LockoutCase

Small claims by state · checked

Court: General Sessions Court (civil). Claims up to $25,000. Each fact below links to the official source we read. Anything we could not confirm says “Check with your court”.

Limit

$25,000

Tennessee has no separate small claims court; civil cases up to $25,000 are filed in General Sessions Court (T.C.A. § 16-15-501(d)(1)). A 2025 bill to raise the limit to $50,000 (HB 982) was taken off notice in March 2026, so $25,000 still applies. Some counties' courts have extra powers under private acts; confirm the limit and costs with your county clerk.

Sources: House Bill 982 / Senate Bill 572 (114th General Assembly), bill text; Bill information: HB 0982 (2025-2026); General Sessions Courts · checked 26 Oct 2026

Filing fee

Check with your court Not verified

We could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the court clerk before you file.

Lawyers

Lawyers limited

An individual may represent themselves; a corporation must have an attorney. This is from one county clerk (Blount County); confirm with your county's clerk.

Source: General Session Civil Court · checked 26 Oct 2026

Serving a corporation

Check with your court Not verified

We could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the court clerk before you file.

Demand before suing

Check with your court Not verified

We could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the court clerk before you file.

Official self-help

Check with your court Not verified

We could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the court clerk before you file.

Suing Meta from Tennessee

Meta’s terms point disputes to California courts or arbitration and cap its liability, so a Tennessee small-claims case is leverage, not a sure thing. Read the small-claims checklist before you pay a fee, then draft your demand letter in the free kit: pick Tennessee and it checks your loss amount against the limit.

Fees and limits change, and local courts can add costs. Confirm with the court clerk before you file.

LockoutCase is a self-help tool, not a law firm, and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Draft the demand letter

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Tennessee small claims, answered

What is the small-claims limit in Tennessee?
Tennessee has no separate small claims court; civil cases up to $25,000 are filed in General Sessions Court (T.C.A. § 16-15-501(d)(1)). A 2025 bill to raise the limit to $50,000 (HB 982) was taken off notice in March 2026, so $25,000 still applies. Some counties' courts have extra powers under private acts; confirm the limit and costs with your county clerk.
How much does it cost to file a small claim in Tennessee?
Check with your court: we could not confirm this from an official source.
Can I bring a lawyer to small claims in Tennessee?
An individual may represent themselves; a corporation must have an attorney. This is from one county clerk (Blount County); confirm with your county's clerk.
Where do these facts come from?
Each fact on this page links to the official court, statute or government source we read. We last checked Tennessee on 26 Oct 2026. Anything we could not confirm says “Check with your court”.
Is this legal advice?
No. LockoutCase is a self-help tool, not a law firm, and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. It shows general information from official sources; confirm with the court clerk before you file.