Tennessee lawyer costs and court fees
Short answer
Tennessee has small claims cases up to $25,000, a 1-year personal injury filing deadline. Clio does not publish a Tennessee rate; the national average is $349 an hour. Below are the verified court fees, deadlines, fee-cap rules and free-help options, each linked to its official source.
Tennessee legal costs at a glance
| Small claims limit | $25,000[1] |
|---|---|
| Small claims filing fee | Not verified yet — ask the court clerk |
| Circuit Court / Chancery Court civil filing fee | Not verified yet — ask the court clerk |
| Divorce filing fee | Varies by county clerk. |
| Personal injury deadline | 1 year (T.C.A. 28-3-104(a)(1)); extended to 2 years under (a)(2) when criminal charges arise from the same conduct[2] |
| Attorney fee caps | Medical malpractice: contingent fee capped at 33 1/3% of damages awarded (T.C.A. 29-26-120), as quoted in a Tennessee Court of Appeals opinion.[3] |
| Average lawyer rate | No Tennessee figure published; national average $349/hour[4] |
What lawyers charge in Tennessee
Clio publishes state-level averages for only some states, and Tennessee is not one of them. The national average billed rate in Clio's 2025 data is $349 per hour[4]. We do not publish an invented Tennessee figure: ask two or three local lawyers for their hourly rate and compare it with the national number.
Illustrative budget at $349/hour (not a quote): a 1-hour consultation ≈ $349; a 5-hour document review ≈ $1,745; a 20-hour contested matter ≈ $6,980, before court fees and expenses. Many lawyers quote flat fees for routine work instead; see hourly vs flat fees.
Small claims court in Tennessee
Small claims cases are heard in the General Sessions Court (no separate small claims court). You can ask for up to $25,000[1]. Applies in all civil cases in all counties; eviction (forcible entry and detainer) cases have no limit, and attorney's fees and costs are excluded from the calculation (T.C.A. 16-15-501).
- Filing fee: not verified yet Fees vary by county, so confirm with your local clerk.
- Serving the other side: service costs are not listed in the official sources we checked; ask the clerk which service methods are allowed and what they cost.
See how Tennessee compares with other states in our 50-state small claims table.
Court filing fees
Circuit Court / Chancery Court: not verified yet; ask the clerk of court.
Divorce: no single statewide amount verified. Varies by county clerk.
If you cannot afford a filing fee, every state lets you ask the court to waive it; the form is usually called a fee waiver or an application to proceed without paying fees. Our divorce cost guide compares filing fees across states.
Deadlines and attorney fee rules
Personal injury filing deadline: 1 year (T.C.A. 28-3-104(a)(1)); extended to 2 years under (a)(2) when criminal charges arise from the same conduct[2]. Exceptions exist (for example for minors, government defendants and medical claims), so check with a lawyer before the deadline gets close.
Contingency and fee caps: Medical malpractice: contingent fee capped at 33 1/3% of damages awarded (T.C.A. 29-26-120), as quoted in a Tennessee Court of Appeals opinion.[3]
If you disagree with a lawyer's bill: we did not find a statewide fee-dispute program for Tennessee; ask your local county bar association whether it runs one.
Free and low-cost legal help in Tennessee
- Legal aid: HELP4TN (Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services). Programs funded by the Legal Services Corporation generally serve households at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines; in 2026 that is $19,950 a year for one person and $41,250 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states[5].
- Before you hire: read what consultations cost and options if you can't afford a lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the small claims limit in Tennessee?
$25,000, in the General Sessions Court (no separate small claims court). Applies in all civil cases in all counties; eviction (forcible entry and detainer) cases have no limit, and attorney's fees and costs are excluded from the calculation (T.C.A. 16-15-501).
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Tennessee?
Generally 1 year (T.C.A. 28-3-104(a)(1)); extended to 2 years under (a)(2) when criminal charges arise from the same conduct. Exceptions apply, so talk to a lawyer well before the deadline.
Sources
- UT County Technical Assistance Service, General Sessions Jurisdiction (checked October 11, 2026)
- Tennessee Court of Appeals, Younger v. Okbahhanes (checked October 11, 2026)
- Tennessee Court of Appeals opinion (Newton) (checked October 11, 2026)
- Clio, Compare Lawyer Rates (2025 Legal Trends data) (checked October 11, 2026)
- Federal Register: LSC income guidelines (2026) (checked October 11, 2026)