A landlord kept your deposit, a contractor walked off the job, a dry cleaner ruined your coat. In Mississippi you can sue for up to $3,500 in the Justice Court, without hiring a lawyer. Check your case below, then follow six steps.
Answer a few questions. The result updates as you type.
Mississippi doesn't require a demand letter before you sue in Justice Court, but asking for payment in writing first is a good idea. A short, dated demand letter is the best proof. Use the generator below and keep a copy.
File in the Justice Court of the county where the defendant lives or where the problem happened. For a business, use its full legal name and its registered agent.
Civil complaint (often called a declaration or affidavit on open account), available from the clerk. The clerk sets the trial date when the summons is issued. Ask your court how soon it hears civil cases.
Fees are set by state law and collected by each county. Many courts charge about $85 to file against one defendant, which includes service by the constable, plus about $15 for each extra defendant. Check your county's justice court clerk for the exact amount. If you can't afford it, ask for a fee waiver: Pauper's affidavit; ask the justice court clerk.
The clerk issues a summons and gives it to the constable, who serves the defendant. If the constable can't hand it to the defendant, it can be left with a family member over 16 or posted on the door, followed by a mailed copy. Service must be made within 120 days of filing, or the case can be dismissed. The summons gives the trial date.
Bring receipts, photos, texts, the contract and your demand letter, with three copies of each. The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can ask the clerk about wage or bank garnishment, which has its own fee.
Want every detail? The full filing guide walks you through all 7 stages, from finding the defendant's legal name to collecting your money, with a checklist.
Open the filing guideFill in the details, then download the letter as a PDF or Word file, or copy the text. Send it by certified mail or email so you can prove the date.
Miss this date and the court will dismiss your case, however strong it is. Mississippi uses a 3-year general deadline for most claims. Some deadlines start later if the harm was discovered later.
| Type of claim | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Broken written contract (lease, invoice, signed agreement) | 3 years |
| Broken verbal agreement | 3 years |
| Damaged property | 3 years |
| Personal injury | 3 years |
| Fraud | 3 years |
| Libel or slander | 1 year |
| Claims against a government agency | Before suing a Mississippi government body, you must give it written notice of your claim at least 90 days before filing under the Tort Claims Act, generally within 1 year of the harm. |
Yes. You can bring a lawyer or represent yourself. Most people in Justice Court handle their own cases.
You can sue for up to $3,500 in Justice Court. People and businesses have the same limit. The limit has been $3,500 since 2008; bills in the 2026 session to raise it to $5,000 did not become law. Otherwise, you can give up the amount above the limit, or file a regular civil case where the rules are stricter.
Either side can appeal to the county court, or to the circuit court if there's no county court. The case is heard again from scratch. File the notice and pay the appeal costs within 30 days; a bond may be needed to stop collection. Ask the clerk right away, because deadlines are strict.
Ask the court ahead of time if you need an interpreter. The Justice Court rules allow the judge to appoint one.