Courts

The Florida Court System is composed of two levels of trial courts – County and Circuit, District Courts of Appeal, and the State Supreme Court.

County Court

• Handles violations of county and city ordinances
• Misdemeanors, or minor offenses that could lead to a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail
• Civil cases involving amounts of $15,000 or less, such as landlord-tenant or small claims disputes
• All traffic violations

Circuit Court

• Hears family cases, such as dissolution of marriage, guardianship, and juvenile delinquency
• Felony offenses
• Probate matters: Examples of which are the processing of wills and settling estates
• Civil cases involving a dispute of more than $15,000
• Appeals from the County Court