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Texas · Justice Court - Small Claims (Claim up to $20,000)

Justice Court - Small Claims (Claim up to $20,000) — United States

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Format requirements for this court

Court and trackJustice Court - Small Claims (Claim up to $20,000)
PaperLetter
Margins 1 inch · 1 inch · 1 inch · 1 inch
Type Times New Roman, 12 pt
Line spacing2
Paragraph numbering {n}.

Twelve point, legible type. Anything smaller is routinely questioned at the clerk's window.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Justice Court - Small Claims (Claim up to $20,000)

File the original petition plus one copy per defendant. Letter-size paper, 1 inch margins, 12 point font, double spaced, numbered paragraphs, caption with the parties' names and addresses, signature at the end and a certificate of service.

USD 20,000 — Justice court civil jurisdiction generally extends to claims of $20,000 or less, excluding interest and costs.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

County Court at Law (Civil)

Original petition with the caption required for district and county courts, numbered paragraphs, signature, certificate of service, and an exhibit index when documents are attached.

USD 250,000 — Jurisdictional limits vary by county and by the basis of the claim; check the county's own limit before filing.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Filing checklist - what to bring, in how many copies, and why documents get returned.

  1. One signed original petition, on paper, with numbered paragraphs and the caption completed.

    Justice Court Civil Case Information Sheet (if the justice of the peace requires it)

    Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
  2. One copy of the petition for each respondent, plus one copy for the court file.
    Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
  3. The filing fee, or a completed Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs if you cannot pay it.
    Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
  4. Court name, county and precinct, your full name and street address, and the respondent's full name and street address.
    Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
  5. Signature in ink on the signature line, with your printed name, address and telephone number beneath it.
    Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
  6. A certificate of service stating the date and manner of delivering a copy to the other side, for anything you file after the petition.
    Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
  7. Attachments numbered continuously from 1, with an index page listing each attachment by number and name.
    Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
  8. If the claim rests on a written lease or contract, a copy of the pages you are relying on.
    Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
  9. If you expect a default judgment, a military status affidavit for the respondent.
    Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
  10. Confirmation that you are filing in the county and precinct where the events happened or where the respondent resides.
    Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Why filings get sent back

The language you read here and the language of the documents are set separately.

Document language: English. This is set by the court, not by the language you are reading now.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Disclosure: what this document set is and is not

This pack was assembled by a document preparation tool that organises facts you supplied and aligns page format to the listed court's published requirements. The person or company that produced it is not a licensed attorney and is not acting as your representative in any court. No legal advice is given, no legal advice relationship is created, and no opinion is offered on the strength of any position or on which rule applies. You remain responsible for the contents of every document you file, for meeting every deadline, and for consulting a licensed attorney about your situation. Sources for each format rule are listed in the filing checklist.

I have read this disclosure and understand that this pack is a format and fact-organisation aid, not legal advice, and that no licensed attorney has reviewed my documents.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Confirm you understand: citations are not verified

The system does not check whether a citation is real. You are responsible for checking each one in the official database: Texas Legislature Online statute search and the Texas Judicial Branch case search.

Texas Legislature Online statute search and the Texas Judicial Branch case search

Check this citation yourself: confirm that it exists, that it is still in force, and that no later decision or amendment has changed it.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

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