Tennessee Small Claims Court Filing Fees (2026)
Find your county's fee
Each Tennessee court sets its own fee, so the county matters. Pick yours to see the court and what's included.
Anderson County General Sessions Courts (Civil, Clinton and Oak Ridge divisions)
One clerk and one fee schedule cover both divisions. $132.75 is the amount paid to General Sessions per summons with one defendant; in-county sheriff service adds $52 (total $184.75), or use a private process server.
Court, contact and what's includedBedford County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedBenton County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedBledsoe County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedGeneral Sessions Civil Court of Blount County
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedBradley County General Sessions Court (Civil)
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedCampbell County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedCannon County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedCarroll County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedCarter County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedCheatham County General Sessions Court (Civil)
Civil warrant effective January 1, 2026: clerk $50.00 + litigation/other tax $58.50 = $108.50. Sheriff service fee $52.00 per defendant is extra (total $160.50); warrants served by a private process company need no service fee.
Court, contact and what's includedChester County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedClaiborne County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedClay County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedCocke County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedCoffee County General Sessions Court (Civil)
Civil summons filing fee, updated January 1, 2026. Service fees are listed separately (sheriff $52.00 per defendant).
Court, contact and what's includedCrockett County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedCumberland County General Sessions Court (Civil)
Filing of new suit with private service $146.50; with sheriff service $198.50 for one in-county defendant ($52 per extra defendant at another address).
Court, contact and what's includedGeneral Sessions Court of Davidson County (Civil)
Clerk $50 + litigation tax $43.75. With sheriff service ($52) the civil warrant costs $145.75 for one defendant.
Court, contact and what's includedDecatur County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedDeKalb County General Sessions Court
Civil summons, one defendant, clerk fee without service: $152.50; sheriff service is $52 per defendant ($204.50 total with service). General Sessions civil fee sheet effective January 1, 2026.
Court, contact and what's includedDickson County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedDyer County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedFayette County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedFentress County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedFranklin County General Sessions Court
Civil warrant: clerk's fee $50.00 + litigation taxes $138.50 = $188.50, plus a $52.00 sheriff's service fee (total $240.50). General Sessions court fees effective January 1, 2026.
Court, contact and what's includedGibson County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedGiles County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedGrainger County General Sessions Court
Civil warrant, one defendant, clerk filing fee without service: $119; sheriff service is $52 per defendant (so $171 total with service). Fee sheet is undated; the file was uploaded to the clerk's site in September 2025.
Court, contact and what's includedGreene County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedGrundy County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedHamblen County General Sessions Court (Civil)
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedHamilton County General Sessions Court, Civil Division
Taxes $169.25 + clerk $50. With sheriff service: $271.25 ($52 per defendant).
Court, contact and what's includedHancock County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedHardeman County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedHardin County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedHawkins County General Sessions Court
Civil filing (civil summons, detainer warrant, warrant to recover personal property) effective January 1, 2026. Total with sheriff service $208.50, with constable service $206.50.
Court, contact and what's includedHaywood County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedHenderson County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedHenry County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedHickman County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedHouston County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedHumphreys County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedJackson County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedJefferson County General Sessions Court
Civil, detainer and possessory warrants, one defendant without service: $123.50; with in-county sheriff service $175.50 (service is $52 per defendant, $52 for an out-of-county sheriff). General Sessions court costs updated January 1, 2026.
Court, contact and what's includedJohnson County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedKnox County General Sessions Court, Civil Division
With the Knox County sheriff serving: $216.50 ($52 per defendant).
Court, contact and what's includedLake County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedLauderdale County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedLawrence County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedLewis County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedLincoln County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedLoudon County General Sessions Court (Civil)
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedMacon County General Sessions Court
Civil summons, no service: $174.50; civil summons/warrant with sheriff service for one defendant $226.50 ($52 service per defendant, each additional defendant $52). General Sessions civil cost sheet effective 1-1-2026.
Court, contact and what's includedMadison County General Sessions Court (Civil)
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedMarion County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedMarshall County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedMaury County General Sessions Court, Civil Division
Private-process column (no sheriff service). With Maury sheriff serving one defendant: $219.50 (+$2 per defendant if the sheriff serves, per the schedule).
