Dallas County has 10 Justice Courts across 5 precincts. Generally file in the precinct where the defendant lives, or where they do business or agreed to perform services. A court may accept your filing anyway, but either side can then have the case moved to the correct location.
| Limit | $20,000 |
|---|---|
| Court | Dallas County Justice of the Peace Courts (Justice Court, small claims cases) |
| File online | eFileTexas, https://www.efiletexas.gov |
| Fees | $54 to file. Constable service in Dallas County is $80 per defendant, or certified mail is $18.91, as of January 1, 2026. |
| Timing | The court doesn't publish a usual wait for a hearing. JP 1-1 suggests calling the clerk 2 to 3 weeks after filing to confirm service, then asking when the case can be set for trial after the defendant responds. |
| Serving papers | Choose a Dallas County constable ($80 per defendant), certified mail ($18.91), registered mail ($25.01) or a private process server. For defendants outside Dallas County, you arrange personal service yourself unless you use certified mail. |
Dallas County Justice of the Peace Courts (Justice Court, small claims cases) small claims page
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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.
