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Mississippi Small Claims Court

Justice Court (there is no separate small claims court), for claims up to $3,500.

Last checked November 1, 2026

The most you can ask for$3,500
LawyersLawyers allowed
Time to sue on a contractCheck with your court
Good to know

Covers debts, damages and personal property. Same limit for all civil cases in Justice Court. Counterclaims above the limit are dismissed without prejudice.

Lawyers: The rules cover both attorneys and self-represented parties. Whether a business can appear without a lawyer was not confirmed.

How it works in Mississippi

  1. Check that the amount is $3,500 or less.
  2. File a complaint with the justice court clerk stating the basis for your claim and the exact amount you want. Attach a copy of any account or written contract.
  3. The clerk issues a summons, and the complaint and summons must be served on the defendant.
  4. Come to trial on your date. If the defendant does not appear, the judge can enter a default judgment if there is a factual basis. If you do not appear, the case can be dismissed.

What it costs

Check with your court

How long you have to sue

Written contractCheck with your court
Spoken agreementCheck with your court
Damage to propertyCheck with your court
Personal injuryCheck with your court

These are general limits. The clock can start late, pause or be much shorter, as it is for claims against a government agency.

No increase has passed. 2026 bills to raise the limit to $5,000 (SB 2696, which passed the Senate, and HB 876) died in committee, as did SB 2012 on landlord-tenant claims. HB 876 also proposed staged justice court fee changes through 2028, but it died.

Sources

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General information to help you get organized, last checked November 1, 2026. It isn't legal advice, and SueYou isn't a law firm. Laws change and every case is different, so confirm anything important with a lawyer or the court. No lawyer has reviewed this page yet.