Florida runs one of the largest state court systems in the country, and nearly every legal errand starts at a courthouse in one of its 67 counties. That includes paying a ticket, filing for divorce, contesting a small debt, or pulling a case file. This page lists courts across the state, from the Dade County Circuit Court on West Flagler Street in Miami to the Holmes County Court on North Oklahoma Street in Bonifay. The notes below explain who runs these offices, how big-city and small-town courthouses differ, and how to reach the right counter on your first try.

How the Florida Court System Is Organized

Article V of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes set up four levels of courts. The Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee sits at the top. Six district courts of appeal review decisions from trial courts in their regions. Most residents deal only with the two trial levels: circuit courts and county courts.

Trial courts are grouped into 20 judicial circuits. Each circuit covers one or more counties and is led by a chief judge. The chief judge assigns judges to divisions and issues administrative orders that set local procedures. Every one of the 67 counties also has its own county court. The Office of the State Courts Administrator in Tallahassee supports the whole system under the direction of the Supreme Court.

Circuit Court and County Court: Who Hears What

The split matters, because filing in the wrong court costs you time. Circuit courts hear felonies, civil disputes above $50,000, divorce and other family law, probate, guardianship, juvenile cases, and appeals from county court. County courts hear misdemeanors, traffic infractions, civil disputes up to $50,000, and landlord-tenant cases such as evictions. Small claims, the simplified process for amounts up to $8,000, also belongs to county court. Dollar limits have changed over the years, so confirm the current figure with the clerk before you file.

The Clerk of Court Is Your Front Counter

Judges decide cases, but the clerk's office is where the paperwork happens. Each county elects a Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. This constitutional officer accepts filings, issues summonses, collects fees and fines, and keeps the official record. Clerks cannot give legal advice. They can tell you which form is required, what a filing costs, and which building holds your hearing. Many clerks also run online payment systems and case search tools, so a ten-minute web check can replace a trip downtown.

Metro Courthouses and Rural County Seats in Florida

Courthouses look very different depending on where you are in the state. In large metro counties, court business is spread across several buildings and divided by case type. In rural counties, one courthouse often handles everything.

Big-City Courthouses

In Miami, the Dade County Circuit Court at 73 West Flagler Street (305-349-7020) anchors the downtown court district for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Our Miami-Dade County page covers the other locations in that county. In Tampa, the Hillsborough County Circuit Court sits at 800 East Twiggs Street (813-272-5894) in the Thirteenth Circuit, and the Hillsborough County page lists more. Jacksonville has a combined city-county government. Its Jacksonville Traffic Court is at 501 West Adams Street (904-255-2000), and related offices appear on the Duval County page.

Pinellas County divides court operations between St. Petersburg and Clearwater. The Clearwater Historic County Court at 324 South Fort Harrison Avenue (727-464-3034) is one of several Clearwater listings, and the Pinellas County page shows the rest. Farther down the Gulf Coast, the Sarasota County Justice Center is at 2071 Ringling Boulevard (941-861-7800). The Manatee Circuit Court is at 1051 Manatee Avenue West in Bradenton (941-749-3600). Both counties belong to the Twelfth Circuit.

In a metro county, check the building before you leave home. Traffic, family, criminal, and civil matters are often heard in different locations, sometimes miles apart. Leon County is a good example. The Leon County Traffic Court is at 1920 Thomasville Road in Tallahassee (850-577-4100), well away from the downtown courthouse district where the Supreme Court sits.

Small-County Courthouses

Rural Florida works at a different pace. The Calhoun County Court in Blountstown (20859 Central Avenue East, 850-674-4545), the Holmes County Court in Bonifay (201 North Oklahoma Street, 850-547-1100), and the Franklin County Circuit Court in Apalachicola (33 Market Street, 850-653-2167) each serve a small population from a single courthouse. Staff are few and hours are tight. Some hearings are held only on set days when the assigned judge is in town. The Liberty County Circuit Court is on Northwest State Road 20 in Bristol (850-643-2215), so confirm the address before you drive.

Call ahead. In a small county, a call to the clerk usually reaches someone who knows how local cases move. In a metro county you may start with an automated menu, so have your case number ready before you dial.

Matching Your Errand to the Right Florida Court

Use this list as a starting point, then confirm details with your county clerk:

Preparing for a Florida Courthouse Visit

Bring a government photo ID, your case number, and every notice you received. Florida courthouses screen visitors at the door, much like an airport. Leave knives, tools, and anything resembling a weapon in the car, and allow extra time on the morning of a hearing for the line. Dress as you would for a job interview.

Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Garages near the Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville courthouses fill quickly, and parking fees are rarely refunded. If you cannot attend, contact the clerk or the judge's office before the hearing date. A missed appearance can bring a default judgment in a civil case or a warrant in a criminal one.

