Magistrate Court may be the next step if your landlord still will not return the amount owed or provide a proper written statement after written demands. Before you file, make the record clean: dates, notices, damage-list issues, delivery proof, and the amount still owed.
Georgia Magistrate Court is commonly used for smaller civil money claims. County court pages describe the civil claim limit as $15,000.
Keep the court step practical
For a deposit dispute, prepare a simple timeline:
- lease and deposit amount
- date the tenancy ended
- date you vacated
- date possession was returned or accepted
- move-in and move-out inspection lists
- written statement or refund received
- deductions you dispute
- photos, messages, and delivery proof
- amount you are asking for
Official court direction
Use official local Georgia Magistrate Court resources before filing:
Confirm local details
Before filing, confirm current forms, fees, filing location, service requirements, and local court procedures with the official county Magistrate Court.
Before you escalate
One demand letter is often not enough. A stronger Georgia record usually shows that you asked clearly, gave the landlord a chance to fix the accounting, preserved the damage-list and written-dissent issues, and escalated in order.
Get the Deposit Recovery System
Important: This page provides general information and is not legal advice.