Florida small claims — filing a claim

About this state

Florida small claims are filed in County Court under the Small Claims Rules. A distinctive feature is the pretrial conference: your first court date is usually not the trial.

• Expect a pretrial conference first — attendance is mandatory and missing it can end your case.
• Judges commonly refer cases to mediation at the pretrial conference, and many settle there.
• You must file in the county where the defendant lives, where the events happened, or where the contract was signed.
• Ask the clerk about the Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status if you cannot afford the fees.