Mississippi County Court vs Justice Court: Which One Handles Your Claim?

Two Courts, Different Limits, Different Rules

Mississippi has two trial-level courts that handle smaller civil claims: Justice Court and County Court. They overlap in some ways, but they serve different purposes and the procedural differences matter when deciding where to file.

The short version: if your claim is $3,500 or less and you want a simple, informal process, Justice Court is where you go. If your claim exceeds $3,500, or you want a jury trial, or you need the full discovery process, County Court (where it exists) handles that — up to $200,000.

Justice Court: 82 Courts, $3,500 Limit

Every Mississippi county has a Justice Court. There are 82 of them statewide, staffed by 198 elected judges. Under Mississippi Code § 9-11-9, Justice Court handles civil claims where the principal demand is $3,500 or less.

Key characteristics:

• Monetary limit: $3,500 principal demand (court costs and interest excluded)
• Available in all 82 counties
• Judges are not required to be lawyers — qualifications include a high school diploma, county residency, and completion of judicial education courses
• Governed by the Uniform Rules of Procedure for Justice Court (RJC) — simpler than the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure
• No formal discovery — no interrogatories, depositions, or document requests before trial
• No jury trials — the judge decides everything
• Informal hearings — designed for self-represented parties
• Filing fee: $45 (Mississippi Code § 25-7-25)
• Appeal: To County Court or Circuit Court within 10 days, with a trial de novo

Justice Court is the practical choice for small disputes: security deposits, contractor deposits, unpaid invoices, property damage, and private car sale problems. The process is straightforward, the costs are low, and most cases resolve within two to three months.

County Court: Local Availability, $200,000 Limit

Not every Mississippi county has a County Court. County Courts were created by the Mississippi Legislature to handle the gap between Justice Court and Circuit Court. Under Mississippi Code § 9-9-21, County Court has jurisdiction over civil actions up to $200,000. Check whether your county has a County Court before filing.

Key characteristics:

• Monetary limit: Up to $200,000
• Available in some counties — the rest of the state relies on Justice Court and Circuit Court
• Judges are licensed attorneys
• Governed by the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure (MRCP) — the same formal rules used in Circuit Court
• Full discovery available — interrogatories, depositions, document requests
• Jury trials available on request
• More formal hearings — closer to a traditional courtroom experience
• Higher filing fees than Justice Court
• Appeal: To Circuit Court

County Court also has concurrent jurisdiction with Justice Court, meaning it can hear cases under $3,500. But using County Court for a $1,500 dispute is like hiring a moving truck for a suitcase — it works, but the process is slower, more expensive, and more complex than necessary.

Which Court Should You Choose?

File in Justice Court if:

• Your claim is $3,500 or less
• You want a quick, informal resolution
• You are representing yourself and want simplified procedures
• You do not need pre-trial discovery

File in County Court if:

• Your claim exceeds $3,500 (up to $200,000)
• You want a jury trial
• You need formal discovery to get evidence from the other side
• Your county has a County Court (check before filing)

What if your county has no County Court? Claims exceeding Justice Court's $3,500 limit go directly to Circuit Court, which has no upper monetary limit. Circuit Court follows the same formal procedures as County Court (MRCP, full discovery, jury trial rights) but handles the heaviest civil litigation in the state.

The Appeal Connection

Justice Court appeals go to County Court (if the county has one) or Circuit Court for a trial de novo — a completely fresh trial. This means if you lose in Justice Court, the appeal court rehears the entire case as if the first trial never happened. Both sides present evidence again, and the second court is not bound by the Justice Court judge's decision.

This is different from most appellate processes, where the higher court reviews the lower court's decision for errors. In Mississippi, a Justice Court appeal is a do-over.

Practical Example

You are owed $2,800 for a contractor deposit in Rankin County (which has a County Court). You could file in either Justice Court or County Court. Justice Court is the better choice: lower filing fees, simpler procedures, faster hearing dates, and no formal discovery delays.

You are owed $8,000 for the same type of dispute. Justice Court cannot hear it — the limit is $3,500. Rankin County Court (up to $200,000) is the correct venue. You file there using the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure, potentially request discovery, and may face a longer timeline.

The Mississippi Small Claims Filing Guide focuses on Justice Court procedure — the venue where most self-represented Mississippians resolve disputes. It covers the complete process from checking the $3,500 limit through filing, service, the hearing, and post-judgment collection.

See more Mississippi guides →