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In Lauderdale County, money disputes up to $3,500 go to the small-claims court: simplified procedures built for people without a lawyer.
Below is what you need for a small claims case in Lauderdale County: the limit, filing fees, which courthouse to use, how to serve the other side, your deadlines, and how to file. When you're ready, Squabble prepares everything and files it for you.
Small claims in Lauderdale County are heard at the courthouse below. When you file, the court confirms the right location for your case based on where the defendant lives or where your dispute happened.
Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.
Confirm the courthouse before you file. The court's own small-claims page carries its current filing location and hours, and Squabble confirms the courthouse for your case when you file.
Lauderdale County covers 13 ZIP codes, including the Bailey, Collinsville and Daleville areas. The nearest counties to Lauderdale County are Kemper County and Clarke County.
This court takes small-claims filings on paper, in person or by mail. Squabble prepares everything so your packet arrives filing-ready.
Small claims are heard at the courthouse, in person.
Copies of the evidence go to the judge and to the other party, and some courts allow it to be sent in electronically beforehand.
Residents of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, who wish to file a small claims case do so through the Mississippi Justice Court, which handles claims up to $3,500. Cases are filed at the Lauderdale County Courthouse, located at 612 22nd Ave in Meridian, 39301, and the court office can be reached at (601) 482-9731. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is closed Saturday and Sunday. Electronic filing is not available, so filings are handled at the courthouse itself. The county has a population of 70,588 and covers communities including Meridian, Marion, Collinsville, Toomsuba, Bailey, Daleville, and Lauderdale, along with ZIP codes such as 39301, 39305, 39307, 39320, and 39342. Lauderdale County lies near Kemper County, Clarke County, and Newton County. Additional information about the Justice Court is published at https://lauderdalecounty.org/court-systems/justice-court/.
Lauderdale County covers these 7 towns and cities:
Bailey, Collinsville, Daleville, Lauderdale, Marion, Meridian, Toomsuba.
ZIP codes:
Lauderdale County is the 9th most populous of Mississippi's 82 counties, with about 70,588 residents.
The small claims track exists for routine money disputes: fewer formalities, and a cap on what can be claimed.
Maximum claim
The county where it happened and the county where they live are both generally available.
You can't divide one dispute into several smaller cases to get around the limit.
A small-claims judge generally orders one side to pay money; other kinds of orders belong in higher courts.
Mississippi permits lawyers at the hearing without requiring them. Everything is built around people presenting their own case.
Where a party is under 18, the court appoints a guardian to act.
Over the limit? A claim above the ceiling can be trimmed to fit, or filed in full in the ordinary civil court. Trimming generally means writing off the remainder.
They are the same across all 13 Lauderdale County ZIP codes, from 39301 onward. These are the limits for Lauderdale County, population about 70,588.
Where money is owed and the sum is no more than $3,500, this is the right court. The following disputes are the common ones.
Lauderdale County has about 70,588 residents. Lauderdale County takes in Bailey, Collinsville and Daleville and the rest of the county.
It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.
Fill in the claim, pick the courthouse that covers the dispute, and pay what the court charges.
Formal notice reaches the other party, who then has a window to respond or resolve it.
A brief, informal hearing, in person or, where the court offers it, by video. The judge rules at the hearing or sends the decision after.
Lauderdale County Courthouse lists (601) 482-9731 as its number. Everything below applies to a case filed in Lauderdale County, at the Meridian courthouse.
After you file, the other party must be formally notified. This is called service of process. You generally cannot serve the papers yourself.
A sheriff, a constable, a professional server, the court clerk using certified mail, or an uninvolved adult can all serve papers, depending on local rules. Fees and permitted methods vary.
How long before the hearing notice must be given is set by the court. That deadline arrives with your hearing date.
The person who delivered the papers signs a proof of service. That document goes to the court ahead of the hearing.
Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.
A Lauderdale County address carries one of its 13 ZIP codes, 39301, 39302 and 39303 among them. Addresses in Lauderdale County include places such as Bailey, Collinsville and Daleville.
The right to bring a claim expires. The period is measured from the moment the dispute arose, and once it has run the court can refuse the case.
| Type of claim | How long you have |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 3 years |
| Oral contract | 3 years |
| Property damage | 3 years |
| Personal injury | 3 years |
Lauderdale County, population about 70,588, is covered by the table above. They do not change from one Lauderdale County ZIP code to another, 39301 included.
Money owed under a contract in Mississippi generally accrues interest at 8% per year before judgment (Miss. Code §75-17-1, §75-17-7).
Interest can be calculated before filing using the Squabble interest calculator.
Lauderdale County is under the same state rate as nearby Kemper County and Clarke County. It is the same rate across all 13 Lauderdale County ZIP codes.
Make sure the claim is under the maximum and that the limitation period has not expired.
Use the other side's correct legal name, describe the dispute, and show how the money adds up.
File with the Lauderdale County small-claims court on paper, by mail or at the counter, and pay the $21–$36 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).
After the hearing date is issued, arrange delivery of the papers and file the proof with the court.
Sort the documents and exhibits in advance so they can be handed up in order.
Turn up on the day, in person or remotely where offered, present what happened, and take the decision.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares the documents, runs a Triple-Check™ for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your case for you.
Start for FREE →Claim form starts the case · Proof of service shows the defendant was notified · Fee waiver if you qualify. Exact form names vary by court; Squabble prepares the right ones for your courthouse.
Lauderdale County papers go to Lauderdale County Courthouse in Meridian. Lauderdale County takes in filings from 13 ZIP codes, 39301 first in the list.
Expect a short, informal hearing in which the judge asks the questions. Most people present their own case.
Bailey, Collinsville and Daleville are among the Lauderdale County places a hearing can draw parties from. Lauderdale County Courthouse sits at the 39301 address shown above.
A judgment is the court's decision. Collecting it is a separate step, with court-backed tools if the other side doesn't pay. Which tools are available depends on state law.
Some states permit part of the debtor's wages to be diverted to the judgment until it is cleared.
Funds can be collected directly from the debtor's bank account through a court-ordered levy.
Lodging the judgment with the county can create a lien over property the debtor owns.
You can also ask the court to order the debtor to appear and disclose income and assets under oath. An unpaid judgment generally keeps accruing interest at the rate state law sets until it's satisfied.
Bailey, Collinsville and Daleville are among the Lauderdale County places a judgment debtor may live in. Kemper County and Clarke County are the counties nearest to Lauderdale County.
Information reviewed August 2026. Courts change fees, limits and procedures, so check the current details before filing.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares your demand letter and court-ready documents, Triple-Checks them for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your Lauderdale County case for you.
