A landlord kept your deposit, a contractor walked off the job, a dry cleaner ruined your coat. In Florida you can sue for up to $8,000 in the County Court, Small Claims Division, without hiring a lawyer. Check your case below, then follow six steps.
Answer a few questions. The result updates as you type.
Florida doesn't require a demand letter before you file, though it's a good idea. For a bounced check, a written demand with 30 days to pay is required to claim triple damages. A short, dated demand letter is the best proof. Use the generator below and keep a copy.
File with the county court clerk where the defendant lives, where the contract was made or was to be paid, where the event happened, or where the property is.
Statement of Claim, available from your county clerk. The first court date is a pretrial conference within 50 days of filing; if the case doesn't settle, trial follows within 60 days.
$55 for claims under $100, $80 up to $500, $175 up to $2,500, and $300 up to $8,000. Issuing the summons (about $10 per defendant) and serving it (about $40 by sheriff, or a few dollars by certified mail) cost extra. Amounts vary slightly by county. If you can't afford it, ask for a fee waiver: Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status, usually if household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty line.
The sheriff or a certified process server delivers the Summons/Notice to Appear. For defendants in Florida, the clerk can also send it by certified mail, but only if the defendant signs the receipt. Don't serve the papers yourself. File proof of service at least 5 days before the pretrial conference, and serve everyone within 120 days of filing.
Bring receipts, photos, texts, the contract and your demand letter, with three copies of each. If they don't pay, record the judgment as a lien, ask the clerk for a writ of execution, or garnish wages or bank accounts. The judge can order the debtor to fill out a Fact Information Sheet.
Want every detail? The full filing guide walks you through all 7 stages, from finding the defendant's legal name to collecting your money, with a checklist.
Open the filing guideFill in the details, then download the letter as a PDF or Word file, or copy the text. Send it by certified mail or email so you can prove the date.
Miss this date and the court will dismiss your case, however strong it is. Injury and other negligence claims have had only 2 years since 2023 (it used to be 4).
| Type of claim | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Broken written contract (lease, invoice, signed agreement) | 5 years |
| Broken verbal agreement | 4 years |
| Damaged property | 4 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
| Fraud | 4 years |
| Libel or slander | 2 years |
| Claims against a government agency | Send a written claim to the agency (and the Department of Financial Services, unless it's a city or county) within 3 years, then wait for a denial or 6 months. |
Allowed but not required; most people represent themselves. A business can be represented by an owner, officer, or an employee authorized in writing, but needs a lawyer on appeal.
The limit is $8,000 for people and businesses alike; court costs, interest and attorney's fees don't count toward it. Claims from $8,000 to $50,000 go to regular county civil court. Otherwise, you can give up the amount above the limit, or file a regular civil case where the rules are stricter.
Either side can appeal within 30 days after the judgment. County court appeals go to Florida's District Court of Appeal and follow the appellate rules; a business must use a lawyer on appeal.
Courts provide free interpreters in civil cases only in limited situations. Ask the court's interpreter office early, or plan to bring a qualified interpreter.