Harris County Small Claims Court, Texas

Small Claims Court Venue

You should file your action in the County and specific Precinct where the defendants reside or where the defendant has contracted to perform. (Government Code Section 28.011).

Are Appeals Allowed?

Yes, but only if the amount in controversy is in excess of $250.

Small Claims Court Case Types

Most cases for the recovery of money can be heard in small claims court. This could be an action to get your security deposit back, or an action to recover money for damage done to your vehicle after a car accident. However, small claims court cannot handle assignments of claims (where one person transfers their interest in an action to another), a divorce proceedings, and cases filed by collection agencies or agents.

Can I hire an attorney?

In Texas, small claims parties generally represent themselves without an attorney. The reasoning behind this is because the amount is $10,000 or less, hiring an attorney becomes cost prohibitive. Nevertheless, you are allowed to retain one if you desire. (Texas Government Code Section 28.003).

Small Claims Court Clerk

We recommend contacting the Harris County court clerk before proceeding down to the courthouse to file your action. This will ensure the courthouse is open and someone is available to assist with the filing of your claim. While the clerk can help you with procedural issues, the clerk is not able to give legal advice. They will direct you to an attorney if answering your question would require that.

What is the trial like?

Small claims court trials are very informal compared to a regular civil trial. In fact, the judge in small claims court is charged with developing facts of the case and may question or summon witnesses. Furthermore, the judge is allowed and often ask questions of witnesses and parties to help understand the facts of a case. A small claims court trial is much quicker, often lasting between 15-20 minutes. A jury trial will likely last longer, probably a few hours. Small Claims Court cases for Harris are heard in 16 LOCATIONS throughout Harris County.

Limit (or Jurisdiction) of Small Claims Court

You cannot demand or ask for more than $10,000 in a small claims court case. (Government Code 28.093). Another restriction of small claims court is that a plaintiff can only seek monetary relief (an award of money). You are unable to seek injunctive or equitable relief. For example, if you pay a painter $1,000 to paint your house and the painter does not even begin, you cannot ask the court to issue an order for the painter to paint your house. This type of relief would be injunctive relief.

Judges for Small Claims Court Cases in Harris County

The justice of the peace for Harris County presides over small claims court actions for Harris County.

Harris County Court Locations

Precinct 1 Place 1 Courthouse in the City of Houston

This courthouse is located at:

7300 N Shepherd, Rm 138

Houston, TX 77091-2474

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 1 Place 1. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)274-0695. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 1 Place 2 Courthouse in the City of Houston

This courthouse is located at:

1302 Preston, 1st Fl

Houston, TX 77002

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 1 Place 2. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)274-0600. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 2 Place 1 Courthouse in the City of Houston

This courthouse is located at:

10851 Scarsdale, Ste 500

Houston, TX 77089-5740

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 2 Place 1. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (281)481-9630. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 2 Place 2 Courthouse in the City of Pasadena

This courthouse is located at:

101 S Richey, Ste B

Pasadena, TX 77506-1419

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 2 Place 2. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)274-6100. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 3 Place 1 Courthouse in the City of Houston

This courthouse is located at:

14350 Wallisville Rd

Houston, TX 77049-4145

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 3 Place 1. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)274-0770. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 3 Place 2 Courthouse in the City of Baytown

This courthouse is located at:

701 W Baker Rd, Ste 101

Baytown, TX 77521-2351

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 3 Place 2. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (281)427-7449. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 4 Place 1 Courthouse in the City of Spring

This courthouse is located at:

6831 Cypresswood Dr, Ste 4

Spring, TX 77379-7700

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 4 Place 1. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)274-6510. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 4 Place 2 Courthouse in the City of Humble

This courthouse is located at:

7900 Will Clayton Pkwy

Humble, TX 77338-5849

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 4 Place 2. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)274-2450. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 5 Place 1 Courthouse in the City of Houston

This courthouse is located at:

6000 Chimney Rock, Ste 102

Houston, TX 77081-4004

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 5 Place 1. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)661-2276. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 5 Place 2 Courthouse in the City of Houston

This courthouse is located at:

16715 Clay Rd, Ste 4

Houston, TX 77084

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 5 Place 2. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)274-0800. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 6 Place 1 Courthouse in the City of Houston

This courthouse is located at:

333 Lockwood St, 1st Fl

Houston, TX 77011-2122

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 6 Place 1. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)274-3985.

Precinct 6 Place 2 Courthouse in the City of Houston

This courthouse is located at:

1001 SSGT Macario Garcia Dr

Houston, TX 77011

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 6 Place 2. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)274-8774. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 7 Place 1 Courthouse in the City of Houston

This courthouse is located at:

5737 Cullen Blvd

Houston, TX 77021

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 7 Place 1. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)747-3553. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 7 Place 2 Courthouse in the City of Houston

This courthouse is located at:

5300 Griggs Rd, 2nd Fl

Houston, TX 77021-3775

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 7 Place 2. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (713)274-0700. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 8 Place 1 Courthouse in the City of Pasadena

This courthouse is located at:

7330 Spencer Hwy

Pasadena, TX 77505

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 8 Place 1. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (281)479-6900. And you can email the court by clicking here.

Precinct 8 Place 2 Courthouse in the City of Houston

This courthouse is located at:

16603 Buccaneer Ln, 2nd Fl

Houston, TX 77062

This courthouse handles cases for Precinct 8 Place 2. The court’s website can be found here. The phone number for the court is (281)486-9713. And you can email the court by clicking here.