BIZREFUND guide
Georgia small claims court: limit and fee
A refund request that a company refuses can end in small claims court. This page gives the Georgia facts a letter writer needs before deciding anything: the limit, the court, the fee, the rule on asking first, and where to complain. Each fact names its official source and the date it was checked.
The limit
In Georgia, the general small claims limit is USD 15,000. Set for the magistrate court by O.C.G.A. § 15-10-2(5), not counting interest and costs. House Bill 999 (Act 707, signed May 12, 2026) raises the limit to USD 25,000 for cases filed on or after January 1, 2027.
Which court
Small claims cases in Georgia are heard in the Magistrate Court. Also called small claims court. The court's own page, linked below, explains where to file and what the forms are called.
Filing fee range
The filing fee is set by the court or the county, and the court's own page lists it. Set by each county's magistrate court, and county fees differ; the court's own page lists it.
Before you file
Official guidance for this state recommends that you ask the other side for the money in writing before you file. The attorney general's page says the first step is always to discuss the concern with a representative of the business, then to send a letter with proof of delivery.
Your state's consumer law
The main consumer protection law in Georgia is the Fair Business Practices Act (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-390 et seq.). A letter can name it; what it covers in your case is a question for the statute itself or a lawyer.
Where to complain
The Georgia attorney general takes consumer complaints through its own page, linked below. A complaint there is a report that the office keeps and can act on; it is not a claim for your money.
E-filing
Online filing depends on the county. The court's page says which counties offer it.
Worked example
Example: a USD 850 refund that a store in Georgia refused is under the USD 15,000 limit, so it is the size of claim the Magistrate Court hears. The letter from the refund desk is the written request that comes first, and the timeline log is the record you bring.
Sources
- Small claims limit
- The court
- Asking first
- Consumer law
- Georgia attorney general: consumer complaint
- Online filing
Checked on 2026-10-11 against the sources above. Limits and fees change; confirm on the court's own page before you file.
Not legal advice and not a law firm. This page says what the court and the rule are, not whether you should file.
Common questions
What if my claim is over the limit?
Then small claims is not the court for the whole amount. People sometimes claim only up to the limit and give up the rest, or use a different court. Which is right for you is not something this page can say.
Do I have to send a letter before I file?
In Georgia, a request first is recommended, by the official pages read for this guide. A dated letter with the evidence attached is the record either way.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It lists what the court and the rule are, with the official source for each fact and the date it was checked. It does not judge your case or tell you to file.