Court, contact and what's includedMcMinn County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedMcNairy County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedMeigs County General Sessions Court
General Sessions civil warrant with one defendant is $198.50, which includes one service (additional defendant $52; alias process $52). $146.50 is that less the $52 service charge (derived). Page is undated.
Court, contact and what's includedMonroe County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedGeneral Sessions Court of Montgomery County (Civil)
Civil Cases filing fee (TCA 8-21-401), effective 1/1/2026, rev 12/31/2025. Sheriff service $52 per defendant extra (total $200.50 for one defendant). Not the same line as "Warrant to Recover Property w/Immediate Possession" ($200.50 filing alone, a different case type).
Court, contact and what's includedMoore County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedMorgan County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedObion County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedOverton County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedPerry County General Sessions Court
Civil warrant, one defendant, without service: $152; with sheriff service $214 (additional defendant $50). General Sessions filing fees effective 1/1/2026.
Court, contact and what's includedPickett County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedPolk County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedPutnam County General Sessions Court (Civil)
Civil warrant, one defendant: $145.50 to the clerk. Sheriff service is a further $52 per defendant.
Court, contact and what's includedRhea County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedRoane County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedRobertson County General Sessions Court (Civil)
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedRutherford County General Sessions Court (Civil)
Clerk $50 + litigation tax $166.50. With sheriff service: $268.50 ($52 per defendant).
Court, contact and what's includedScott County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedSequatchie County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedSevier County General Sessions Court, Civil Division
With Sevier County sheriff service: $250.50; $52 per additional defendant.
Court, contact and what's includedGeneral Sessions Civil Court of Shelby County
Library, state and county litigation taxes, constable tax and clerk fee ($54.40). Served by the Shelby County sheriff: $164.90 (service $52).
Court, contact and what's includedSmith County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedStewart County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedGeneral Sessions Court of Sullivan County (Civil)
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedGeneral Sessions civil warrant filing fee, effective 2026-01-01. Excludes $52/defendant sheriff service ($217.50 total for one defendant when served by a law enforcement officer).
Court, contact and what's includedTipton County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedTrousdale County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedUnicoi County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedUnion County General Sessions Court
General Sessions civil warrant (action to recover) is $180.50, which the clerk's sheet says includes service for one defendant; $128.50 is that figure less the sheet's $52 service charge (alias fee $52). Fee sheet updated 1/1/26.
Court, contact and what's includedVan Buren County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedWarren County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedWashington County General Sessions Court (Civil)
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedWayne County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedWeakley County General Sessions Court
Civil warrant, detinue warrant, civil summons and detainer warrant filing, effective 2/20/26. Page does not state whether sheriff service ($52 elsewhere in TN) is included; recorded as the listed filing fee.
Court, contact and what's includedWhite County General Sessions Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Tennessee courts charge between $93.75 and $250.
Court, contact and what's includedWilliamson County General Sessions Court (Civil)
Civil Warrant court cost, excludes service. With sheriff service ($52 per defendant): $224.50 for one defendant.
Court, contact and what's includedGeneral Sessions Court of Wilson County (Civil)
Civil Warrant: 1 Defendant (includes $198 clerk fee) $250.00; 2 Defendants $302.00. Alias service only $52.00.
Court, contact and what's includedFees across Tennessee
Lowest small claims filing fee in each county. Darker costs more.
Largest counties
| County | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| ShelbyGeneral Sessions Civil Court of Shelby County | $112.90 |
| DavidsonGeneral Sessions Court of Davidson County | $93.75 |
| KnoxKnox County General Sessions Court, Civil Division | $164.50 |
| HamiltonHamilton County General Sessions Court, Civil Division | $219.25 |
| RutherfordRutherford County General Sessions Court | $216.50 |
| WilliamsonWilliamson County General Sessions Court | $172.50 |
| MontgomeryGeneral Sessions Court of Montgomery County | $148.50 |
| Sumner | $165.50 |
| WilsonGeneral Sessions Court of Wilson County | $250 |
Before you file
Tennessee has the highest small claims limit in the US at $25,000 — a major advantage for plaintiffs.
Many courts charge extra for each added defendant or for certified-mail service. Your county's result above lists what applies.
If you can't afford the fee, ask the clerk how to file without paying up front. The court decides. Tennessee fee waiver guide
Estimate your fee by claim amount
Small Claims Filing Fee Calculator
Enter your state and claim amount to see the official court filing fee.
