How to file small claims in Florida
Sue for up to $8,000 in the County Court (small-claims division); filing fee around $300.
Florida county courts hear small claims up to $8,000 under simplified Small Claims Rules, including a required pretrial conference to encourage settlement.
- Dollar limit: $8,000 — $8,000 (exclusive of costs, interest, and attorney's fees) in the county-court small-claims division.
- Filing fee: $300 — Tiered by amount: about $55 (≤$100), $80 ($100–$500), $175 ($500–$2,500), $300 ($2,500–$8,000), plus service.
- Where to file: County Court (small-claims division)
- Lawyers at the hearing: allowed
- Confirm your claim is at or under the dollar limit and within the statute of limitations for your claim type.
- Send a written demand letter first — most courts expect it, and it often gets you paid without filing.
- Get the correct filing form (often a "Statement of Claim" or "Plaintiff's Claim") from the County Court clerk or the court's website.
- File the form with the County Court for the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened, and pay the filing fee.
- Arrange service of process so the defendant is officially notified (by the sheriff, certified mail, or a process server, per local rules).
- Gather your evidence — contract, texts, photos, receipts, the demand letter — and bring organized copies to your hearing.
- Show up on your court date and present your case; if you win, ask the judge how to collect the judgment.
- Florida small claims run under the Small Claims Rules, which require a pretrial conference where the judge pushes the parties to settle.
What are you suing for?
Source: Fla. Stat. § 34.01; Fla. Sm. Cl. R. 7.010. Reviewed 2026-06-17.
Nearby states: Georgia ($15,000) · Alabama ($6,000).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026