Miami-Dade Small Claims Court

Filing in Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County small claims cases are heard in the County Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit. The small claims division handles disputes up to $8,000, the same statewide cap under Fla. Stat. § 34.01.

You can file in person at the Clerk of the Circuit Court or electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com). Miami-Dade's clerk also accepts filings by mail.

The main self-help resource for pro se filers is located in Room 06.240 of the Osvaldo N. Soto Justice Center, which offers guidance on small claims procedures and the forms you need to get started.

Local Forms and Requirements

The statewide Civil Cover Sheet (Form 1.997) is not required for small-claims cases. The Miami-Dade Clerk provides a Small Claims Statement of Claim; its separate Small Claims Block Filing Cover Sheet is for block filings. Form 7.322 is the summons/notice to appear, while Form 7.323 is the pretrial conference order and notice of trial.

At the pretrial conference, settlement is considered and mediation may take place; Florida does not require mediation in every small-claims case.

All documents filed electronically must comply with Florida's privacy rules — redact Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and full birth dates before uploading.

Filing Fees

Miami-Dade uses the same statewide fee schedule:

On top of the filing fee: $10 per summons, plus service costs. If you use the E-Filing Portal, expect a 3.5% credit card surcharge or $5.00 for e-check.

Miami-Dade's clerk also offers free consumer protection information sessions through the Office of Consumer Protection — useful for understanding whether your dispute qualifies before you spend the filing fee.

Service of Process in Miami-Dade

Three options for serving the defendant:

• Miami-Dade County Sheriff — $40 per defendant, personal service by a deputy
• Certified process server — private, often faster, fees vary
• Clerk's certified mail — available for Florida residents; the return receipt may be signed by the defendant or someone authorized to receive mail at the defendant's residence or principal place of business

Initial process and the initial pleading must be served within 120 days after filing. If you need more time, request it before the period expires; the rule provides an additional 120 days.

For business defendants, verify the entity's registered agent on Sunbiz (search.sunbiz.org) before requesting service. Miami-Dade has a high concentration of LLCs and corporations — listing a trade name instead of the legal entity name is the most common filing error the clerk sees.

The Pretrial Conference

After filing, the clerk schedules a pretrial conference no more than 50 days later. Both parties appear to discuss resolution; the case may be referred to a mediator.

If the case settles at mediation, the agreement must be written as a stipulation. If no agreement is reached, the court must set a trial date within 60 days after the pretrial conference. The pretrial conference is not a trial — don't bring witnesses. Bring your documents: the contract, invoices, photos, and a summary of what you're owed.

Venue Considerations

You can file in Miami-Dade if the defendant lives in the county, if the dispute happened here (the contract was broken or the damage occurred in Miami-Dade), or if the property at issue is located here.

If both parties live in Miami-Dade but the incident happened in Broward, you can still file in Miami-Dade under the defendant's residence. But if you file in the wrong county, the defendant can file a motion to transfer and you lose time without a refund on fees.

For the full Miami-Dade filing process — from the local cover sheet through the hearing and enforcement — our Florida Small Claims Filing Guide covers all 67 Florida counties with the specific forms, fees, and deadlines each clerk requires.

See more Florida guides →