Tennessee Small Claims Court: Limits, Fees, Forms, and Where to File
How small claims works in Tennessee: the limit, filing fee, forms, where to file, and the basic steps. Checked 2026-10-11.
Checked against official court sources, updated October 2026.
Quick answer: Tennessee has no court called small claims. Small civil cases are filed on a civil warrant in each county's General Sessions Court. The limit is $25,000 (T.C.A. § 16-15-501), with no cap for recovering property or possession. Fees are set by county; Davidson County, for example, charges $145.75 for one defendant. There's no jury, and either side can appeal within 10 days for a new trial in circuit court.
Filing in Tennessee? See a filled-in sample first.
Everything on this page is free. The Small Claims Playbook adds a filled-in sample of Davidson County's General Sessions Civil Warrant, using a made-up case, with a box-by-box guide. In other counties, get the civil warrant from that county's General Sessions clerk. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.
How does small claims court work in Tennessee?
Tennessee has no court called "small claims." Small civil cases are filed on a civil warrant in each county's General Sessions Court, for up to $25,000. Each county sets its own fees, forms and local rules, and the clerk (often the Circuit Court Clerk) handles filing. There is no jury.
⚠ Only 10 days to appeal. Either side can appeal a General Sessions judgment to Circuit Court, but the notice of appeal and a bond (or an affidavit of indigency) must be filed within 10 days of the judgment. The deadline is the same in every county and can't be extended (T.C.A. § 27-5-108).
Official sources are listed under Sources below.
How much can I sue for in Tennessee?
$25,000 in all civil cases (T.C.A. § 16-15-501). Cases to recover possession of property or personal property can be filed for any amount. Attorney fees and court costs don't count toward the limit.
How much does it cost to file?
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Clerk's fee + litigation tax | Set by county; ask the clerk |
| Sheriff service fee | Usually charged; set by county |
| Example: Davidson County, one defendant | $145.75 |
| Can't afford it? | File a pauper's oath |
Costs are paid up front unless you file a pauper's oath. Ask the county clerk for the current total.
Statute of limitations: depends on the claim. Examples: contracts not otherwise covered, 6 years (T.C.A. § 28-3-109(a)(3)); injury to personal or real property, 3 years (T.C.A. § 28-3-105(1)). Check your court's rules.
How do I file a small claim in Tennessee?
Fill out a civil warrant with the General Sessions civil clerk in the right county, pay the court costs and service fee or file a pauper's oath, and have the warrant served.
- Check that the claim is $25,000 or less. If you're a corporation, get a lawyer.
- Go to the General Sessions civil clerk and fill out a civil warrant (Davidson County posts its General Sessions forms online).
- Pay court costs and the sheriff or process server fee, or file a pauper's oath.
- The sheriff or a private process server serves the defendant.
- Confirm your court date with the clerk.
- Go to the hearing. The judge decides.
- Appeal within 10 days if you lose. Collection can start on day 11.
Ready to do these steps yourself?
The appeal window is short: either side can appeal within 10 days for a new trial in circuit court. The steps above are free. The Playbook helps you do each one, with a filled-in sample of the Davidson County civil warrant and every box explained, plus your Tennessee Playbook section: serving the other side, hearing day, appeals, 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.
Which court handles small claims in my Tennessee county?
Each Tennessee county has its own General Sessions Court, usually run by the Circuit Court Clerk, and fees and forms differ by county. Some of Tennessee's larger counties:
- Shelby County
- Davidson County
- Knox County
- Hamilton County
- Rutherford County
- Williamson County
- Montgomery County
- Sumner County
- Wilson County
- Sullivan County
Next step
- Find your county's General Sessions civil clerk.
- Get the county's civil warrant form.
- Ask the clerk for the total costs and how service works.
Know your next step? Next, get your proof in order.
You can present your own case. The Playbook's exhibit-label guide and hearing-day outline help you put your documents in order and explain them clearly, step by step. General legal information, not advice about your case.
Tennessee small claims FAQ
Do I need a lawyer in Tennessee General Sessions Court?
Individuals can represent themselves, and the clerk can give forms and information but not legal advice. In the county courts we checked, a corporation needs a lawyer.
Is there a jury in Tennessee General Sessions Court?
No. The judge decides, and General Sessions isn't a court of record.
Can I appeal a Tennessee General Sessions judgment?
Yes. Either side can appeal to Circuit Court within 10 days, and the case is heard again from the start (T.C.A. § 27-5-108). You must file the notice of appeal and post a bond for costs, or file an affidavit of indigency, within those 10 days.
Related guides
Free: the Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists).
Sources
- Tennessee Courts: General Sessions Courts (checked 2026-10-08)
- Guidelines for People With a Case in General Sessions Court (PDF) (checked 2026-10-11)
- Hamilton County Sessions Civil Court FAQ (checked 2026-10-11)
- Shelby County General Sessions Civil Division (checked 2026-10-11)
- Davidson County General Sessions Civil filing fees (checked 2026-10-24)
- Davidson County General Sessions forms (checked 2026-10-11)
- Tenn. Ct. App. opinion quoting T.C.A. § 16-15-501 (PDF) (checked 2026-10-15)
- Tenn. Ct. App. opinion quoting T.C.A. § 27-5-108 (PDF) (checked 2026-10-15)
- UT County Technical Assistance Service: General Sessions jurisdiction (checked 2026-10-15)
- Knox County Civil Sessions Court (checked 2026-10-15)
- Williamson County General Sessions Cost Sheet (PDF) (checked 2026-10-24)
- Montgomery County General Sessions civil cost sheet (PDF) (checked 2026-10-15)
- Shelby County General Sessions civil filing costs (checked 2026-10-11)
- Benz-Elliott v. Barrett Enterprises (Tenn. 2015) (checked 2026-10-24)
What's in the Tennessee Playbook section
- Serving the other side and getting your court date
- Hearing day and counterclaims
- Appeals: the 10-day deadline and the bond
- Collecting: garnishment from day 11
- Common mistakes and a printable checklist
You do the work. The Playbook hands you the plays.
This page covers the Tennessee rules. The Playbook coaches you from filing to hearing day: a filled-in sample of the Davidson County civil warrant, your Tennessee Playbook section, and step-by-step prep guides. Every state and DC has a filled-in sample claim (for Mississippi, Oklahoma and Wyoming it's a sample layout we made, so you'd get the real form from the court clerk). One membership covers every state.
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.