Small Claims Court in Hillborough County

In Hillsborough County, FL small claims cases are filed in Civil Court. Hillsborough County has 4 Civil Courthouses that handle small claims, serving different jurisdictions.

Squabble is here to assist you in navigating the small claims court system and filing a claim with ease. We recognize that not everyone is a legal expert, and our goal is to simplify the process for you. This guide will answer your questions about filing claims in the Hillsborough Court System.

Small Claims

In Hillsborough County, FL Small Claim if you're trying to recover less than $8,000, your case will fall into the small claims category. These cases are handled differently from those involving amounts between $8,000 and $50,000. To start, you'll need to fill out some paperwork detailing your case.

The Clerk will then issue a summons to the defendant—the person you believe owes you money. This summons, along with your complaint, will be delivered to the defendant by certified mail, a sheriff, or a process server. After the defendant has been served, a pre-trial hearing will be scheduled within 50 days. At this hearing, the judge might decide the case right then and there or might send it to mediation to work things out.

Cases Handled in Small Claims Court

Small Claims Court deals with a range of disputes, including:

• Breach of written or verbal contracts
• Recovery of down payments
• Property damage from car accidents
• Loss or damage to personal property
• Complaints about defective products or substandard services
• Payment issues for services rendered
• Claims related to bounced checks
• Unpaid rent disputes
• Recovery of a tenant’s security deposit

Serving Summons, Subpoenas

Service of Documents

Before any legal action can proceed in court, legal documents such as summons, complaints, subpoenas, orders to show cause, writs, or notices to vacate must be properly served. There are two main types of service of process: enforceable and unenforceable. In Florida, the local sheriff’s office is responsible for serving all enforceable civil processes. In Hillsborough County, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office handles the following:

• State Witness Subpoenas – Issued by the State Attorney’s Office or Public Defender’s Office
• Writ of Garnishment – From government entities only
• Writ of Replevin
• Writ of Possession
• Levy / Judgments
• Child Custody Pick-Up Orders
• Injunctions for Protection Against Repeat Violence
• Baker Act & Marchman Orders – Issued by the Court
• Any Other Process Issued by a Government Entity

Sheriff's fees for serving these documents are fixed and non-refundable. For questions about the process or service times, you can reach the sheriff’s office at (813) 242-5220 or visit their website for more information.

If you need to serve a non-enforceable civil summons or subpoena, either as a private citizen or an attorney, you'll need to hire a private process server. Private process servers deliver legal documents to individuals or businesses and work with the petitioner (plaintiff) to ensure the proper documents are served. Costs for routine service typically range from $20 to $100, depending on the service provider.

If you need to serve a summons, subpoena, or other papers to someone but don't know their current address, you can try the following:

• Serve at Their Workplace: If you know where the person works, you can have the documents served there.
• Hire a Private Process Server: Private process servers often have resources and tools to locate someone's current address.
• Check Property Records: Look up property records to see if the person owns any property and serve them at that address.

You cannot serve a summons, subpoena, or other legal documents yourself unless you are a certified private process server or a Hillsborough County Deputy Sheriff. Additionally, if you are a party to the case, you are not permitted to serve the papers, regardless of your qualifications.

If you need to serve civil proceedings to a defendant outside of Hillsborough County or Florida, you'll need to reach out to a civil process server or the sheriff's office in the county where the defendant is located. You can find these services by searching online for "process server" along with the state or county where the defendant resides.

Payments for Certified Process Server applications and renewals can be made at the Clerk's downtown Tampa office located at 800 E Twiggs Street, Customer Service Center, Room 101. You can also mail payments to PO Box 3360, Tampa, FL 33601. The Clerk accepts major credit cards, checks, or money orders made payable to the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court.

Pretrial Hearing

A pretrial hearing is conducted only for small claims cases (under $8,000). The main goals of this hearing are to briefly discuss the issues in the case and to decide if it can be settled immediately, if it needs to be rescheduled for a trial at a later date, or if it should be referred to mediation.

Mediation

If a judge refers your case to mediation, a mediator will listen to both sides to try to reach a resolution. It’s important to attend the mediation if ordered by the judge, as failing to do so could result in further court actions against you. If mediation doesn’t resolve the case, it will be sent back to the judge for a final hearing.

