Rutherford County, Tennessee: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Rutherford County General Sessions Court, Civil Division in Murfreesboro. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: see the fee table. Claims up to $25,000. Tennessee return time: no fixed deadline or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,315. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Rutherford County General Sessions Court, Civil Division
City	Murfreesboro
County filing fee	$50 statutory clerk filing fee for a civil warrant, plus applicable litigation taxes and service costs. The county court links its current fee sheet at https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/general-sessions
E-filing	No
Small claims limit	$25,000 (General Sessions Court (statewide civil jurisdiction limit commonly used for deposit suits) only)
State deposit return deadline	No fixed statutory deadline (landlord must send notification of any refund due to last known or reasonably determinable address after tenant leaves not owing rent); landlord must send notification of any refund due to last known or reasonably determinable address after tenant leaves not owing rent. Applies when: no fixed statutory number of days to return the deposit itself; statute requires notification of refund amount but does not set a calendar return deadline. 60 calendar days after landlord sends notification of refund amount due. Applies when: if tenant does not respond, landlord may remove and retain the deposit free of tenant claims (unclaimed funds rule, not a return deadline). 30 calendar days after tenant vacated or abandoned the premises. Applies when: outer limit for landlord to discover and recover costs of additional physical damages after inspection (or 7 days after a new tenant takes possession, if earlier). 7 calendar days after a new tenant takes possession. Applies when: alternate outer limit for discovering additional physical damages after inspection (whichever of 30 days after vacate or 7 days after new possession is earlier).
Time limit to sue	6 years
Deposit statute	Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301

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: $25,000 (General Sessions Court (statewide civil jurisdiction limit commonly used for deposit suits) only).

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Details of the return rules

Tennessee statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from

Tennessee return rule: No fixed statutory deadline (landlord must send notification of any refund due to last known or reasonably determinable address after tenant leaves not owing rent). Check the dates you entered above.

Scope: The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, including § 66-28-301, applies only in counties with a population over 75,000 under the 2010 federal census (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-102). Outside the listed counties, use the legal help resources below to check the rule that applies to your rental.

Court listed for this county: Rutherford County General Sessions Court, Civil Division. 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 Rutherford County.
The Tennessee business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Tennessee Secretary of State

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

Listed filing or service charges: $50 statutory clerk filing fee for a civil warrant, plus applicable litigation taxes and service costs. The county court links its current fee sheet at https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/general-sessions

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 Rutherford 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	$1,161	$0	$1,161	Fits under the $25,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$1,315	$0	$1,315	Fits under the $25,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,673	$0	$1,673	Fits under the $25,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,921	$0	$1,921	Fits under the $25,000 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 Rutherford County compare with other Tennessee counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,315: rank 2 of 5 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 35% of households rent in Rutherford County.

Rutherford County two-bedroom rent $1,315, rank 2 of 5 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Davidson County	$1,473
Rutherford County	$1,315
Knox County	$1,205
Hamilton County	$1,139
Shelby County	$1,106

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 5 of 5 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Rutherford County

Eagleville
La Vergne
Murfreesboro
Smyrna

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

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands: Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents in 48 counties, including housing matters. County list from the nonprofit Immigration Advocates Network directory; statewide intake phone and free housing assistance corroborated by WomensLaw.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Rutherford County?

County filing fee: $50 statutory clerk filing fee for a civil warrant, plus applicable litigation taxes and service costs. The county court links its current fee sheet at https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/general-sessions.

Where do I file a deposit claim in Rutherford County?

Rutherford County General Sessions Court, Civil Division 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.