--- title: "Texas Small Claims Court Kit | MCC Solutions" description: "Texas small claims kit: claims up to $20,000, $54 to file, lawyers allowed, online filing link. Filing guide, demand letter, hearing prep and Excel calculator." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/toolkits/texas-small-claims-court-kit" --- Document pack # Texas Small Claims Court Kit: the $20,000 Limit, Filing Guide, Demand Letter, Evidence and Hearing Prep, and a Claim Calculator In Texas, small claims (Justice Court (Small Claims Case)) cover claims up to $20,000. From the official page: Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 500.1(a) (rules updated as of January 1, 2026) and Gov't Code 27.031: a small claims case can be for no more than $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees. **$19** one time · 14-day full refund · Word and PDF · download link by email Buy now, $19 Free sample 🌙 The desk is asleep. The store never is. Every kit and ebook downloads the moment you pay, day or night. Questions get answered after we open in the morning. [Browse the store](/toolkits) Who it is for People and small businesses with a money claim in Texas that may fit under $20,000, and people who have been sued there and want the same organized record. Individuals may represent themselves or use an attorney; the court may allow a family member or uncompensated person to assist. Corporations/entities may be represented by a non-attorney employee, owner, officer or partner, or by an attorney (TRCP 500.3). An authorized agent may not represent a party in a small claims case. Not the right fit if Your claim is outside Texas, over its small claims limit, or needs a lawyer (an injury, a dispute over land, a family case). Not a form preparation or legal service. Why it is different - Built only from our Texas small claims data file, checked November 2026 against Texas State Law Library: Small Claims Maximum (FAQ, updated Nov 25, 2025); Texas State Law Library: Small Claims Cases guide; Texas State Law Library: Appealing a Case; Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (updated as of Jan 1, 2026), posted by Harris County Justice Courts; Wheeler County Justice Court: civil cases ("The filing fee for all Civil cases is now $54.00 effective January 1, 2022"; service $100 per defendant); Jefferson County Justice of the Peace: Small Claims Court in Texas ($54 filing; $154 with service in the county); Texas State Law Library: Can I file my small claims case online? (many justice courts accept eFileTexas filings; self-help guided interview; updated March 7, 2024). - All 9 Texas facts in the kit are confirmed on an official page. - Official forms are linked, not copied, so you always file the court's current version. What is inside - **Start here and is small claims right?.** How to use the kit, the 9 confirmed Texas facts at a glance and a yes/no checklist: is the amount under $20,000, is it the right court, is there someone to serve and something to collect from. - **Texas filing guide.** Where and how to file, from the official pages: County and precinct where the defendant resides, where the incident occurred, where the contract was to be performed, or (to recover personal property) where the property is located; if the defendant is a nonresident or residence unknown, where the plaintiff resides (TRCP 502.4). Electronic filing is allowed if the court allows it (TRCP 502.1). Fees: Filing fee, every Texas justice court (civil cases, including small claims, since January 1, 2022): $54 (Service of the citation is extra and set by each county: Wheeler County charges $100 per defendant.). The $54 civil filing fee is the same in every justice court since January 1, 2022 (Wheeler County and Jefferson County justice courts both state it). Serving the defendant costs extra and is set by each county's constable or sheriff. A Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs may be filed. Online filing: https://www.sll.texas.gov/faqs/file-small-claims-case-online - **Service, the hearing and after in Texas.** Service: Sheriff or constable, certified process server, the clerk by registered or certified mail (restricted delivery, return receipt requested), or a court-authorized person 18+; no party or interested person may serve (TRCP 501.2). Lawyers are allowed. Appeal: Within 21 days after judgment is signed (or after denial of a motion to reinstate, set aside or for new trial), file an appeal bond, cash deposit, or Statement of Inability; case goes to county court for a new trial (de novo). Plaintiff's bond $500; defendant's bond twice the judgment. Only judgments or disputes over $250 (excluding costs) can be appealed (TRCP 506; Texas State Law Library). - **Demand letter and response tracker.** A neutral demand letter to fill in (what happened, the amount, a reply-by date, how to pay), a log of every reply and offer, and a short checklist before sending. - **Evidence organizer and hearing prep.** An exhibit list numbered for the judge, a timeline, witness notes, a three-minute opening outline and a hearing-day packing list. - **Texas small claims workbook (Excel).