The Kaufman County Justice of the Peace system consists of four precinct courts that handle small civil disputes up to $20,000, evictions, and Class C misdemeanor cases such as most traffic tickets. These are the most accessible courts in the Texas system, designed so residents can represent themselves without hiring a lawyer. Which precinct you use depends on where you live or where the dispute arose, so identifying the right office is the first step.
The Four Precinct Offices
Kaufman County operates four JP precincts, each covering a different part of the county. Filing in the wrong precinct can get your case dismissed for improper venue, so confirm your address before you submit anything.
- Precinct 1: 1906 E. US Highway 175, Kaufman, TX 75142
- Precinct 2: 200 E. Main, Forney Sub Courthouse, Forney, TX 75126
- Precinct 3: 408 E. College, Terrell Sub Courthouse, Terrell, TX 75160
- Precinct 4: 1906 E. US Highway 175, 2nd Floor, Kaufman, TX 75142
Precincts 1 and 4 share the same Kaufman building on different floors; Precincts 2 and 3 sit in the Forney and Terrell sub-courthouses. To confirm your precinct, use the county’s official precinct map or the elections department’s address lookup tool.
What These Courts Can and Cannot Decide
Texas Government Code Section 27.031 gives justice courts jurisdiction over three civil categories: general money disputes where the amount in controversy is $20,000 or less (not counting interest), evictions (formally called forcible entry and detainer), and foreclosures of liens on personal property within that same dollar range.2State of Texas. Texas Government Code 27.031 – Jurisdiction That ceiling covers contract disputes, property damage claims, security deposit fights, and unpaid debts.
Several types of cases fall outside a JP’s authority no matter how small the dollar amount. Divorce, defamation, disputes over who owns land, and enforcement of liens against real property must go to a higher court.2State of Texas. Texas Government Code 27.031 – Jurisdiction
On the criminal side, justice courts hear Class C misdemeanors, which are offenses punishable only by a fine of up to $500 with no jail time.3State of Texas. Texas Penal Code 12.23 – Class C Misdemeanor Most traffic tickets, minor theft below the statutory threshold, and violations of local ordinances land here. JPs also serve as magistrates who can issue arrest and search warrants.
Filing a Civil Case
What the Petition Must Contain
Every civil case starts with a written petition filed with the court clerk. Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 502.2, the petition must include your name and address, the defendant’s name, address, and phone number if you know it, the amount of money you’re seeking, and a description of what happened and why the defendant owes you.4eFileTexas.Gov. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure – Rule 502.2 If you’re asking the court to return specific personal property, you must estimate its value.
Bring your supporting documents to the clerk’s office: contracts, receipts, photos, text messages, lease agreements, or anything else that backs up your claim. Kaufman County publishes standardized petition packets for both small claims and eviction cases that walk you through the required information.5Kaufman County, TX. Kaufman County – Forms and E-File
Filing Fees
Kaufman County charges a $54 filing fee for both small claims and eviction cases. Service fees are separate: $100 per defendant in a small claims case and $200 per person named on the lease in an eviction case.6Kaufman County, TX. Kaufman County Civil Filing Fees The service fee pays a constable or authorized process server to deliver the citation. Costs add up if you name multiple defendants. The clerk’s office accepts money orders and credit cards, and the court will not process your paperwork until you pay unless you qualify for a fee waiver.
If You Cannot Afford the Fees
Texas does not turn people away from court because they can’t pay. File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs, available from the clerk at no charge. You must either sign it in front of a notary or sign under penalty of perjury, and provide evidence of your financial situation. Proof of means-tested government benefits, a legal aid organization’s finding that you’re financially eligible for free representation, or a statement that you lack the funds will all work.7eFileTexas.Gov. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure – Rule 502.2(b) Once filed, the clerk must docket your case and issue citation without payment.
