Small claims limit in Florida (2026)
The FL ceiling is $8,000, court, filing fee bands, and what to do when your damages are bigger.
| Maximum claim | $8,000 |
| Court | County Court small claims (Florida §3412) |
| Rule source | Fla. Stat. §3412.01 (2023) |
| Verified | Sept 2026, against official court / statute sources |
Florida specifics
$8,000 excluding interest, costs, and attorney fees, the recovery cap is the claim itself.
Fee bands: claims under $1,000 pay roughly $30–75 to file; $1k–5k ≈ $50–150; over $5k ≈ $75–225, plus $10–75 for sheriff service. Fee waivers exist in FL if your income qualifies, ask the clerk.
How a Florida small-claims case runs
- Confirm venue: usually where the defendant lives, where the deal or crash happened, or where the deposit was taken.
- File the statement of claim at the County Court small claims (Florida §3412) clerk window, forms are self-help in most states. Serve the defendant (sheriff or certified mail).
- Hearing 30–90 days out (busy counties 3–6 months). Bring texts, invoices, photos; no lawyer needed in most FL small-claims courts.
- Judgment 1–8 weeks after. Collecting is on you: wage garnishment / bank levy 1–3 months, and small-claims judgments collect ~35–55% face value in practice.
Damages over $8,000? Sue for exactly $8,000 and waive the excess (binding, fastest, cheapest), or take the full claim to limited-civil court with a lawyer. Never split one incident into two cases: claim-splitting gets dismissed.
Frequently asked
What is the small claims limit in Florida?
$8,000 in the County Court small claims (Florida §3412). $8,000 excluding interest, costs, and attorney fees, the recovery cap is the claim itself.
How much does it cost to file in Florida?
Roughly $30–75 for a sub-$1,000 claim, $50–150 for $1k–5k, $75–225 above that, plus service fees. Fee waivers exist income-qualifying filers.
Can a business file small claims in Florida?
Business filers are capped the same as individuals in most states; check the venue line above, some states cap company claims lower.