Dougherty County, Georgia: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Dougherty County Magistrate Court in Albany. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claims up to $15,000. Georgia return time: 30 days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $846. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Dougherty County Magistrate Court
City	Albany
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
Small claims limit	$15,000 (statewide)
State deposit return deadline	30 days after the landlord obtains possession of the premises following termination of the tenancy (move-out).
Time limit to sue	4 years
Deposit statute	O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30 through 44-7-37 (Article 2, Chapter 7, Title 44)

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $15,000 (statewide).

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Details of the return rules

Georgia statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
Deposit return	30 days	after the landlord obtains possession of the premises following termination of the tenancy (move-out)

Georgia return rule: 30 days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Dougherty County Magistrate Court. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Dougherty County.
The Georgia business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Georgia Secretary of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Dougherty County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$709	$1,418	$2,127	Fits under the $15,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$846	$1,692	$2,538	Fits under the $15,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,057	$2,114	$3,171	Fits under the $15,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,270	$2,540	$3,810	Fits under the $15,000 limit for this illustrated claim

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Dougherty County compare with other Georgia counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $846: rank 68 of 155 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 53.5% of households rent in Dougherty County.

Dougherty County two-bedroom rent $846, rank 68 of 155 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Elbert County	$853
Oglethorpe County	$850
Dougherty County	$846
Walker County	$842
Peach County	$836
Pierce County	$835

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 155 of 159 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Dougherty County

Albany

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Georgia Legal Services Program: free civil legal help for low-income tenants in 154 Georgia counties outside metro Atlanta (does not serve Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, or Gwinnett), including eviction defense, repairs, and subsidized-housing issues
Urban League of Greater Atlanta: HUD-approved rental counseling to locate affordable rental housing, understand fair-housing rights, resolve landlord-tenant disputes, and report unsafe building conditions

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Dougherty County?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in Dougherty County?

Dougherty County Magistrate Court is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.