How to file a small claims case in Tennessee, step by step
Everything from the first letter to getting paid, in the order you'll do it. Tick each step as you go; your progress is saved in this browser.
Before you file
1–3 weeks before filing
Tennessee doesn't require a demand letter before you file, but sending one first is recommended.
Use the free demand letter generator, give them 10–14 days, and keep a copy with proof of the date you sent it.
In Tennessee you can sue for up to $25,000 in the General Sessions Court (civil division).
Run the 60-second case check to see the last day you can file.
- Your full name, address and phone
- The defendant's exact legal name and address
- The registered agent's name and address if suing a business
- The amount you're claiming, up to $25,000
- A short statement of why the defendant owes you
- Copies of contracts, receipts, photos or invoices
Use the exact registered name and registered agent shown there.
Search: Tennessee Secretary of State Business Entity Search (TNCaB).
- The contract, lease, invoice or receipt
- Photos of the damage, dated if possible
- Texts, emails and letters with the other side
- Two written repair estimates or proof of what you paid
- Your demand letter and proof it was sent
- Names and contact details of any witnesses
Fill in the claim
1–2 evenings
Civil Warrant: Civil Warrant from your county's General Sessions clerk (example: Davidson County Pro Se Civil Warrant). Get the form.
- Who: you and the defendant, with full legal names and addresses
- What: the agreement or event, in 2–4 plain sentences
- When: the date it happened
- How much: the exact amount (no more than $25,000) and how you calculated it
- What you did: when you asked for payment and their response
Sign the civil warrant. If you're suing on an unpaid account, you can attach a notarized sworn statement of the account.
Bring the original, one copy for each defendant and one for yourself.
File and pay
Filing day
Choose how you'll file:
The General Sessions civil clerk in the county where the defendant lives or does business, or where the deal or incident happened.
Each county sets its own fees, which include the clerk fee, sheriff service and local taxes. In 2026, Davidson County (Nashville) charges about $146 for one defendant including service, plus $52 per extra defendant; Rutherford County about $269. Call your county clerk for the exact amount. Can't afford it? Ask for a fee waiver: Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency (pauper's oath).
The clerk issues the warrant with a court date and sends it for service; check before the date that service was completed.
Serve the defendant
Right after filing
The sheriff usually serves the warrant, and the fee is often included in the filing fee. You can also use an adult who isn't part of the case, or certified mail if the defendant signs the receipt.
The warrant must be served within 60 days of being issued; if not, ask the clerk to reissue it.
The officer or private server fills out the return on the warrant and files it with the clerk; for certified mail, file the server's affidavit and the signed green card.
Don't wait until the hearing. Ask the clerk right away for a new hearing date and try another method, such as personal delivery instead of mail, or a different address.
Before the hearing
1–4 weeks before
The defendant usually doesn't file a written answer and simply comes to court on the date on the warrant. They can also file a counterclaim.
Many cases settle at the courthouse at the first docket call; an agreed judgment signed by both sides can be entered.
Get any settlement in writing, signed by both sides, with the amount and payment date.
A witness who saw what happened is stronger than a written statement; some judges won't accept letters.
Ask the clerk to issue a subpoena for a witness or documents, early enough to be served before the hearing.
- Three copies of every document: for you, the judge and the defendant
- A one-page timeline of what happened, with dates
- A short sheet showing how you calculated the amount
- Photos printed or ready on your phone (ask the clerk if screens are allowed)
The hearing
Hearing day
- Arrive early; civil dockets often start at 9:00 a.m.
- Answer when your case is called, or it may be dismissed
- Bring original documents and copies for the judge and the other side
- Be brief: what happened, how much, and your proof
- Who you are and what you're asking for: the amount.
- What the agreement or situation was.
- What went wrong, with dates.
- What it cost you and how you calculated it, showing your documents.
- That you asked for payment and what they said.
Speak to the judge, not the other side. Stay calm, answer the question asked, and don't interrupt.
If the defendant was served and doesn't come, the judge can enter a default judgment. If you don't come, the case can be dismissed, usually so you can refile.
After the judgment
Weeks to months
Either side can appeal to Circuit Court within 10 days of the judgment by filing a notice and posting a cost bond or pauper's oath. Circuit Court retries the whole case from the start.
After the 10-day appeal period, ask the clerk for wage garnishment (up to 25% of disposable pay), a bank levy or a writ of execution, or record a lien on real estate. Judgments last 10 years and can be renewed.
Keep proof of every payment. When you're paid in full, tell the court; some courts require a satisfaction-of-judgment form.