** A claim calculator that adds up your items and compares the total with $20,000, a costs sheet with the Texas fee list, a deadline sheet in business days that skips weekends and federal holidays, and a collection tracker with the balance owed. A look inside ## The first pages, as you will get them [![Page 1 of the Start Here (Texas Small Claims Court Kit)](/img/toolkits/texas-small-claims-court-kit/doc-1.webp)](/img/toolkits/texas-small-claims-court-kit/doc-1.webp) First page of Start Here [![Page 1 of the Texas Filing Guide (Texas Small Claims Court Kit)](/img/toolkits/texas-small-claims-court-kit/doc-2.webp)](/img/toolkits/texas-small-claims-court-kit/doc-2.webp) First page of Texas Filing Guide Get it ## Texas Small Claims Court Kit Or pay with PayPal Uses the email and terms box above. You get the same download link by email. ZIP code (for sales tax) Want every toolkit? The [toolkit membership](/membership) includes all of them, with a lower rate if you pay yearly. Get every update for a year, $29: the [Yearly Updates Pass](/updates-pass?kit=texas-small-claims-court-kit) gives you each refreshed edition we release of the kits you own. One payment, no automatic renewal. Delivered as a zip of editable Word files and printable PDFs. For one business, your own use. General information and templates, not legal, tax or accounting advice. General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers and aren't affiliated with any court. The court clerk can explain the procedure but can't give legal advice; for advice about your claim, ask a lawyer or your state's legal aid or court self-help center. Payment is handled by Stripe. If a file will not open or something looks wrong, reply to your order email and we will make it right. Ways to get it ## Just this kit, or more This kit **$19 one time** Texas Small Claims Kit. Buy this kit The set **$57 one time** 4 kits including this one, $25 less than buying them separately. [See the set](/toolkits/texas-household-paperwork-bundle) Membership **$29 a month** Every kit and document pack in the store, including new ones. Cancel any time. [See the membership](/membership) Questions ## Common questions **What's in the download?** Four Word and PDF documents (Start Here with the is-small-claims-right checklist, the Texas filing guide, the demand letter and response tracker, and the evidence and hearing prep pages) and the Texas small claims workbook in Excel, by email link after payment. **Does the kit say how much I can claim in Texas?** Yes, from the official page: $20,000. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 500.1(a) (rules updated as of January 1, 2026) and Gov't Code 27.031: a small claims case can be for no more than $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees. Texas State Law Library: you cannot reduce a larger claim to fit. Justice courts also hear evictions and repair orders under separate rules. The workbook compares your total with it. **What does the Texas filing guide say about filing and serving?** Filing: County and precinct where the defendant resides, where the incident occurred, where the contract was to be performed, or (to recover personal property) where the property is located; if the defendant is a nonresident or residence unknown, where the plaintiff resides (TRCP 502.4). Electronic filing is allowed if the court allows it (TRCP 502.1). Serving: Sheriff or constable, certified process server, the clerk by registered or certified mail (restricted delivery, return receipt requested), or a court-authorized person 18+; no party or interested person may serve (TRCP 501.2). **What does it say about lawyers and appeals in Texas?** Lawyers are allowed. Appeal: Within 21 days after judgment is signed (or after denial of a motion to reinstate, set aside or for new trial), file an appeal bond, cash deposit, or Statement of Inability; case goes to county court for a new trial (de novo). Plaintiff's bond $500; defendant's bond twice the judgment. Only judgments or disputes over $250 (excluding costs) can be appealed (TRCP 506; Texas State Law Library). **Are the court forms included?** No. The kit links the official Texas pages where the current forms are (https://guides.sll.texas.gov/small-claims), so you always use the court's own version. **Is this legal advice?** No. The court clerk can explain the procedure but can't give legal advice; for advice about your claim, ask a lawyer or your state's legal aid or court self-help center. Free sample ### Try one page first Get a real page or file from this product by email. We send one confirmation email, and no series follows. Buy it with the others [Bundle ### Texas Household Paperwork Bundle This product plus 3 more, in one download. $57 instead of $82 separately](/toolkits/texas-household-paperwork-bundle)[### Month-End Close Workbook A real month-end close in one Excel file. It tells you when a rec does not tie, which variances still need an answer, and when the period is ready to lock. $19](/toolkits/month-end-close-workbook) ## More bookkeeping and business toolkits - [Texas Unemployment Checklist](/toolkits/texas-unemployment-checklist) $15 - [Timesheet and Pay Workbook](/toolkits/timesheet-and-pay-workbook) $19 - [Tips Deduction Tracker](/toolkits/tips-deduction-tracker) $15 - [Travel Nurse Assignment and Tax Home Log](/toolkits/travel-nurse-assignment-and-tax-home-log) $29 - [Trump Account Family Organizer](/toolkits/trump-account-family-organizer) $12 - [Unemployment Work Search Log (All States)](/toolkits/work-search-log-all-states) $14 [See every toolkit and document pack](/toolkits/all) ## Rather have someone do the books? [Get a Bookkeeping Quote](/bookkeeping/#interest)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)