- Claim limit
- $8,000
- Court
- County Civil Court
- File online
- Yes (statewide)
- Appeal window
- 30 days
Common questions
Step 1 — Which court do I file in?
Florida small claims cases go to County Civil Court in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose. Pick your county below.
Step 2 — What form do I file?
Your county's claim form (Statement of Claim, Complaint, or Petition). We complete it with your claim in the language the court expects.
Step 3 — What does it cost?
A filing fee set by your county, plus a small service fee. Your county page shows the current amounts.
Step 4 — How is the defendant served?
The filer. Clerks in Florida do not arrange service.
Step 5 — What happens at the hearing?
Florida uses a Pretrial Conference first. Bring your documents and be ready to explain what happened. We give you a checklist of what to bring.
Serving the defendant
The filer. Clerks in Florida do not arrange service.
- 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.
Pick your county to start
Small claims is filed at the county level. Pick your county for its court, fee, and forms — or start your claim and we'll ask where you'd sue.
Start my claimYour small claims filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your court's own forms, with your claim written in the language the court expects
- A demand letter built from the same facts
- A filing checklist with your court's address, hours, and 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 2026-08-17 · Sourced from Florida judiciary self-help resources and each county's clerk of court and Fla. Stat. Ch. 34 (County Courts). See how we verify.