Question 1 of 8. The fee above is the court's; ours is $49 for the paperwork.
- Filing fee
- $55–$300
- Claim limit
- $8,000
- Service per defendant
- $40
- Pay online
- Yes
What Broward County charges to file
Source: Broward County Clerk of Courts, County Civil/Small Claims Division fee schedule
| Your claim | You pay |
|---|---|
| Up to $100 | $55 |
| $100.01 – $500 | $80 |
| $500.01 – $2,500 | $175 |
| $2,500.01 – $8,000 | $300 |
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 954-831-5622 before you file.
The costs that are not the filing fee
Filing is the first charge, not the only one. Broward County also charges:
- Summons issuance: $10
- Additional defendant over five: $2.50
- Service by registered mail small claims per defendant: $9
- Writ garnishment replevin attachment distress: $85
- Garnishment answer: $103
- Reopen small claims under $500: $25
- Reopen small claims over $500: $50
- Foreign judgment writ: $42
- Subpoena issuance: $2
- Record search per year: $2
- Photocopy per page: $1
- Certification per document: $2
None of these are optional once the case is moving, and all of them are recoverable in the judgment if you win. They are simply not quoted at the counter when you ask what it costs to file.
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 954-831-5622 before you file.
What it costs to serve the defendant
Broward County charges $40 per defendant for service. That is on top of the filing fee, and you pay it for each person or business you are suing.
- County sheriff (civil process division)
- Certified process server appointed/approved in the circuit
- Certified mail, where permitted for the case type
Certified mail without complete proof of service will stall the case.
How this clerk takes payment
Broward County Clerk of Courts, County Civil/Small Claims Division accepts:
- Cash (in person)
- Cashier's check or money order payable to Broward County Clerk of Courts
- Attorney's check (trust-account checks must be imprinted 'Trust Account' or 'IOLTA')
- American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa credit cards (ID required in person)
- No personal checks accepted
Filing through Florida Courts E-Filing Portal takes card payment at the time you file.
Common questions
How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Broward County?
$55–$300 to file, depending on how much you are suing for, plus $40 per defendant for service. Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 954-831-5622 before you file.
Can I get the filing fee back if I win?
Court costs, including the filing fee and service, are normally included in the judgment you ask for. Getting them back still depends on collecting the judgment.
What if I cannot afford the filing fee in Broward County?
Courts have a fee-waiver application for filers below an income threshold. Broward County's self-help center can point you at it. We cannot tell you whether you qualify.
How do I pay the Broward County filing fee?
Broward County Clerk of Courts, County Civil/Small Claims Division takes 5 forms of payment, listed above.
The Broward County filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your Broward County filing forms, completed with your claim in the language the court expects
- A demand letter built from the same facts
- A filing checklist with Broward County Clerk of Courts, County Civil/Small Claims Division's address, hours, and the current fee
- What to bring to your hearing
Answer a few questions first. See your claim written out before you pay anything.
Reviewed by Small Claims Desk · Last reviewed 2026-08-20 · Sourced from browardclerk.org - official Broward County Clerk of Courts (County Civil/Small Claims division page, Fees and Costs schedule read in full, and the County Court/Small Claims Information PDF) and Fla. Stat. Ch. 34 (County Courts). See how we verify.