All tools · Invoice Chaser

How do I file a small claims case in Florida without a lawyer?

Use the free tool — Invoice Chaser

What Florida small claims court is for

Florida county court small claims handles money disputes up to $8,000, not counting costs, interest and fees, under the Florida Small Claims Rules, Rule 7.010. You can file without a lawyer. This page explains the rules as published — it is not legal advice.

How much you can claim, and what it costs

The limit is $8,000, excluding costs, interest and fees. The filing fee varies by the amount you claim and by county — confirm the exact fee with your county clerk before you file. Free small-claims forms and self-help information for every Florida county are available at Florida Courts Self-Help.

• Rule 7.010 sets the $8,000 limit.
• Forms are free; the filing fee is not — it depends on your claim amount and your county.

Can you add a late fee or interest before you file?

You can charge what your agreement says. If your invoice or contract said nothing about a late fee, you can still ask for one, but you cannot add a fee after the fact. Florida's statutory interest rate on judgments is set every quarter by the Chief Financial Officer under Fla. Stat. 55.03 — but that rate applies to a court judgment, not to an unpaid invoice by itself.

If you're a contractor: check lien deadlines first

If you improved real property, Florida's Construction Lien Law, Fla. Stat. ch. 713, Part I, has strict deadlines that run separately from small claims — a Notice to Owner may be due within 45 days for most subs and suppliers, and a claim of lien may be due within 90 days of your last work. These deadlines do not wait for you to try small claims first. A Florida construction attorney or lien service should confirm the exact date before it passes.

What to do next

Invoice Chaser is not a lawyer or a collection agency and can be wrong. Paste your own invoice details — amount, dates, what the customer said — into the free tool. It reads your numbers and writes the reminder that fits where you are: friendly, firm, or final, in English and Spanish, before you ever have to think about filing. Nothing you paste is stored. For a lien deadline or a large dispute, confirm with a Florida attorney before you rely on anything here.

Invoice Chaser writes collection messages in plain language and explains Florida rules as published; it can be wrong, and it is not legal advice. Lien deadlines under Fla. Stat. ch. 713 are strict — confirm with a Florida construction attorney or lien service. Nothing you paste is stored.