Is the small claims filing fee the same in every Texas county?

Yes — the base filing fee is set by state law and is identical in all 254 counties. What differs locally is service of process, copies, and optional local add-on fees.

What does the $54 fee not include?

Serving the other party (billed separately by the sheriff, constable, process server, or clerk), certified copies, publication notices where required, and attorney's fees. The notes above cover what service typically costs for this case type.

Texas Small Claims Filing Fees by County

Filing a small claims case in Texas costs $54, paid to the Justice of the Peace (Justice Court). The fee is the same in all 254 counties.

Filing	Fee
Small claims case filing (claims up to $20,000) $33 local consolidated fee + $21 state consolidated fee — Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §§ 135.103, 133.151	$54
Jury fee (written jury demand) Tex. R. Civ. P. 216	$22

Source: Texas Office of Court Administration — Justice Court Civil Filing Fees (effective Jan. 1, 2024) — schedule dated 2024-01-01, last checked 2026-08-25.

Justice courts hear civil claims up to $20,000 (Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031). Small claims cases are filed with the justice of the peace for the precinct where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose.
Serving the defendant with citation is extra: each county's constable or sheriff sets its own service fee, commonly $75 to $130 per defendant. Certified-mail service through the court is usually cheaper — ask the specific JP court.

Small Claims fees by county

Common questions

Is the small claims filing fee the same in every Texas county?: Yes — the base filing fee is set by state law and is identical in all 254 counties. What differs locally is service of process, copies, and optional local add-on fees.
What does the $54 fee not include?: Serving the other party (billed separately by the sheriff, constable, process server, or clerk), certified copies, publication notices where required, and attorney's fees. The notes above cover what service typically costs for this case type.