Richmond County Magistrate Court: Filing a Small Claim in Augusta

What Richmond County Magistrate Court Handles

Richmond County Magistrate Court in Augusta handles civil claims up to $25,000 under O.C.G.A. § 15-10-2, as amended by HB 999 effective July 1, 2026. The court hears money-only disputes — unpaid invoices, security deposit claims, contractor deposit refunds, property damage, and similar cases where you are seeking a dollar amount, not an injunction or specific performance.

The court operates as a non-record trial court. All contested cases are bench trials decided by a magistrate judge. There are no jury trials in Magistrate Court.

Filing Fees and How to Pay

Richmond County's filing costs and accepted payment methods are set by the local Magistrate Court schedule. Check the current schedule with the clerk before filing, since the county's published schedule may not reflect later changes.

Filers who cannot afford court costs may apply for a fee waiver by submitting a Pauper's Affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 9-15-2. A magistrate judge reviews the financial disclosure and can waive all initial fees.

How to File in Richmond County

Confirm with the Magistrate Court clerk whether e-filing is available for Magistrate Court cases and which portal to use. You can also ask about filing paper forms in person at the clerk's office.

Every filing must include:

• Statement of Claim with the defendant's full legal name and a physical service address
• Verification signed under oath before a notary or clerk
• Civil Case Filing Information Form — the standard judicial case-classification cover sheet
• SCRA Military Affidavit — required before a default judgment when the defendant has not appeared; check the court's instructions for when to submit it
• Business agent documents — follow local instructions if a business is represented by a designated officer or full-time employee

The clerk may return filings that do not meet the court's form or address requirements. A military-status affidavit is required before a default judgment when the defendant has not appeared.

Getting the Defendant's Name Right

For businesses, confirm the exact legal name through the Georgia Secretary of State's online business search. A trade name or DBA is not a legal entity — you sue the owner individually, styled as "Jane Doe d/b/a Doe's Auto Repair." Sole proprietorships must be sued under the owner's personal name.

For LLCs and corporations, service may be made on the registered agent or another recipient authorized by law, such as an officer, director, or managing agent. Filing against the wrong entity means any judgment you win may be unenforceable.

Service and the 30-Day Answer Window

After filing, the Richmond County Sheriff's office serves the defendant. The plaintiff cannot serve the papers. Once served, the defendant has 30 calendar days to file an Answer.

If no Answer arrives by Day 30, the case enters default. The defendant has a 15-day grace period (Days 31-45) to open default by filing an Answer and paying accrued costs. After Day 45, you can apply for a default judgment.

Preparing for Your Augusta Hearing

Prepare three copies of every document — contracts, receipts, photographs, correspondence, bank statements — organized in a binder with labeled tabs. One set goes to the judge, one to the opposing party, and one stays with you.

If you need someone to testify who will not come voluntarily, file for a subpoena through the clerk's office well before the hearing date. The judge will hear both sides, ask questions, and typically rule from the bench.

What Comes Next

The Georgia Small Claims Filing Guide covers the full Magistrate Court process with step-by-step instructions, deadline calendars, and printable checklists — everything you need to file and prepare for your hearing in Richmond County or any Georgia county.

See more Georgia guides →