Texas Justice Court
Contractor and Repair Disputes
Contractor cases are document cases: the bid or contract, payment records, photos of the work, and independent repair estimates usually decide them.
Legal information only: This site provides legal information for Texas Justice Court users. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not replace advice from a licensed Texas attorney or instructions from your court. County and precinct practices vary. Filing methods, local forms, service fees, court closures, and clerk procedures can change. Always verify details with the correct Justice of the Peace court before filing or relying on a deadline.
Important
- Sue the right party: if the contract is with a company, the company is usually the defendant. Check Texas Secretary of State and Comptroller records before filing.
- If the amount at stake is large or the work involves structural or safety issues, talk to a Texas attorney before deciding anything.
Step-by-Step Starting Point
- 1Collect the contract, bid, estimate, or message thread showing what was promised.
- 2Gather payment proof: checks, transfers, receipts.
- 3Photograph the current state of the work.
- 4Get one or two independent estimates to complete or fix the job.
- 5Send a demand letter with a deadline, then consider Justice Court if it passes.
What you can usually ask for
Common measures include the cost to complete or repair the work (shown by estimates), refunds for work paid for but never performed, and documented damage the contractor caused.
Justice Court can generally award up to $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs. Larger disputes may need a different court and legal advice.
Where to file
Venue baselines include where the defendant resides and, for contract disputes, often where the contract was to be performed — frequently the project site. Confirm the precinct with the county lookup tool and the clerk.
Templates & kits for this task
Demand Letter Pack
$19Four Texas-specific demand letters plus sending instructions.
Full Texas Small Claims Starter Kit
$49Every template and guide, from first demand letter to collecting a judgment.
Self-help templates, not legal advice. County court forms always come first when your JP court publishes one.