Miami-Dade County Legal Filing Guide
Court locations, filing fees, clerk contact information, self-help resources, and step-by-step filing instructions specific to Miami-Dade County — Florida’s most populous county.1 Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts
Main Office
73 West Flagler Street
Miami, FL 33130
Phone
(305) 275-1155
Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website
miamidadeclerk.gov →Online Records Search
Miami-Dade OCS Portal →Current Clerk
Juan Fernandez-Barquin
Clerk of the Courts & Comptroller
E-Filing Portal
myflcourtaccess.com →2 Courthouse Locations
Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building
CriminalAddress
1351 NW 12th Street
Miami, FL 33125
Divisions
Circuit Criminal, County Criminal
Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Parking
Street metered; garage on NW 12th Ave
Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse
Family · CivilAddress
175 NW 1st Avenue
Miami, FL 33128
Divisions
Family Law, Domestic Violence, Dependency, Civil
Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Self-Help Center
Room 1.400 — available Mon–Fri
Dade County Courthouse
Civil · ProbateAddress
73 West Flagler Street
Miami, FL 33130
Divisions
Circuit Civil, Probate, Guardianship, Mental Health
Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Phone
(305) 349-7000
South Dade Justice Center
Branch CourthouseAddress
10710 SW 211th Street
Cutler Bay, FL 33189
Divisions
County Court Civil, Small Claims, County Criminal
Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Note
Serves south Miami-Dade residents
3 Miami-Dade Filing Fees
Fees effective 2025. Indigency waivers available — ask the clerk for Form 68 (Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status).
| Filing Type | Division | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (with children) | Family / Circuit | $408 |
| Petition for Dissolution (no children) | Family / Circuit | $408 |
| Simplified Dissolution of Marriage | Family / Circuit | $408 |
| Petition for Name Change (adult) | Circuit Civil | $401 |
| Petition to Modify Final Judgment | Family | $50 |
| Eviction — Residential (Complaint) | County Civil | $185 |
| Small Claims (up to $500) | County Civil | $55 |
| Small Claims ($501 – $2,500) | County Civil | $100 |
| Small Claims ($2,501 – $8,000) | County Civil | $175 |
| Petition for Injunction (Domestic Violence) | Family | Free |
| Probate (Summary Administration) | Probate | $401 |
| Guardianship (Petition) | Probate | $401 |
Indigency Waiver: If you cannot afford filing fees, you may qualify for a fee waiver. File Form 68 at the clerk’s office before or at the time of filing. The judge will review your income and assets. In Miami-Dade, the threshold is roughly 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
4 E-Filing in Miami-Dade
Florida requires attorneys to e-file all documents. Self-represented (pro se) parties are strongly encouraged to e-file but are not required to. Paper filing is still accepted at the clerk’s counter.
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1
Create a Florida Courts E-Filing Portal account
Visit myflcourtaccess.com. Register with your email address. Pro se filers select “Register as a Self-Represented Litigant.”
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2
Prepare your documents as PDF
All documents must be in PDF format. Documents generated through our platform are automatically formatted correctly. Handwritten documents must be scanned clearly.
💡 Miami-Dade rejects documents with handwriting that is not clearly legible when scanned. -
3
Select Miami-Dade County and the correct division
Family law matters → 11th Circuit Family Division. Evictions → County Civil. Small claims → County Civil. Be precise — misfiled documents are rejected and require refiling with the correct fee.
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4
Pay the filing fee online
Credit card payment is accepted through the portal. A small convenience fee applies (typically 2–3%). You will receive an email confirmation with a filing reference number.
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5
Arrange service of process
After your case is opened and a case number is assigned, you must have the other party served. In Miami-Dade, use the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (civil process division) or a private process server registered in Florida.
⏱ Miami-Dade Sheriff civil process: allow 2–4 weeks. Private process servers are faster, typically 2–5 days.
5 Family Law — Miami-Dade Specifics
Family law cases in Miami-Dade are filed in the 11th Judicial Circuit Family Division at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse, 175 NW 1st Avenue. Miami-Dade has specific local rules and administrative orders that apply in addition to statewide Florida Family Law Rules.
