The magistrate court is Georgia's small claims court. There is one in each county. Each magistrate court has the same jurisdictional authority. Maximum filing and service costs are set by Georgia law. The magistrate court has broad jurisdiction. The court may hear claims that do not exceed $15,000. Within the jurisdictional limit, the court can hear and decide such things as suits on account, damage suits, dispossessory actions, and writs of possession for personal property. Magistrate judges may also issue criminal arrest warrants, good behavior warrants, try county ordinance violations and misdemeanor bad check cases, set bonds for persons arrested on most criminal charges, hold commitment hearings to determine whether criminal matters should be bound over for further action in the court system, cite parties for contempt, and perform marriage ceremonies.