Florida Small Claims Rules permit the Clerk to provide you with general information and assistance in preparing a statement of claim and other documents needed to be filed in the action. The Clerk’s Office will provide you with the necessary forms and instructions to file your claim.

Please note Florida law prohibits the Clerk from providing legal or financial advice. We will otherwise do our best to assist you in every way possible or direct you to a resource that can provide you with the information or assistance needed.

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• You may be an individual, a person Doing Business As (DBA) or a corporation
• A minor child must have a parent or legal guardian file on their behalf

Generally, your case must be filed in the county where the contract was entered into, property to be recovered is located, action occurred or where one or more of the defendants sued resides.

The forms and documents you will need to complete or provide to file your Small Claim are:

• Statement of Claim (provided by the Clerk)
• Documents relating to your case such as:
• Receipts
• Contracts
• Invoices
• Photographs
• Law enforcement reports
• Promissory Notes

For all documents that you file to open your case, you must provide a copy for each defendant. The original document is maintained in the court file.

Small Claims less than $100 - $55.00

Small Claims $100.00 - $500 - $80.00

Small Claims $500.01 to $2500 - $175.00

Small Claims $2500.01 to $5000 - $300.00

Garnishment, Replevin, Attachment, Distress, in addition to the above filing fee - $85.00

Copies of your claim and other related documents must be provided to all defendants named in your case. You have the following options to serve your court documents:

• Summons/Notice to Appear



• Certified Mail/Return Receipt (Current rates apply and are subject to postal increases.)



• Pasco County Sheriff service fee per defendant (Out of Pasco County service costs will vary from county to county.)

• Payment for Clerk’s filing fees or other services may be submitted in cash, personal in state check with proper identification, in state business check, money order, bank check, Visa or Master Card. All payments for fees and costs must be remitted in US currency.
  
  DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL
  
  Checks for filing fees must be made payable to:
  
  Jed Pittman, Clerk of Circuit Court



• Checks for Sheriff’s service must be made payable to:
  
  Pasco County Sheriff OR to the Sheriff of the County where the defendant(s) is (are) to be served. Some Sheriff’s Offices will not accept a personal check. You should contact the appropriate county prior to filing your case.
  
  DO NOT BRING CASH FOR THE SHERIFF.

DADE CITY	NEW PORT RICHEY
Jed Pittman Clerk of the Circuit Court 38053 Live Oak Avenue Room 205 Dade City, FL 33523-3894 (352) 521-4448 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday Directions	Jed Pittman Clerk of the Circuit Court Mailing Address PO Drawer 338 New Port Richey, FL 34656-0338 Physical Location: 7530 Little Road Room 105 New Port Richey, FL 34654 (727) 847-8176 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday Directions