Parenting Course Requirement
Both parents in any case involving minor children must complete a Florida Supreme Court–approved parenting course before a final judgment can be entered. Miami-Dade accepts online completion. Certificate must be filed with the court.
Financial Disclosure Deadlines
In contested family cases, both parties must exchange Financial Affidavits (Form 12.902) within 45 days of service. Failure to comply can result in sanctions or default against the non-complying party.
Mediation Requirement
Miami-Dade courts require mediation before most contested family law hearings. The court may appoint a mediator or the parties may hire a private mediator. Mediation must occur before trial.
Unified Family Court
Miami-Dade operates a Unified Family Court model — all matters involving the same family (divorce, dependency, domestic violence, juvenile) are assigned to one judge for consistency.
6 Landlord-Tenant — Miami-Dade Specifics
Residential evictions in Miami-Dade are filed in the County Civil Division. Miami-Dade has one of the highest eviction filing volumes in Florida. Cases are typically heard within 3–5 weeks of filing if uncontested.
Miami-Dade Local Ordinance: Miami-Dade County has tenant protection ordinances that go beyond Florida Statutes in certain circumstances, particularly for federally subsidized housing. Verify whether your rental unit is subject to additional local requirements.
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1
Serve a proper written notice
3-Day Notice (nonpayment of rent) must state the exact rent amount owed, the rental address, and give the tenant the option to pay or vacate. Post on the door and mail first-class. The 3 days do not include weekends or legal holidays.
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2
File Complaint for Eviction at South Dade or main courthouse
File at the County Civil Division. Filing fee: $185 (residential). Bring the original notice and proof of service of the notice.
📍 South Miami-Dade landlords should file at South Dade Justice Center, 10710 SW 211th Street, for faster processing. -
3
Arrange service through Miami-Dade Sheriff
The eviction summons must be served by the Sheriff’s Office or a registered process server. Miami-Dade Sheriff civil process fee: $40 per attempt.
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4
Default or hearing — Writ of Possession
If the tenant does not respond within 5 days of service, you may move for default. The court issues a Writ of Possession; the Sheriff executes it (fee: approximately $90). The tenant has 24 hours after the writ is posted to vacate.
7 Small Claims Court — Miami-Dade
Small claims in Miami-Dade handles disputes up to $8,000 (excluding interest, costs, and attorneys’ fees). Most people represent themselves. Hearings are typically scheduled 4–8 weeks after filing.
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee | Where to File |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $500 | $55 | County Civil Division |
| $501 – $2,500 | $100 | County Civil Division |
| $2,501 – $8,000 | $175 | County Civil Division |
Pre-Trial Conference
Miami-Dade requires a pre-trial conference (mediation) before a small claims trial. This is conducted by a volunteer mediator and resolves the majority of cases without a trial.
Service in Small Claims
The clerk’s office mails the summons by certified mail. If unclaimed, you must arrange personal service through the Sheriff or process server.
8 Self-Help Resources in Miami-Dade
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Miami-Dade Self-Help Program — Lawson Thomas Courthouse
Room 1.400, 175 NW 1st Avenue, Miami. Staff can provide forms, procedural information, and limited assistance for self-represented litigants in family law cases. Cannot provide legal advice.
11th Circuit Self-Help Resources → -
DIY Florida — Free Guided Court Forms
Free automated form preparation through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Covers landlord-tenant, small claims, simplified dissolution, and domestic violence injunctions.
DIY Florida Portal → -
Legal Services of Greater Miami
Free civil legal services for income-eligible Miami-Dade residents. Covers family law, housing, consumer, immigration, and public benefits.
lsgmi.org → -
Miami-Dade Domestic Violence Injunction Assistance
The Lawson Thomas Courthouse has a dedicated Domestic Violence Unit. Injunction petitions are free. Advocates are available to assist petitioners.
Miami-Dade Clerk DV Resources → -
Dade Legal Aid
Provides civil legal services to low-income residents of Miami-Dade County. Focuses on housing, family, and consumer matters.
dadelegalaid.org →
ⓘ JusticeXpressFlorida.com is a document preparation service, not a law firm. Court fees and procedures are subject to change — verify current fees with the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts before filing. This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.