Small claims court, scam reports and free legal aid in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Arizona
Based on official statutes, courts and agency pages (checked 2026-10-23). General information, not legal advice.
A landlord, contractor, seller or acquaintance owes you money; an online store never shipped; or a caller says you owe the IRS. You have three tools: small claims court to get your money back, an Attorney General / FTC complaint to report the business, and free legal aid for advice.
At a glance — 5 states
| Texas | Georgia | Alabama | Tennessee | Arizona | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims court | Justice court (JP) | Magistrate court | District court, small claims docket | General sessions court | Justice court, small claims division |
| Limit | $20,000 | $15,000 → $25,000 for cases filed from 1/1/2027 (HB 999)* | $6,000 | $25,000 | $5,000 |
| Lawyer | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional | Not allowed unless both sides agree in writing |
| Law | Gov't Code §27.031, §27.060 | O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(5) | Ala. Code §12-12-31 | T.C.A. §16-15-501 | A.R.S. §22-503, §22-512 |
| Scam / business complaint | Texas OAG | GA AG Consumer Protection Division | AL AG Consumer Interest Division | TN AG Division of Consumer Affairs | AZ AG Consumer Complaints |
| Free legal help | TexasLawHelp.org | GeorgiaLegalAid.org | Legal Services Alabama | Help4TN.org | AZLawHelp.org |
*Georgia: the official HB 999 text "as passed House and Senate" raises the limit to $25,000 for actions filed on or after January 1, 2027. We could not confirm the governor's signature on an official page — check with your magistrate court. Limits generally exclude interest and court costs; filing fees vary by county.
1. Small claims court
Texas. Small claims cases go to the justice court for amounts up to $20,000, not counting interest (Gov't Code §27.031). The law says the rules may not require a lawyer and must be simple enough for people without legal training; the hearing is informal and the judge helps develop the facts (§27.060). The Texas State Law Library's guide explains filing, serving the defendant, trial and collecting, with forms. Many justice courts also accept e-filing.
Georgia. The magistrate court hears civil claims up to $15,000 (O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(5)). HB 999 (2026), as passed by the legislature, would raise this to $25,000 for cases filed on or after January 1, 2027 (we could not confirm the governor's signature on an official page). The magistrate judges' council calls it "the people's court," where you can represent yourself, and its free Forms Generator walks you through questions and prints the forms (e-filing where your county offers it).
Alabama. Claims up to $6,000 go on the small claims docket of the district court (Ala. Code §12-12-31). You may appear with or without a lawyer, but you can recover attorney fees only if a licensed attorney represents you. For claims over $1,500, the docket fee is the regular district court fee. The Alabama Judicial System's guide and forms are on its Small Claims page; ask the county clerk about fees (clerks can't give legal advice).
Tennessee. The general sessions court hears civil cases up to $25,000 (T.C.A. §16-15-501, summarized by UT's CTAS). There's no cap for evictions or for recovering personal property. People commonly represent themselves, but we couldn't confirm a statewide rule on this on an official court page. Ask the general sessions clerk in your county, and see Help4TN for self-help guides.
Arizona. The small claims division of the justice court takes claims up to $5,000 (A.R.S. §22-503). Arizona is strict: "An attorney-at-law shall not appear or take any part" in a small claims case unless both parties agree in writing before the hearing (§22-512). There's no appeal, and the decision is final (§22-519). For more than $5,000 (up to $10,000), use the regular justice court civil case (§22-201). Forms are at the Arizona courts' Self-Service Center.
Tip. Before you file, send the other side a written demand with a deadline, and keep receipts, texts, photos and the contract. You need the defendant's correct legal name and address for service.
2. Reporting a scam or a business that cheated you
| State | Where | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | texasattorneygeneral.gov → File a Consumer Complaint | Complaints are public under Texas law; the OAG can't give legal advice and uses complaints to monitor businesses |
| Georgia | consumer.georgia.gov → File a Complaint | Contact the business first; the division mediates some complaints |
| Alabama | alabamaag.gov/consumer-complaint · 1-800-392-5658 | A complaint is not a legal action; you may be told to see a private lawyer |
| Tennessee | tn.gov/attorneygeneral → File a Complaint · 615-741-4737 | Mediation if you, the business, or the deal is in Tennessee; the AG can't represent individuals; complaints are public records |
| Arizona | azag.gov/complaints/consumer · (602) 542-5763 | Informal dispute resolution; complaints are confidential; you can sue under the Consumer Fraud Act within one year |
| Federal | ReportFraud.ftc.gov | Phone 877-382-4357 (9am–5pm ET), press 3 for an interpreter — including Korean, Mandarin and Vietnamese |
The Attorney General is not your lawyer. A complaint helps them track and stop bad businesses, and some offices mediate. To get your own money back, small claims court is usually the direct route.
