Florida Small Claims Court Duval County

Duval County Small Claims Court Location and Structure

Duval County covers Jacksonville and its surrounding communities, operating under the 4th Judicial Circuit. Small claims cases are heard in the County Court, Civil Division, at the Duval County Courthouse in downtown Jacksonville. Your summons will specify the exact courtroom and division assignment.

Like every Florida county, Duval follows the statewide Small Claims Rules (7.010 et seq.) with a $8,000 cap on claims, excluding court costs, interest, and attorney fees. The simplified procedures mean no formal discovery, no mandatory written answer, and a faster timeline from service to resolution.

Pretrial Conference: Your First Deadline

The pretrial conference is scheduled within 50 days of the lawsuit filing date. This is the deadline that matters most for defendants. Missing it can trigger a default. Under Rule 7.170(a), the judge or clerk may enter a default against the absent defendant; the court can then proceed to a default final judgment. If damages are unliquidated, the court holds a proof-of-damages hearing.

You do not need to file a written answer to attend the pretrial conference. Rule 7.090(c) makes written pleadings optional in small claims. Your mandatory obligation is physical or virtual attendance. If you do file a written response, it does not excuse you from appearing.

At the pretrial conference, the court takes roll call, confirms jurisdiction, identifies the disputed issues, and directs the parties to mandatory mediation. Witnesses are not needed at this stage — save them for trial.

Counterclaims and Jury Demands

If you have a monetary claim against the plaintiff from the same transaction, you must file it as a counterclaim at least 5 days before the pretrial conference. Compulsory counterclaims that are not timely filed are permanently waived under Rule 7.100.

A jury trial demand must be filed within 5 days of service or raised at the pretrial conference under Rule 7.150. Most small claims cases proceed as nonjury bench trials, but the right exists if you exercise it on time.

Filing fees for counterclaims follow the statewide schedule: $55 for claims up to $100, $80 for claims up to $500, $175 for claims up to $2,500, and $300 for claims between $2,500.01 and $8,000.

E-Filing and Document Submission

Duval County self-represented litigants can file electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com). Register as a self-represented litigant, upload your documents, and monitor your email for clerk acceptance notifications. Submission does not equal acceptance — the clerk may reject filings that do not comply with formatting or privacy requirements.

Redact all Social Security numbers, full financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, and complete birth dates before uploading any document.

Evidence Preparation

Organize three copies of all evidence: one for the judge, one for the opposing party, one for your own reference. Include contracts, invoices, photos, text messages, and any written communication relevant to the dispute.

If mediation at the pretrial conference does not resolve the case, the court sets a trial within 60 days. At trial, the judge hears testimony and examines evidence under the simplified small claims evidentiary framework.

Getting Started

For a detailed walkthrough of the entire defendant process in Florida small claims court — from decoding the summons through preparing your defense — the Florida Small Claims Response Guide covers each step.

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