Mediation without a Lawsuit

Mediation and Diversion Services offers mediation for the community within the 13th Judicial Circuit, but this service is typically used before filing a case in court. If you’ve already filed a lawsuit, the court might still order mediation, and fees could be assessed. For more information, you can call (813) 272-5642.

Judge

When a judgment is signed, copies are sent to all parties involved at their last known address listed in the court file. If you have moved and haven’t updated your address with the court, you might not receive notice of the judgment.

Interest on all judgments is charged at a rate set by the Florida Department of Financial Services. Each year, on December 1st, the Chief Financial Officer determines the interest rate for judgments and decrees, which will be applicable for the following year starting January 1st.

Pay a Judgment

To pay a judgment, you must pay the full amount of the judgment plus interest at the legal rate from the date the judgment was signed. This payment should be made to the plaintiff or their attorney. If you cannot locate the plaintiff or their attorney, you can deposit the full amount with the Clerk’s office. The Clerk will then prepare a Satisfaction of Judgment once you’ve paid the applicable statutory fees.

Reschedule Hearing

Contact the attorney, if there is one in the case, and see if he/she will agree to the continuance. If not, you may file a request for continuance with the Clerk's Office for review by the judge.

Fees

Here are the fees for various types of claims and legal proceedings:

• Claims under $100.00: $55.00
• Claims of $100.00 to $500.00: $80.00
• Claims of $500.01 to $2,500.00: $175.00
• Claims of $2,500.01 to $15,000.00: $300.00
• Claims of $15,000.01 to $50,000.00: $400.00
• Equity, injunctive relief, abandoned property, enforcement of lien, declaratory judgment, unlawful detainer, and foreclosure: $400.00
• Eviction of a tenant: $185.00
• Replevin lawsuit with simultaneous claims not exceeding $1,000.00: $130.00
• Proceedings for garnishment, attachment, replevin, and distress: $85.00 each
• Additional charge for each defendant over 5: $2.50 per defendant
• List Pendens and related documents (first page): $5.00
• Each additional page of Lis Pendens: $4.00
• Fees for re-opening lawsuits:
  • (A) For County Court claims up to $500.00: $25.00
  • (B) For County Court claims over $500.00: $50.00
  • (C) Non-monetary cases: $50.00
• Attorney appearing Pro Hac Vice: $100.00
• Cross-claim, Counter-claim, or Third Party Complaint for $2,500 to $15,000: $295.00
• Cross-claim, Counter-claim, or Third Party Complaint over $15,000: $395.00 Issuing a Summons (Initial, Alias, and Pluries): $10.00

Let Squabble Help You With Your Small Claim at Hillsborough County

Don't allow the intricacies of the legal system to discourage you from pursuing justice and compensation for your claim. With Squabble, you have a dedicated partner to streamline the process and guide you toward resolution. Whether you're contemplating filing a claim at Hillsborough County small claims court, Squabble is here to support you at every stage. Reach out to us today to commence your journey toward justice and compensation. Get started today and become one of the 95% of our customers who won or settled their case.

Courthouse Locations:

1. Edgecomb Courthouse

   800 E Twiggs Street, Room 101
   Tampa, FL 33602
   (813) 276-8100
   https://www.fljud13.org/CourthouseDirections.aspx

   BUILDING HOURS

   • Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 5:00PM, except court holidays.

2. Pat Collier Frank Courthouse

   419 Pierce Street
   Tampa, FL 33602
   (813) 276-8100
   https://www.hillsclerk.com/About-Us

   BUILDING HOURS

   • Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 5:00PM, except court holidays.

3. Plant City Courthouse

   301 North Michigan Ave, Room 1071
   Plant City, FL 33563
   (813) 276-8100
   https://hillsclerk.com/

   BUILDING HOURS

   • Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 5:00PM, except court holidays.

4. Brandon Regional Service Center

   311 Pauls Drive, Suite 110
   Brandon, FL 33511
   (813) 276-8100
   https://www.hillsclerk.com/

   BUILDING HOURS

   • Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 4:00PM, except court holidays.