Small claims limit in Tennessee (2026)
The TN ceiling is $25,000, court, filing fee bands, and what to do when your damages are bigger.
| Maximum claim | $25,000 |
| Court | General Sessions Court |
| Rule source | Tenn. Code Ann. §16-15-401 |
| Verified | Sept 2026, against official court / statute sources |
Tennessee specifics
$25,000, tied with Delaware at the top; detainer actions have no dollar cap.
Fee bands: claims under $1,000 pay roughly $30–75 to file; $1k–5k ≈ $50–150; over $5k ≈ $75–225, plus $10–75 for sheriff service. Fee waivers exist in TN if your income qualifies, ask the clerk.
How a Tennessee small-claims case runs
- Confirm venue: usually where the defendant lives, where the deal or crash happened, or where the deposit was taken.
- File the statement of claim at the General Sessions Court clerk window, forms are self-help in most states. Serve the defendant (sheriff or certified mail).
- Hearing 30–90 days out (busy counties 3–6 months). Bring texts, invoices, photos; no lawyer needed in most TN small-claims courts.
- Judgment 1–8 weeks after. Collecting is on you: wage garnishment / bank levy 1–3 months, and small-claims judgments collect ~35–55% face value in practice.
Damages over $25,000? Sue for exactly $25,000 and waive the excess (binding, fastest, cheapest), or take the full claim to limited-civil court with a lawyer. Never split one incident into two cases: claim-splitting gets dismissed.
Frequently asked
What is the small claims limit in Tennessee?
$25,000 in the General Sessions Court. $25,000, tied with Delaware at the top; detainer actions have no dollar cap.
How much does it cost to file in Tennessee?
Roughly $30–75 for a sub-$1,000 claim, $50–150 for $1k–5k, $75–225 above that, plus service fees. Fee waivers exist income-qualifying filers.
Can a business file small claims in Tennessee?
Business filers are capped the same as individuals in most states; check the venue line above, some states cap company claims lower.