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 Palm Beach County charges to file
Source: Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County - County Civil/Small Claims (County Civil Court) fee schedule
| Your claim | You pay |
|---|---|
| Up to $99.99 | $55 |
| $100 – $500 | $80 |
| $500.01 – $2,500 | $175 |
| $2,500.01 – $8,000 | $300 |
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 561-355-2500 before you file.
The costs that are not the filing fee
Filing is the first charge, not the only one. Palm Beach County also charges:
- Summons issued: $10
- Indexing more than five defendants per name: $2.50
- Service of process by sheriff per defendant: $40
- Attachment distress garnishment replevin: $85
- Replevin with claims under $1000: $130
- Clerks certificate of mailing per mailing: $7
- Reopen under $500: $25
- Reopen over $500: $50
- Witness subpoena prepare sign seal: $7
- Subpoena sign and seal only: $2
- Certification: $2
- Appeal county to circuit: $282
- Bond approval: $8.50
- Crossclaim counterclaim third party up to 15000: $295
- Crossclaim counterclaim third party over $15000: $395
- Court mediation per person per session: $60
- Lis pendens recording first page: $5.60
- Lis pendens recording subsequent page: $4
- Writ of possession payable to sheriff: $90
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 561-355-2500 before you file.
What it costs to serve the defendant
Palm Beach 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
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County - County Civil/Small Claims (County Civil Court) accepts:
- Cash
- Cashier's check, business check, money order, or attorney's check payable to Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County
- Sheriff's service fee: separate check, cashier's check, or money order payable to the Palm Beach County Sheriff
- Credit or debit card via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (portal service fee applies)
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 Palm Beach 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 561-355-2500 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 Palm Beach County?
Courts have a fee-waiver application for filers below an income threshold. Palm Beach County's self-help center can point you at it. We cannot tell you whether you qualify.
How do I pay the Palm Beach County filing fee?
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County - County Civil/Small Claims (County Civil Court) takes 4 forms of payment, listed above.
The Palm Beach County filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your Palm Beach 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 Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County - County Civil/Small Claims (County Civil Court)'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 mypalmbeachclerk.com - official Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County (Small Claims page, County Civil Court Fees schedule read in full, County Civil Court page, and the Main/North/South/West courthouse location pages) and Fla. Stat. Ch. 34 (County Courts). See how we verify.