Scams that target newcomers - Fake IRS calls. The IRS never takes gift cards and never demands immediate payment by gift card, prepaid card or wire. It won't threaten to send police or immigration officers to arrest you. It usually mails a bill first. Report fake IRS calls to TIGTA (800-366-4484). - Fake USCIS calls or emails. USCIS never asks you to send money to a person, never takes Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Venmo or gift cards, and never asks you to pay fees by phone or email. Pay only through your myUSCIS account. Real government email ends in .gov. Immigration forms are free, and a "notario" can't give you immigration legal advice. - Job and check scams. See our Q&A on job scams and fake checks. Never pay to get a job, and never send money back from a check.
3. Free legal help
| State | Statewide site | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | TexasLawHelp.org | Texas Legal Services Center (nonprofit) and legal aid partners; Legal Help Directory |
| Georgia | GeorgiaLegalAid.org | Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Georgia Legal Services Program |
| Alabama | legalservicesalabama.org (apply online or 866-456-4995), AlabamaLegalHelp.org | Legal Services Alabama (nonprofit) |
| Tennessee | Help4TN.org | Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services. Tennessee Free Legal Answers takes questions online; 844-HELP4TN is a free helpline for people 60+ |
| Arizona | AZLawHelp.org | Arizona Bar Foundation with Community Legal Services, DNA People's Legal Services, Southern Arizona Legal Aid |
Free representation usually depends on income and the type of case. The self-help guides and forms are open to everyone. Ask for an interpreter if you need one.
Related
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- Texas speeding ticket: driving safety course, payment plans, missed court
- Overtime and minimum wage for hourly jobs
Laws, limits and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the court, the Attorney General's office, or a legal aid program. Checked 2026-10-23.
Cite this article as: JOBnaru™ — https://jobnaru.com/en/news/small-claims-scam-reports-legal-aid-by-state
Questions
What is the most I can sue for in small claims court?
Texas justice court $20,000 · Georgia magistrate court $15,000 (rising to $25,000 for cases filed on or after January 1, 2027 under Georgia's 2026 HB 999, if it took effect as passed) · Alabama district court small claims $6,000 · Tennessee general sessions court $25,000 · Arizona justice court small claims division $5,000. Interest and court costs are generally not counted.
Do I need a lawyer for small claims?
No. Texas, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee let you represent yourself (lawyers may still take part). Arizona is different — in the small claims division lawyers may not take part at all unless both sides agree in writing (A.R.S. 22-512), and there is no appeal (22-519).
Where do I report a business that cheated me?
File a consumer complaint with your state Attorney General (Texas OAG, Georgia Consumer Protection Division, Alabama Consumer Interest Division, Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, Arizona AG) and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The AG offices do not act as your lawyer; to get your money back yourself, small claims court is the usual route.
Someone says they are from the IRS or USCIS and wants gift cards. Is it real?
No. The IRS never accepts gift cards and won't threaten to have immigration officers arrest you; USCIS never asks you to send money to a person or pay fees by phone or email. Hang up, then report it — IRS impersonation to TIGTA (800-366-4484) and any scam to the FTC.
Where can I find free legal help?
Start with the statewide legal aid sites — TexasLawHelp.org, GeorgiaLegalAid.org, Legal Services Alabama (legalservicesalabama.org), Help4TN.org and AZLawHelp.org. Free representation depends on income and case type.
Sources
- Government Code Chapter 27 — Justice Courts (§27.031, §27.060) — Texas Legislature (official text)
- Small Claims Cases (guide) — Texas State Law Library
- HB 999 (2026), as passed House and Senate — O.C.G.A. §15-10-2 magistrate court limit — Georgia General Assembly
- Magistrate Court forms generator — Georgia Magistrate Council
- Code of Alabama §12-12-31 — Small claims actions; attorney representation — Alabama Legislature (ALISON)
- Small Claims Court (guide and forms) — Alabama Judicial System
- Jurisdiction of General Sessions Court (T.C.A. §16-15-501) — University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS)
- A.R.S. §22-503 — Small claims jurisdiction — Arizona State Legislature
- A.R.S. §22-512 — Parties; representation — Arizona State Legislature
- Self-Service Center — Small Claims — Arizona Judicial Branch
- File a Consumer Complaint — Texas Attorney General
- How Do I File a Complaint? — Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division
- Consumer Complaint — Alabama Attorney General
- File a Complaint — Division of Consumer Affairs — Tennessee Attorney General
- File a Consumer Complaint — Arizona Attorney General
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov — Federal Trade Commission
- New help for spotting, avoiding and reporting scams in multiple languages — Federal Trade Commission
- How taxpayers can protect themselves from gift card scams — Internal Revenue Service
- Common Scams — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- TexasLawHelp.org — Texas Legal Services Center
- GeorgiaLegalAid.org — Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Georgia Legal Services Program
- Legal Services Alabama — Legal Services Alabama
- Help4TN.org — Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services
- AZLawHelp.org — Arizona Bar Foundation
General information as of Oct 23, 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm with the employer, an immigration attorney or official sources before you act.
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