Small Claims Court Dollar Limits in Texas

At a glance

Texas rule

Texas justice courts hear small claims cases up to $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees. A plaintiff may be an individual or a business; a corporation need not hire an attorney. Either party can appeal within 21 days by filing a bond, cash deposit, or Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. The county court then tries the case anew.

Requirements one by one

Governing law and dollar limit

Government Code § 27.031(a)(1) gives justice courts civil jurisdiction up to $20,000, exclusive of interest. Gov't Code § 27.060 directs small claims cases to the Supreme Court's simplified procedure. Rule 500.1(a) defines a small claims case as a suit for money damages, civil penalties, personal property, or other relief allowed by law. Its $20,000 cap excludes statutory interest and court costs but includes attorney fees.

Businesses, forum, and lawyers

The same cap applies to business and individual plaintiffs; Rule 500.1(a) sets no separate business tier. File a small claims case in justice court, which also hears other case types such as eviction and debt claims under their own rules (Gov't Code § 27.031(a); Rule 500.1). An attorney may appear but is not required. Government Code § 27.031(d) expressly says a corporation need not be represented by one.

Annual filing cap and appeal

Government Code Chapter 27 and Rules 500–507 state no annual limit on the number of small claims cases filed. Rule 506.1(a) allows a party to appeal within 21 days after judgment is signed or a specified postjudgment motion is denied. The party files a bond, cash deposit, or inability-to-pay statement with the justice court. A plaintiff's bond is $500; a defendant's bond is twice the judgment amount (Rule 506.1(b)). Rule 506.3 requires a new trial in county court as if the justice court trial had not occurred.

What can be claimed

Rule 500.1(a) allows money damages, civil penalties, personal property, and other relief allowed by law. Justice court also hears eviction cases and certain personal-property lien matters, but those are distinct from the small claims case definition (Gov't Code § 27.031(a); Rule 500.1).

What trips people up

Attorney fees count toward the $20,000 cap. Statutory interest and court costs do not. Appeals have a 21-day filing deadline. The bond amounts differ for plaintiffs and defendants, while qualifying parties may use a cash deposit or inability-to-pay statement (Rule 506.1).

Statutes and sources

• Tex. Gov't Code §§ 27.031, 27.060, current official chapter: https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/GV/htm/GV.27.htm (accessed 2026-10-07).
• Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.1(a), 506.1(a)–(b), 506.3, current official court rules: https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1463426/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf (accessed 2026-10-07).