2026 state court fee data · Georgia

Small Claims in Georgia

Recorded at $50–$150 - among the cheaper civil filings in Georgia, and one of 10 states where we price this filing.

Filing steps ↓ About this data

Fee rank is not wait rank

Signature reading for Small Claims in Georgia: 6 steps on published procedural depth for this filing. On this filing's state cohort, Georgia sits in the upper third of recorded max fees ($50–$150). The published step list sits near the 6-step median for this filing (6 steps). According to PlainCivil's compiled state court fee schedules, Small Claims in Georgia ranks #84 of 120 process-state filings by maximum filing fee (highest max fee = #1). Civil Lawsuit is largest of 2 at $400 among 12 civil filings in Georgia; that is not the longest wait: Divorce records 31 days on a $225 ceiling.

Small Claims figures for Georgia are compiled schedule reference, not legal advice - verify with the clerk where you intend to file.

In-state wait inventory

Waiting periods among Georgia civil filings

Exclusive split of all 12 tracked filings in Georgia - orthogonal to in-state fee placement below.

Compare a state record

Compare small claims with another state

Start with Georgia, then inspect another published court-schedule record without leaving this page.

Focus the comparison by published maximum fee

This only narrows the same court-schedule records; it does not estimate a total filing cost.

In-state placement

Where small claims sits among Georgia filings

Of the 12 civil filings we track in Georgia, small claims ranks 9 by recorded maximum fee: among the cheaper civil filings in Georgia. Neighbours: Eviction at $175 and Tenant Rights at $150.

Same-state corpus only, not a national ranking. How we place filings

The Georgia row lists 6 procedural steps against a 6-step median for this filing: a reading of published detail, not difficulty.

Filing Fee Details

$50-$150 in Magistrate Court. Fee varies by claim amount and county.

Georgia's high-band fee among states

Georgia sits in the upper third of this filing's state cohort at $50–$150 (rank #3 of 10 by max fee).

Source: state court filing-fee schedules (upper-bound fee per state). Verify current amounts with the relevant court. How we calculate this ranking →

Key Requirements

  • Claim limit: $15,000 in Magistrate Court
  • Filed in county Magistrate Court
  • No formal rules of evidence
  • Appeal to Superior Court available

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1

    File claim at county Magistrate Court

  2. 2

    Pay filing fee

  3. 3

    Court issues summons to defendant

  4. 4

    Hearing scheduled (3-8 weeks)

  5. 5

    Appear before magistrate with evidence

  6. 6

    Judgment issued

Important Notes

Georgia Magistrate Courts handle claims up to $15,000 with informal procedures.

Grounds / Eligibility

Monetary disputes up to $15,000 in Magistrate Court

Quick Reference

Fee stamp
CLERK schedule band
Wait stamp
OPEN clock band
Filing Fee
$50–$150
Residency
File in Magistrate Court in county where defendant resides
Typical Timeline
3-8 weeks to hearing

Official Resources

Georgia Court Website Official Forms

Nearest fee-schedule peers in Georgia

Ordered by ABS(filing_fee_max) to this row's CLERK stamp - not an A-Z process catalog.

Tenant Rights
CLERK
$50–$150
1-3 months
Eviction
CLERK
$60–$175
Hearing within 7-14 days. Writ issues shortly after judgment.
Divorce
CLERK
$200–$225
Uncontested: 31 days minimum (after service). Contested: 6 months-2 years.
Name Change
CLERK
$200–$250
1-3 months
Court Mediation
STANDARD
$0–$300
1-2 sessions
Domestic Violence Protection
WAIVED
Free
Temporary order same-day; hearing within 30 days

Take this with you

What to do with small claims in Georgia's numbers, next.

Filing fees and requirements change; verify current figures with your local court before filing.

According to published Georgia court materials compiled in the PlainCivil state-process database. See our methodology for source categories and vintage. Schedule row for Small Claims in Georgia: max fee $50–$150, wait Not published, vintage 2026-09-01.