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

Listed court is Stephens County Magistrate Court in Toccoa. 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: $772. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Stephens County Magistrate Court
City	Toccoa
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: Stephens 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 Stephens 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 Stephens 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	$451	$902	$1,353	Fits under the $15,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$772	$1,544	$2,316	Fits under the $15,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$919	$1,838	$2,757	Fits under the $15,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,300	$2,600	$3,900	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 Stephens County compare with other Georgia counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $772: rank 91 of 155 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 27.9% of households rent in Stephens County.

Stephens County two-bedroom rent $772, rank 91 of 155 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Brooks County	$779
Colquitt County	$778
Stephens County	$772
Dodge County	$766
Upson County	$756
Cook County	$755

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 Stephens County

Avalon
Martin
Toccoa

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 Stephens County?

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

Where do I file a deposit claim in Stephens County?

Stephens 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.