Harris County Small Claims Court: Fees, Filing Steps, and Precinct Map

Which Court Handles Small Claims in Harris County

Harris County small claims cases are heard in the Justice of the Peace Courts, not a separate small claims court. Harris County has multiple precincts, each with its own JP courthouse, and you need to file in the right one — generally the precinct where the defendant resides, where a tort occurred or contract was breached, or as otherwise allowed under CPRC Chapter 15 and TRCP 502.4.

Harris County's website has a precinct locator tool that lets you enter an address and find the correct JP court. A defendant can object to an improper venue, so confirm the correct precinct before filing.

Filing Fees

Harris County filing costs for a single-defendant small claims case:

If you file through eFileTexas, add approximately $5 for the electronic access fee plus a credit card processing surcharge (2.25–3.5%).

Can't afford the fees? File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. The clerk or opposing party has 7 days to contest it, but the court cannot reject the official form.

How to File

You have two options:

eFileTexas (online): Go to efile.txcourts.gov, select Harris County, choose the correct precinct, and select "Small Claims - Initial" as the filing category. Upload your petition as a PDF. Licensed attorneys must e-file; self-represented litigants can choose either route.

In person: Bring one original petition plus two copies for each defendant to the JP clerk's counter. Pay the filing fee and service fee at the window.

Whichever route you use, select the Small Claims Petition form for an ordinary unpaid invoice owed directly to an original service provider. Rule 508's Debt Claim track covers claims by assignees and debt collectors as well as financial institutions and entities whose business involves extending credit.

What Your Petition Needs

TRCP Rule 502.2 requires:

• The county and precinct number
• Your name, address, and phone number
• The defendant's name and address where they can be served
• A brief statement of facts explaining your claim
• The dollar amount you're seeking (up to $20,000, including any attorney's fees)
• A statement about the defendant's military status (required under federal law)
• Your signature

Redact Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and financial account numbers before filing — court records are public.

Service of Process

After you file, the clerk issues a citation. A Harris County constable delivers it to the defendant. You pay the constable fee at filing, and the constable handles delivery.

The defendant then has 14 calendar days from the date of service to file a written answer. If they don't answer, you can request a default judgment — but only after the return of service has been on file for at least 6 calendar days, excluding the day the return is filed and the day judgment is signed.

If the constable can't reach the defendant after documented attempts, you can file a Motion for Alternative Service with the server's sworn affidavit describing the attempts and supporting that the defendant lives at the address. If the judge grants a written order, it can authorize door posting or leaving the papers with someone over 16 at the defendant's residence.

The Hearing

Harris County JP judges run informal hearings. The formal Texas Rules of Evidence don't apply, though judges can enforce specific rules to keep things fair. Print every piece of evidence — contracts, texts, photos, invoices — and bring three copies: one for you, one for the judge, one for the other side. Most JP judges won't accept evidence shown on a phone screen.

Many Harris County precincts offer court-annexed mediation on the morning of trial before the case is called. If you settle in mediation, the case ends there.

Start Filing

The Texas Small Claims Filing Guide has the full step-by-step process from demand letter through the hearing, including a service tracking log and evidence binder organizer built for Harris County and every other Texas precinct.

See more Texas guides →