Fees in this state depend on the county where you file.
Each court in this county sets its own small claims fee.
Tennessee small claims fees by county
In Tennessee the fee depends on where you file. 26 of 95 counties show a fee verified on an official page; the rest show the verified range and the clerk to contact.
- Anderson County $132.75
- Bedford County Not yet verified
- Benton County Not yet verified
- Bledsoe County Not yet verified
- Blount County Not yet verified
- Bradley County Not yet verified
- Campbell County Not yet verified
- Cannon County Not yet verified
- Carroll County Not yet verified
- Carter County Not yet verified
- Cheatham County $108.50
- Chester County Not yet verified
- Claiborne County Not yet verified
- Clay County Not yet verified
- Cocke County Not yet verified
- Coffee County $153.50
- Crockett County Not yet verified
- Cumberland County $146.50
- Davidson County $93.75
- Decatur County Not yet verified
- DeKalb County $152.50
- Dickson County Not yet verified
- Dyer County Not yet verified
- Fayette County Not yet verified
- Fentress County Not yet verified
- Franklin County $188.50
- Gibson County Not yet verified
- Giles County Not yet verified
- Grainger County $119
- Greene County Not yet verified
- Grundy County Not yet verified
- Hamblen County Not yet verified
- Hamilton County $219.25
- Hancock County Not yet verified
- Hardeman County Not yet verified
- Hardin County Not yet verified
- Hawkins County $156.50
- Haywood County Not yet verified
- Henderson County Not yet verified
- Henry County Not yet verified
- Hickman County Not yet verified
- Houston County Not yet verified
- Humphreys County Not yet verified
- Jackson County Not yet verified
- Jefferson County $123.50
- Johnson County Not yet verified
- Knox County $164.50
- Lake County Not yet verified
- Lauderdale County Not yet verified
- Lawrence County Not yet verified
- Lewis County Not yet verified
- Lincoln County Not yet verified
- Loudon County Not yet verified
- Macon County $174.50
- Madison County Not yet verified
- Marion County Not yet verified
- Marshall County Not yet verified
- Maury County $179.50
- McMinn County Not yet verified
- McNairy County Not yet verified
- Meigs County $146.50
- Monroe County Not yet verified
- Montgomery County $148.50
- Moore County Not yet verified
- Morgan County Not yet verified
- Obion County Not yet verified
- Overton County Not yet verified
- Perry County $152
- Pickett County Not yet verified
- Polk County Not yet verified
- Putnam County $145.50
- Rhea County Not yet verified
- Roane County Not yet verified
- Robertson County Not yet verified
- Rutherford County $216.50
- Scott County Not yet verified
- Sequatchie County Not yet verified
- Sevier County $198.50
- Shelby County $112.90
- Smith County Not yet verified
- Stewart County Not yet verified
- Sullivan County Not yet verified
- Sumner County $165.50
- Tipton County Not yet verified
- Trousdale County Not yet verified
- Unicoi County Not yet verified
- Union County $128.50
- Van Buren County Not yet verified
- Warren County Not yet verified
- Washington County Not yet verified
- Wayne County Not yet verified
- Weakley County $179.50
- White County Not yet verified
- Williamson County $172.50
- Wilson County $250
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Tennessee Small Claims Filing Fees Explained
To file a small claims case in the General Sessions Court, you must pay a filing fee at the time you submit your paperwork. In Tennessee, filing fees are $93.75–$250 depending on the amount of your claim.
Tennessee offers electronic filing for small claims cases. An e-filing convenience fee of $5 applies.
Tip
Tennessee has the highest small claims limit in the US at $25,000 — a major advantage for plaintiffs.You can recover the filing fee
If you win your case, ask the judge to add the filing fee to your judgment. The defendant would then owe you the original claim plus court costs.Fee waiver available
Can't afford the fee? Ask the court clerk for an In Forma Pauperis (IFP) application. Tennessee courts generally waive fees for low-income filers — bring proof of income.Get a court date reminder
Enter your hearing date — we'll send a preparation checklist 7 days out, and a final reminder the night before. Free.
Frequently Asked Questions: Tennessee
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Can I file small claims online in Tennessee?
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Also See for Tennessee
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