Up to $15,000 · 4 years to file.
A contractor who took your money, did poor work, or never finished. In Georgia, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Magistrate Court, where you can sue for up to $15,000.
Your deadline: Georgia generally gives you 4 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $60 (Roughly $50–$100 to file plus service, varying by county.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Ga. Code § 15-10-2; deadlines: Ga. Code §§ 9-3-24, 9-3-25, 9-3-30, 9-3-33. Reviewed 2026-06-17.
Note on deadlines: Written contract 6 yrs; oral contract 4; property damage 4; personal injury 2.
Suing for something else in Georgia: Georgia unpaid loan · Georgia security deposit · Georgia property damage · Georgia unpaid rent.
Suing for contractor dispute in nearby states: Florida ($8,000, 4 years) · Alabama ($6,000, 6 years) · South Carolina ($7,500, 3 years) · North Carolina ($10,000, 3 years) · Tennessee ($25,000, 6 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026