinnett County courts website (gwinnettcourts.com).

What is the small claims limit in Gwinnett County?

$15,000 or less for cases filed through December 31, 2026, and $25,000 or less from January 1, 2027.

How much does it cost to file small claims in Gwinnett County?

$60 to file plus $50 sheriff service for each defendant, or $110 with one defendant. E-filing through eFileGA adds a one-time $14 per case per party.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-27.

More for Georgia: Georgia small claims guide · Ready to sue · Just got sued · How to serve small claims papers · What to say on hearing day

Free: the Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists).

You do the work. The Playbook hands you the plays.

This page covers where and how to file in Gwinnett County. The Playbook coaches you from filing to hearing day: a filled-in sample of the Georgia Statement of Claim (MAG 10-01), your Georgia Playbook section, and step-by-step prep guides. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

See the Playbook →

Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer. But if your situation is complicated, doesn't 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.