Many Florida courts also hold hearings by video. Your notice of hearing or the judge's page on the circuit website explains how to join, and you should test your connection the day before. Each circuit has an ADA coordinator, so you can request an accommodation ahead of time. Courts provide interpreters in criminal proceedings and many other matters, but ask as early as possible.

Attorneys must file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Self-represented litigants may use it as well or file on paper at the clerk's counter, depending on local practice. Most court records are public under Florida's rules of judicial administration, though some cases, such as adoptions and juvenile matters, are confidential.

Courts in Florida operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Florida Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 100 cities across Florida. They are spread across 67 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Clearwater, Miami, Tallahassee, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Florida should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of Florida who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Florida to find the nearest location.

Where Florida Court Listings Cluster, From the Panhandle to the Keys

Court locations follow population and county lines. On the Gulf Coast, Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton, and Sarasota hold the densest concentrations. The Sarasota County listings include the Justice Center on Ringling Boulevard, while Fort Myers adds the Lee County Court at 1700 Monroe Street (239-533-1700). On the Atlantic side, Broward County Circuit Court is at 201 Southeast 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale (954-831-6332). The Daytona Beach County Court is at 125 Orange Avenue (386-247-6084), and the Fort Pierce County Court is at 218 South 2nd Street (772-462-6957).

The Florida Keys are a special case. The Monroe County court listings are spread along a chain of islands connected by a single highway. A trip from one end of the county to the other can take hours, so check which location handles your hearing before you set out.

The Panhandle and Big Bend have many small counties. Towns such as Chipley, Crawfordville, DeFuniak Springs, and Brooksville each hold a courthouse that serves a wide rural area. Examples include the Washington County Court at 1293 Jackson Avenue in Chipley (850-638-6396) and the Wakulla County Circuit Court at 3056 Crawfordville Highway (850-926-0917). Plan for longer drives, and call before you go.

Florida Court Questions Answered

A Florida uniform traffic citation generally gives you 30 days to act. You can pay the fine, which counts as admitting the infraction, elect to attend a basic driver improvement course if you are eligible, or request a hearing before a county court judge. Most clerks accept payment online or by mail, and the citation names the county clerk to contact. Paying a moving violation usually adds points to your license through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Missing the deadline can lead to a license suspension and added costs, so act before day 30. Criminal traffic offenses such as DUI require a court appearance.

Florida small claims covers disputes up to $8,000, not counting interest, costs, and attorney fees. These cases are filed in county court, usually in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. You file a statement of claim with the clerk, pay the filing fee, and arrange for the summons to be served. A pretrial conference comes first, and judges often encourage the parties to settle. Lawyers are allowed but not required. If your claim is over $8,000 but under $50,000, it goes on the county court's regular civil docket, which follows more formal rules and deadlines.

Florida's 20 circuits follow county lines. Miami-Dade is the Eleventh, Hillsborough the Thirteenth, Duval the Fourth, Orange the Ninth, Palm Beach the Fifteenth, and Broward the Seventeenth. Monroe County, which covers the Keys, is the Sixteenth. Pinellas and Pasco together form the Sixth, while Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto share the Twelfth. Leon, Franklin, Wakulla, and Liberty belong to the Second. Knowing your circuit helps because each chief judge issues administrative orders that set local rules for case management, remote hearings, and similar procedures. The Florida courts website offers a circuit lookup by county.

Not always. Florida allows you to represent yourself in most civil, family, and small claims cases, and judges see many self-represented litigants. Businesses generally need a lawyer in court, with limited exceptions in small claims. Many circuits run self-help centers or family law help desks, where staff explain procedures and supply the family law forms approved by the Florida Supreme Court. For legal advice, contact The Florida Bar's lawyer referral service or a local legal aid organization. In criminal cases, if you face possible jail time and cannot afford counsel, the court appoints a public defender to represent you.

Often, yes. Each county clerk maintains a case search portal, and many show dockets, hearing dates, and filed documents for civil, traffic, and criminal cases. Florida treats court records as public under Rule 2.420 of the Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration. Certain records are confidential, including adoptions, juvenile dependency matters, sealed cases, and some personal identifiers. Document images may be limited online while remaining available at the clerk's counter. Certified copies carry a fee set by statute and come from the clerk in the county where the case was filed.

Florida clerks accept an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status. You complete it under oath, listing income and assets, and the clerk reviews it against statutory guidelines tied to the federal poverty level. If approved, you may be able to defer or waive certain filing and service costs in civil cases. Filing for a domestic violence injunction carries no fee. Ask the clerk's office or the courthouse self-help center for the form before you pay anything. Approval is not automatic, so bring proof of income such as pay stubs or benefit letters.