Who Florida permits to file
Florida allows a small claims case to be brought by:
- Individual 18 years or older
- Partnership (each partner's full name, address, phone required)
- Corporation (full legal business name, address, phone required)
- Parent or guardian on behalf of a minor child
Whoever files has to be the person or entity that actually holds the claim. Suing in your own name over a debt owed to your company — or the reverse — is the kind of defect a defendant raises at the hearing.
In Florida, if the claim is based on a written agreement, a copy must be attached to the claim form when you file.
- Claim limit
- $8,000
- Court
- County Civil Court
- File online
- Yes (statewide)
- Appeal window
- 30 days
The three that catch people out
Can I sue as my LLC or company?
Florida permits it, and the form needs the full registered legal name and address of the entity — not the trading name. Some courts also limit how a company may be represented at the hearing.
Can I sue on behalf of someone else?
A parent or guardian may bring a claim for a minor child in Florida. Otherwise you cannot file for a friend, a relative or a tenant — they file for themselves.
Do I need a lawyer?
No. Small claims exists so that people can represent themselves, and most attorneys will not take a case of this size. That is the whole design of the division.
Common questions
Who can file a small claims case in Florida?
Individual 18 years or older; Partnership (each partner's full name, address, phone required); Corporation (full legal business name, address, phone required); Parent or guardian on behalf of a minor child.
Can an LLC or corporation file small claims in Florida?
Yes. The claim form requires the entity's full legal business name, address and phone.
Can I sue someone in Florida if I live in another state?
Usually yes — what matters is that the court has jurisdiction over the defendant, which normally means suing where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened, not where you live.
Do I need a lawyer to file small claims in Florida?
No. County Civil Court small claims is designed for self-representation.
Pick the county where you would sue
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.