Duval County Small Claims Court
Filing in Duval County
Duval County small claims cases are heard in the County Court of the 4th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Clay and Nassau counties. The Duval County Courthouse in downtown Jacksonville handles small claims filings.
The small claims division covers disputes up to $8,000 under Fla. Stat. § 34.01. You can file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) or in person at the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
One detail specific to Duval: the clerk's filing packet requires the original Statement of Claim plus three copies per defendant. If you're filing in person, bring extras — the clerk won't make copies for you.
Filing Fees
Duval County follows the statewide fee schedule:
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $100 | $55 |
| $100 – $500 | $80 |
| $500.01 – $2,500 | $175 |
| $2,500.01 – $8,000 | $300 |
Add $10 per summons and service costs. E-filing charges 3.5% for credit card or $5.00 for e-check.
If you can't afford the fees, apply for civil indigent status under Fla. Stat. § 57.082. Approval waives filing fees, summons fees, and Sheriff service costs.
Service of Process
Three options to serve the defendant:
- Duval County Sheriff — $40 per defendant for personal service
- Certified process server — private servers charge $45 to $85
- Clerk's certified mail — available for defendants living in Duval County; the defendant or someone authorized to receive mail at the defendant's residence or principal place of business must sign the return receipt
You cannot serve the defendant yourself. After service, the Return of Service must be filed with the clerk before the pretrial conference. Rule 7.070(b) sets a 120-day initial service period; if you request extra time before it expires, the rule provides another 120 days.
Duval County publishes explicit instructions on copy requirements for each service method. For Sheriff service, you'll need one original plus copies for each defendant. For certified mail, the clerk handles the mailing but still needs the correct number of copies on file.
For business defendants, verify the legal entity name and registered agent on Sunbiz (search.sunbiz.org). Jacksonville has a large military, logistics, and construction economy — disputes with contractors and service companies are among the most common filings.
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The Pretrial Conference
The clerk schedules a pretrial conference within 50 days of filing. Both parties must appear.
This is a mediation session, not the trial. Bring your documents (contract, invoices, photos, damage summary) but leave witnesses at home. Any agreement reached at mediation must be in a written stipulation; the court may enter the stipulation as an order. If mediation fails, the court sets a trial within 60 days.
If the defendant doesn't appear, the clerk enters a default. For liquidated claims, the judge enters a default final judgment immediately.
Venue
File in Duval County if the defendant resides here, the breach or damage occurred here, or the property is located here. The 4th Circuit also covers Clay and Nassau — make sure you file with the Duval County Clerk specifically, since each county in the circuit maintains its own docket.
For the full Duval County filing process — from the demand letter through the hearing and collecting a judgment — our Florida Small Claims Filing Guide covers all 67 Florida counties step by step.
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