Tennessee Small Claims Court Limit: $25,000 Cap Explained

You've got a dispute and want to know whether it fits in Tennessee's small claims system. The answer depends on one number: $25,000. But there are details behind that figure that can make or break your filing strategy.

The Statewide $25,000 Limit

Under T.C.A. § 16-15-501(d)(1), Tennessee General Sessions Courts can hear civil cases with principal claims up to $25,000. This limit is uniform across all 95 counties. Older legal guides and some secondary websites occasionally cite a $15,000 cap for certain metropolitan counties — that information is outdated. The current statute sets $25,000 statewide.

What Counts Toward the Cap

Only the principal claim amount and any requested prejudgment interest count toward the $25,000 ceiling. Under T.C.A. § 16-15-501(d)(2), these items are excluded from the calculation:

• Attorney fees — If the judge awards them, they don't push your case over the limit
• Court costs — Filing fees, service fees, and other costs the court assesses
• Discretionary costs — Any additional costs the judge decides to assign

So if you're owed $24,000 and want prejudgment interest, your total award could land above $25,000 once the judge adds attorney fees and court costs — and that's perfectly fine.

Cases With No Dollar Limit

Two categories of General Sessions cases have unlimited monetary jurisdiction:

Eviction actions (forcible entry and detainer) — A landlord seeking to remove a tenant can file regardless of the property's value or the rent owed.

Actions to recover personal property (replevin) — If someone has your property and won't return it, you can sue in General Sessions no matter what the property is worth. The court can also award a cash alternative if the property can't be returned.

When Your Claim Exceeds $25,000

If your dispute involves more than $25,000, you have two options — and one trap.

File in Circuit Court. Claims above $25,000 go to Circuit Court or Chancery Court, which have broader jurisdiction. The process is more formal, and most people hire an attorney.

Voluntarily reduce your claim to $25,000. You can choose to cap your request at the General Sessions limit and waive the excess. This keeps your case in the simpler, faster court — but you permanently give up the difference.

The trap: claim splitting. You cannot divide a single $35,000 claim into two $17,500 cases and file them both in General Sessions. Tennessee law treats this as impermissible claim splitting. Once the judge enters judgment on the first portion, the remainder is barred under res judicata. You lose it forever.

Practical Considerations

General Sessions is faster and cheaper than Circuit Court — cases typically reach trial in 30-60 days, filing fees run $125-$275 depending on the county, and the informal rules make it navigable without a lawyer. If your claim is close to $25,000 but slightly over, consider whether the speed and cost savings of General Sessions justify waiving the excess.

For the full breakdown of filing fees by county and a step-by-step walkthrough of the General Sessions process, see the Tennessee Small Claims Filing Guide.

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