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1. What is a county civil case?

A county civil case is a legal action filed in county court to settle minor legal disputes among parties where the dollar amount involved is more than $5,000 but does not exceed $15,000.

2. Who may file a county civil case?

Any person 18 years or older, and any individual doing business as a company, may file a county civil case. Please be aware that there are no forms available at the Clerk's Office for filing county civil lawsuits. If you choose to represent yourself, you will need to prepare the complaint or petition.

If you do not feel comfortable representing yourself, you may wish to obtain the services of an attorney. You may refer to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure for information on filing a county civil case.

3. What is a removal of tenant action and who can file?

A removal of tenant action applies to the rental of non-commercial dwelling units and is an action filed by a landlord against a tenant on common disputes such as payment of rent, non-compliance, or breach of a lease or rental agreement. A landlord (the owner or lessor of a dwelling) may file a removal of tenant action.

If you have commercial, agricultural or personal property lease, you should contact an attorney for the proper procedures to resolve those disputes.

4. What steps must be taken before an eviction can be filed?

Before you can file a removal of tenant action, proper written notice must first be given to the tenant. The form of the notice will depend on the landlord's reason for terminating the lease.

5. When will I go to court?

The party served the summons will have a specific period of time in which to respond, depending on the type of summons issued. If a response is filed and/or moneys deposited into the court registry, the file will be sent to the Judge for further action.

6. What happens when a Final Judgment for Eviction is entered?

If the Court enters a Final Judgment for Eviction against the party, you may ask the Clerk to issue a Writ of Possession. The Writ must be served by the Sheriff's Office. For information on ways to collect on a Final Judgment involving money, the Clerk's Office has available a brochure "How to get your money."

7. After proper written notice, what are the next steps?

Please refer to our Evictions Section.