Filing for a Business
Justice court is the rare Texas court where a corporation or LLC does not need an attorney. Under Rule 500.4, a business entity can be represented by an employee, owner, officer, or partner who is not a lawyer, and in eviction cases a property manager or other authorized agent can appear on the entity’s behalf.8Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 500.4 The Government Code confirms it plainly: “A corporation need not be represented by an attorney in justice court.”2State of Texas. Texas Government Code 27.031 – Jurisdiction
Service, Answers, and Default Judgments
After you file, the court issues a citation that a constable or private process server delivers to the defendant. Proof of service must be on file for at least three days before the judge can act on the case.9Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 501.3(h) Filings can be submitted in person or electronically through the state e-filing system, which is available for JP courts but not mandatory for non-attorneys.10eFileTexas.Gov. Official E-Filing System for Texas
Once served, a defendant has until the end of the 14th day after service to file a written answer. If that day falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.11Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 502.5(d) Defendants served by publication get 42 days from the date the citation was issued.
If the defendant doesn’t answer, you can request a default judgment. The judge first checks that service was properly completed. On claims based on a signed written document like a contract or promissory note, you can submit a sworn copy and a statement of the amount owed, and the judge can enter judgment without a hearing. For all other claims, you’ll need a hearing where you appear and present evidence of your damages.12Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 503.1
A defendant hit with a default has 14 days from the date the judgment is signed to file a motion to set it aside, showing good cause for missing the deadline; the court must receive the motion and the plaintiff must be served no later than the next business day.13Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 505.3(b) It’s a tight window.
What Happens at Trial
JP trials are less formal than what you see on television. The strict Texas Rules of Evidence do not automatically apply, and the judge can relax or enforce specific rules case by case to keep proceedings fair.14Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 500.3(e) Practically, that gives the judge wide latitude to consider documents, photos, and testimony that a higher court might exclude on technical grounds.
The judge can question witnesses and parties directly and can summon someone not present if that person seems to have important information.15Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 500.6 Either party can ask that witnesses be excluded from the courtroom while others testify.
You have the right to a jury trial in justice court, but you must request it in advance and pay the jury fee. Without a request, the judge decides the case alone and announces the ruling in open court.16Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 505.1(b) The judge may allow appearances by video or phone when appropriate. Bring organized copies of every document you plan to rely on: one for the judge, one for the other side, and one for yourself. A brief, chronological explanation goes a long way. Judges see dozens of cases per session.
Evictions Move Faster
Eviction cases run on a compressed schedule. After the petition is filed, the court issues a citation requiring the tenant to appear for trial no fewer than 10 and no more than 21 days after filing, and the citation must be served at least six days before trial.17Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 510.4
Eviction defendants don’t have to file a written answer within 14 days; they simply have to appear on the trial date, though they may file an answer earlier if they want to. The appeal window after an eviction judgment is only five days, and if no appeal is filed the landlord can request a writ of possession on the sixth day.18Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 510.9(a)
Appealing a Judgment
Losing in JP court is not the end. Either side can appeal to the county court, where the case starts over completely as a new trial (a trial de novo), as if the JP hearing never happened.19Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 506.3
For most civil cases you have 21 days after the judgment is signed to file the appeal (or 21 days after a motion for new trial is denied). To perfect the appeal, you must post a bond, make a cash deposit, or file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. An appealing plaintiff posts a $500 bond; an appealing defendant posts a bond equal to twice the judgment amount.20Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 506.1 On a $10,000 judgment, that’s $20,000 in bond coverage.
Eviction appeals compress everything: only five days to file, with the judge setting the bond amount based on factors including lost rent and potential damages during the appeal.21Texas Judicial Branch. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V – Rule 510.9 The inability-to-pay statement substitutes for the bond in any case type if you can’t afford it.
Collecting on a Judgment
Winning and getting paid are two different things. The court does not collect money for you; it gives you legal tools to pursue the debtor’s assets. Texas currently applies a post-judgment interest rate of 6.75%, which accrues until the debt is satisfied.22Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Interest Rates
The main enforcement tools after a JP judgment are:
- Writ of execution: a court order directing a constable to seize the debtor’s non-exempt personal property and sell it at public auction. It reaches property the debtor currently possesses, not bank accounts or wages.
- Abstract of judgment: filed with the county clerk, this creates a lien against any real property the debtor owns in that county. The lien must be satisfied before the debtor can sell or refinance.
- Writ of garnishment: used to reach money held by a third party, such as funds in a bank account.
Texas has broad personal property exemptions that shield much of a debtor’s belongings, so a writ of execution rarely produces full recovery on its own. For larger judgments, filing an abstract in every county where the debtor owns real estate is often the most effective long-term move, since the lien sits until the property sells or the judgment expires. Many creditors pursue several enforcement methods before they see payment.