Does someone in Orange County, Florida owe you money or damages? Then you’ll want to consider filing a civil lawsuit to have a judge determine if the accused is legally responsible. In this post, we’ll discuss how to file a civil lawsuit in Orange County, which includes the city of Orlando.
Where to File Your Lawsuit
In Florida, any individual, partnership, or corporation may file a civil suit against any other person, business, or even government entity. To do so, the person filing the suit, referred to as the plaintiff, must first determine which is the appropriate court to file the suit. This determination is solely based on the dollar amount of the claim, as shown below:
Court | Minimum Amount | Maximum Amount |
| Small Claims | $1 | $8,000 |
| County Civil | $8,001 | $30,000 |
| Circuit Civil | $30,001 | No maximum |
Gather Your Paperwork
Once you’ve determined the appropriate court to file your case, you’ll need to get your paperwork in order. First, gather any and all documents you believe prove that the defendant(s) owe you money or property. This may include contracts, receipts, text messages, photographs, videos, social media posts, and more. Leave no stone unturned when gathering this information, as it will form the backbone of your case and hopefully be what sways the judge in your favor.
You will also need to fill out the appropriate court forms to file your case. Once again, this will depend on which court is appropriate to hear your case:
Smalls Claims
For a small claims case of $8,000 or less, you will need to complete a Statement of Claim and Notice to Appear for a Pretrial Conference (we recommend purchasing the Small Claims Packet for $2 from the Orange County Clerk). Once these forms are complete, you may file them along with copies of your evidence online using Florida’s Court E-Filing Portal, via mail (we recommend certified), or in person at the Orlando, Apopka, Ocoee, or Winter Park courthouse locations. If you choose to file the forms online, you will need to register with the E-Filing Portal as a pro se or self-represented litigant. See these helpful YouTube videos for more information.
County and Circuit Civil
While County and Circuit Civil cases can be filed online as a pro se litigant, we don’t recommend trying to handle one of these cases on your own. Florida’s civil laws are complex and confusing, and trying to navigate them without a background in Florida law could lead to expensive trouble. We always recommend finding a reputable attorney to help you with cases of these amounts.
After You File
After you file your civil case in Orange County, the next step is to serve the defendant(s) with the court documents, including a summons, a copy of the complaint, and any other documents that are required. You will also need to serve subpoenas to any witnesses you plan to call. To serve these papers in Florida, you must use either the local Sheriff’s civil division or a certified private process server. We always recommend opting for a private process server, as they offer the speed, efficiency, and attention to detail that you need when trying to recoup losses. For the best process servers in Orange County, contact Accurate Serve® of Orlando at (407) 868-5992 or send us a work request online. We also serve Kissimmee and Lake Mary. Don’t live in the Orange County area? We have offices all over Florida and nationwide!
