Texas Legal Disputes
& Filing Guides
$20,000 — maximum recovery in Texas Justice Court. Filing fee: $35-$54. No attorney required. Texas operates one of the most accessible small claims systems in the country, with Justice Courts in every county handling disputes from unpaid debts to security deposit claims. E-filing available statewide through eFileTexas.
$129 Texas Demand Letter
Mailed in Minutes!
Texas Demand Letter Services
- Cost: $129
- Format: attorney-written (ghostwritten) formal demand
- Delivery: certified mail with return receipt
- Key statute: DTPA § 17.505 — 60-day written notice required before consumer protection lawsuits
- Security deposit disputes: Texas Property Code § 92.056 — demand triggers 30-day response deadline
- Settlement rate: majority of recipients respond within 14-30 days
- Legal weight: demonstrates good faith effort before litigation
- Court admissibility: serves as evidence if case proceeds to Justice Court
A formal demand letter creates a paper trail and satisfies Texas statutory notice requirements. Many disputes settle at this stage without court involvement.
Texas Small Claims Court Services
- Court: Justice Court (Justice of the Peace)
- Maximum claim: $20,000
- Filing fee: $35-$54 (varies by claim amount)
- Package cost: $249
- Attorney-written demand letter
- Complete filing guide for Texas Justice Court
- Court forms prepared for your county
- Evidence checklist tailored to your dispute type
- Damage breakdown worksheet
- Court day preparation guide
The $249 package includes:
Texas Justice Courts hear cases within 30-60 days of filing. No formal rules of evidence — judges allow parties to present their case directly.
The Texas Dispute Process: An Overview
6 steps from demand to judgment in Texas Justice Court:
Step 1: The Formal Demand- Send written demand via certified mail
- DTPA claims: 60-day notice required (§ 17.505)
- Security deposits: triggers 30-day landlord response deadline
- Document delivery date — this starts statutory clocks
- Filing fee: $35-$54 (based on claim amount)
- File in defendant’s county of residence OR where obligation was to be performed
- Form required: Small Claims Petition (Form available from Justice Court clerk)
- Include: parties’ names, addresses, claim amount, factual basis
- E-filing system: eFileTexas (efiletexas.gov)
- E-filing available in all 254 Texas counties
- Paper filing: accepted at Justice Court clerk’s office during business hours
- Processing time: 1-3 business days for e-filed petitions
- Court issues Citation after filing
- Citation fee: included in filing or $8-$15 additional
- Citation contains: hearing date, defendant’s response deadline, court location
- Defendant has 14 days to file written answer (if required by court)
- Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 501.2 governs small claims service
- Methods: constable, sheriff, private process server, certified mail
- Constable/sheriff fee: $75-$150
- Certified mail: $15-$25 (must be signed by defendant)
- Service deadline: at least 10 days before hearing
- Timeline: 30-60 days after filing
- Location: Justice Court in the precinct where you filed
- Duration: 15-45 minutes typical
- Bring: all evidence, witnesses, copies of demand letter and responses
- Judgment: often issued same day
- Appeal deadline: 21 days from judgment
Know Your Rights: Official Texas Resources
Texas provides free legal resources through state agencies and court systems. Verify current procedures and forms through these official sources:
- Texas Attorney General Consumer Protection Division: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection
- Texas Law Help (Free Legal Aid Resources): https://texaslawhelp.org
- Texas Courts Self-Help Center: https://www.txcourts.gov/programs-services/self-help/
- eFileTexas (Electronic Filing Portal): https://efiletexas.gov
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Got questions about how Sue.com works, what’s included in each package, or what happens after your letter is sent? We’ve got you covered — quick, clear answers to help you move forward with confidence.
1. What is the small claims court limit in Texas?
$20,000 — maximum amount recoverable in Texas Justice Court. Claims exceeding this amount must be filed in County Court or District Court. Justice Court handles the vast majority of consumer disputes, landlord-tenant cases, and debt collection matters.
2. What is the deadline (Statute of Limitations) for common disputes in Texas?
Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code sets these deadlines:
- Breach of Written Contract: 4 years (§ 16.004)
- Breach of Oral Contract: 4 years (§ 16.004)
- Property Damage: 2 years (§ 16.003)
- Personal Injury: 2 years (§ 16.003)
- Fraud: 4 years (§ 16.004)
- Debt Collection: 4 years (§ 16.004)
- Security Deposit Claims: 4 years from move-out date
3. Do I have to send a demand letter before suing in Texas?
Not required for most claims — but strongly recommended. Exception: DTPA claims require 60-day written notice before filing suit (Texas Business & Commerce Code § 17.505). Demand letters also trigger statutory deadlines for security deposit returns and create evidence of good faith effort.
4. What is Texas's small claims court called?
Justice Court — presided over by a Justice of the Peace. Texas has Justice Courts in every county, with multiple precincts in larger counties. File in the precinct where the defendant resides or where the transaction/injury occurred.
5. What key Texas law should I know about?
Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) — Texas Business & Commerce Code Chapter 17. Covers false advertising, warranty breaches, and unconscionable actions. Allows recovery of actual damages plus up to 3x damages for knowing violations. Requires 60-day pre-suit notice. One of the strongest consumer protection statutes in the United States.