Scott County, Mississippi: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Scott County Justice Court in Forest. 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 $3,500. Mississippi return time: 45 calendar days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $792. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Scott County Justice Court
City	Forest
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
Small claims limit	$3,500 (Justice Court statewide (Miss. Code § 9-11-9; official courts.ms.gov still lists $3,500) only)
State deposit return deadline	45 calendar days after the termination of the tenancy, the delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant.
Time limit to sue	3 years
Deposit statute	Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21

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: $3,500 (Justice Court statewide (Miss. Code § 9-11-9; official courts.ms.gov still lists $3,500) only).

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Details of the return rules

Mississippi statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
Deposit return	45 days	after the termination of the tenancy, the delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant

Mississippi return rule: 45 calendar days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Scott County Justice 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 Scott County.
The Mississippi business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Mississippi 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 Scott 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	$1,013	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
2	$792	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
3	$929	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
4	$805	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy

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 Scott County compare with other Mississippi counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $792: rank 37 of 85 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 28.1% of households rent in Scott County.

Scott County two-bedroom rent $792, rank 37 of 85 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Panola County	$795
Marion County	$794
Scott County	$792
Amite County	$769
Pontotoc County	$763
Jefferson Davis County	$758

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 85 of 87 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Scott County

Forest
Lake
Morton
Sebastopol

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

Mississippi Center for Legal Services: free civil legal help for eligible low-income people in 43 southern and central Mississippi counties
North Mississippi Rural Legal Services: free civil representation for low-income people in the northern 39 counties of Mississippi

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Scott County?

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

Where do I file a deposit claim in Scott County?

Scott County Justice 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.