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In Harris County, money disputes up to $20,000 go to the small-claims court: simplified procedures built for people without a lawyer.
Here you will find the claim limit that applies in Harris County, what filing costs, where the case is heard, how the defendant is served, the deadlines, and the order of steps. Squabble can take the preparation and filing off your hands.
Harris County hears small claims at several hub courthouses. The right one depends on where the defendant lives or where your dispute happened. The court matches your ZIP code to a courthouse.
Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.
Not sure which courthouse? Use the court's official court locator to match your ZIP code to the correct location, or let Squabble identify it for you automatically. Hub courthouses can change; confirm before you file.
Harris County covers 241 ZIP codes, including the Alief, Barker and Baytown areas. About 5,009,302 people live in Harris County.
Electronic filing is accepted for small claims at this court, so the opening papers need not be delivered in person.
Hearings in small claims are attended in person at the courthouse.
Bring copies of your evidence for the judge and the other side; some courts also accept electronic submission ahead of the hearing.
Small claims cases in Harris County, Texas are heard in the Justice Court of Texas system, which handles claims up to $20,000. Harris County has a population of 5,009,302 and covers communities including Houston, Humble, Katy, Pasadena, Baytown, Bellaire, Cypress, Spring, Tomball, and Deer Park, along with ZIP codes such as 77002, 77009, 77015, and 77024. One location is the Justice of the Peace Court, Harris County, Precinct 4, Place 2, at 7900 Will Clayton Parkway in Humble, 77338, reachable at (713) 274-2450, with information posted at http://www.jp.hctx.net/4-2/default.htm. That court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and is closed Saturday and Sunday. Another location is the Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, Place 2, at 16715 Clay Rd #4 in Houston, 77084, at (713) 274-0800, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Electronic filing is not available. Harris County lies near Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, and Waller County.
More than one location takes small claims here. The court matches a case to a location by address.
These 25 places sit inside Harris County:
Alief, Barker, Baytown, Bellaire, Channelview, Crosby, Cypress, Deer Park, Galena Park, Highlands, Hockley, Houston, Huffman, Hufsmith, Humble, Katy, Kingwood, La Porte, North Houston, Pasadena, Seabrook, South Houston, Spring, Tomball, Webster.
With about 5,009,302 residents, Harris County ranks 1st by population among the 254 counties of Texas.
Neighbouring counties and the courts that serve them:
Everyday disputes over money belong in the small claims division, where the rules are simplified, and the sum in question has an upper bound.
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.
The remedy here is money. Orders telling someone to do or stop something sit with higher courts.
Lawyers are allowed at a Texas hearing but are not needed. The procedure is written for self-representation.
A claim involving a minor is brought by a court-appointed guardian.
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 241 Harris County ZIP codes, from 77001 onward. Harris County has 12 courthouses listed on this page.
If someone owes you money, up to $20,000, small claims is built for it. These are the disputes residents bring most often.
Harris County has about 5,009,302 residents. Harris County takes in Alief, Barker and Baytown 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.
Complete the claim form, choose the right court, and pay the filing fee.
Service puts the papers in the defendant's hands and starts their time to answer or settle.
The hearing is informal and quick, sometimes by video, and the judge decides on the spot or sends the outcome later.
Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, Place 1 publishes its counter hours; they are listed on this page. This is the route a Harris County case takes, whether it starts in 77001 or anywhere else among the county ZIP codes.
Filing is only half of it. The defendant has to receive formal notice, a step called service of process, and in most cases you cannot hand over the papers yourself.
Who may serve depends on the court: law enforcement, a paid process server, the clerk by certified mail, or a disinterested adult. Costs and rules are local.
Courts set their own cut-off for how many days before the hearing notice must land. The clerk gives you that date along with the hearing date.
Service is proved on paper. The server completes and signs a form, and it is filed before the matter is heard.
Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.
Addresses in Harris County include places such as Alief, Barker and Baytown. Fort Bend County and Montgomery County are the counties nearest to Harris County.
Claims do not stay open indefinitely. Time runs from the events themselves, and a filing made afterwards may be shut out.
| Kind of claim | Deadline to file |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 4 years |
| Oral contract | 4 years |
| Property damage | 2 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
Harris County, population about 5,009,302, is covered by the table above. They do not change from one Harris County ZIP code to another, 77001 included.
Money owed under a contract in Texas generally accrues interest at 6% per year before judgment (Tex. Fin. Code §302.002).
Interest can be calculated before filing using the Squabble interest calculator.
The rate above is the one for Harris County, population about 5,009,302. Harris County is under the same state rate as nearby Fort Bend County and Montgomery County.
Verify the figure is inside the limit and that you are still within the deadline for this claim type.
Use the other side's correct legal name, describe the dispute, and show how the money adds up.
File at the Harris County hub courthouse for your dispute's ZIP code, or e-file, and pay the $75 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.
Gather the paperwork and label your exhibits so each point can be shown quickly.
Turn up on the day, in person or remotely where offered, present what happened, and take the decision.
Describe the dispute to Eleanor. Squabble drafts the paperwork, puts it through a Triple-Check™ for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and lodges it with the court.
Start for FREE →Three documents recur: the claim form that begins it, the proof of service confirming delivery, and a fee waiver if eligible. Names vary locally; Squabble selects the correct versions.
Alief, Barker and Baytown are among the places in Harris County that filings come from. Harris County takes in filings from 241 ZIP codes, 77001 first in the list.
Small claims hearings are short and informal, and the judge asks questions directly. Most people present their own case.
Alief, Barker and Baytown are among the Harris County places a hearing can draw parties from. Harris County has about 5,009,302 residents.
A judgment says what is owed. Getting hold of the money is the next stage, and the enforcement options open to you depend on the state.
Part of the debtor's earnings may be redirected toward the judgment where state law provides for it.
A levy lets the court reach money sitting in the debtor's bank account.
Registering the judgment at county level can fix a lien on real estate the debtor holds.
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.
A Harris County judgment comes from one of its 12 listed courthouses. Fort Bend County and Montgomery County are the counties nearest to Harris County.
Last reviewed August 2026. Court fees, limits, and procedures change. Verify current details with the court 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 Harris County case for you.
