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Small claims · checked October 20, 2026

Small claims limit in Tennessee: $25,000

Tennessee caps small claims at $25,000, set by Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501. It ranks 1st of 51 verified jurisdictions.

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  1. 1Limit$25,000
  2. 2CourtGeneral sessions court
  3. 3FeeSet by clerk
  4. 4RuleTenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501

The rule in Tennessee

The small claims limit in Tennessee is $25,000. The rule is Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501; the Hamilton County (Tenn.) Sessions Civil Court FAQ puts it this way: “These suits may not exceed $25,000.00.” The court that hears these cases: General sessions court.

Among the 51 jurisdictions with a verified figure on this site, Tennessee ranks 1st from the top. That is $15,000 above the median of $10,000. No verified state sets a higher ceiling. Delaware uses the same $25,000 figure.

Next door, Alabama allows $6,000, Arkansas allows $5,000, Georgia allows $15,000, Kentucky allows $2,500, Mississippi allows $3,500, Missouri allows $5,000, North Carolina allows $10,000 and Virginia allows $5,000. A claim of $25,000 that fits in Tennessee would be $22,500 over the line in Kentucky.

Worked check against the $25,000 figure: a $12,500 claim uses 50% of the limit and leaves $12,500 of room; a claim of exactly $25,000 still fits, because the rule caps the amount rather than excluding it; a claim of $25,001 is $1 over.

The source checked for Tennessee does not publish a statewide filing fee, so this page shows none; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts the current amount.

Tennessee has no separate small claims court; general sessions court hears civil suits up to this amount. The University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service describes the $25,000 limit as applying in all counties.

Tennessee$25,000Georgia$15,000North Carolina$10,000Alabama$6,000Arkansas$5,000Missouri$5,000Virginia$5,000Mississippi$3,500Kentucky$2,500Median, verified$10,000
Small claims limits, Tennessee against neighbouring or nearest states. Bar lengths are to scale.

Source: Hamilton County (Tenn.) Sessions Civil Court FAQ · Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501 · last checked October 20, 2026.

Where the case goes

A claim within the limit is filed with the General sessions court. The linked source is the place to confirm forms, the filing fee and where to file before starting; the guides on filing a small claims case and serving the papers explain the usual steps in general terms.

Questions

What is the small claims limit in Tennessee?

$25,000, under Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501. Checked October 20, 2026.

Do interest and costs count toward the Tennessee limit?

The wording quoted from the source (“These suits may not exceed $25,000.00.”) does not address it; the court clerk can say how the court counts them.

How much does it cost to file a small claim in Tennessee?

The source checked does not publish a statewide fee; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts it.

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