Florida’s judicial circuits are the state’s 20 general-jurisdiction trial court districts, each covering one or more of Florida’s 67 counties and handling felonies, civil cases above $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile matters. The boundaries follow county lines, the groupings are set by statute, and every county in the state sits inside exactly one circuit.
How the 20 Circuits Fit Into Florida’s Court System
Article V, Section 1 of the Florida Constitution places the judicial power of the state in four types of courts: the Supreme Court, District Courts of Appeal, circuit courts, and county courts. The same provision directs the legislature to divide the state into judicial circuits along county lines.1FindLaw. Florida Constitution Art. V, Section 1 – Courts Circuit courts sit one level above county courts and one level below the District Courts of Appeal, making them the trial courts for the state’s serious cases.
The circuits vary widely in size. Some cover a single densely populated county like Miami-Dade or Broward. Others stretch across six or seven rural counties in the Panhandle or North Florida. The pattern reflects caseload: a single-county circuit exists where one county generates enough work to justify its own judges, clerks, and administrative staff, and multi-county circuits pool smaller populations so each has a working courthouse system.
Which Counties Belong to Each Circuit
Florida Statutes Section 26.021 lists the counties in every circuit:2Florida Senate. Florida Code 26.021 – Judicial Circuits; Judges
- 1st Circuit: Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton
- 2nd Circuit: Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla
- 3rd Circuit: Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor
- 4th Circuit: Clay, Duval, Nassau
- 5th Circuit: Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Sumter
- 6th Circuit: Pasco, Pinellas
- 7th Circuit: Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, Volusia
- 8th Circuit: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, Union
- 9th Circuit: Orange, Osceola
- 10th Circuit: Hardee, Highlands, Polk
- 11th Circuit: Miami-Dade
- 12th Circuit: DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota
- 13th Circuit: Hillsborough
- 14th Circuit: Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Washington
- 15th Circuit: Palm Beach
- 16th Circuit: Monroe
- 17th Circuit: Broward
- 18th Circuit: Brevard, Seminole
- 19th Circuit: Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie
- 20th Circuit: Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee
What Cases Circuit Courts Hear
Florida Statutes Section 26.012 gives circuit courts exclusive original jurisdiction over the state’s most consequential case types. If a matter is serious enough, it belongs in circuit court rather than county court.
Civil Cases Over $50,000
County courts handle civil lawsuits where the amount at stake is $50,000 or less.3Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 34 Section 01 – Jurisdiction of County Court Anything above that threshold goes to circuit court. The $50,000 line took effect on January 1, 2023, up from $30,000. Circuit courts also take cases involving title and boundaries of real property, tax assessment challenges, and ejectment actions regardless of the dollar amount.4Florida Senate. Florida Code 26.012 – Jurisdiction of Circuit Court
Felony Criminal Cases
All felony prosecutions are filed in circuit court. If a misdemeanor charge arises from the same facts as a felony, the circuit court keeps that misdemeanor rather than splitting it off to county court.4Florida Senate. Florida Code 26.012 – Jurisdiction of Circuit Court
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters
Divorce, child custody, and domestic violence injunctions are circuit court proceedings. So are probate and guardianship cases, including the settlement of estates, appointment of guardians, and involuntary hospitalization proceedings.4Florida Senate. Florida Code 26.012 – Jurisdiction of Circuit Court Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases also fall under circuit court jurisdiction, with specialized divisions in most circuits.
Appeals and Writs
Circuit courts also act as appellate courts for decisions from county courts and local government code enforcement boards, so errors at the county level can be corrected without going straight to a District Court of Appeal. They can issue writs of mandamus, habeas corpus, prohibition, quo warranto, and certiorari.5Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.030 – Jurisdiction of Courts
Who Runs Each Circuit
Circuit Judges and Chief Judge
Circuit judges are elected in nonpartisan races and serve six-year terms. A candidate must be a Florida elector who lives within the circuit and has been a member of the Florida Bar for at least the preceding five years.6eLaws. Florida Constitution Article V Section 8 – Eligibility When a seat opens between elections, a judicial nominating commission screens applicants and sends a shortlist to the governor.
The judges in each circuit choose one of their own to serve as chief judge for a two-year term, and consecutive terms are allowed. The chief judge assigns judges to divisions, manages the court calendar, orders case consolidation, and can request temporary judge assignments from other circuits when caseloads spike.
State Attorney
Each circuit elects a state attorney to a four-year term. The state attorney is the chief prosecutor for all criminal cases within the circuit, supervising a staff of assistant state attorneys who handle individual matters.1FindLaw. Florida Constitution Art. V, Section 1 – Courts Because the office is elected, charging priorities can shift with each cycle.
Public Defender
The Florida Constitution also puts a public defender in each circuit, elected to a four-year term. The qualifications match the state attorney’s: Florida elector, resident of the circuit, member of the Florida Bar for at least five years. The office represents defendants who cannot afford a private attorney, and the public defender appoints assistants as authorized by law.
What It Costs to File in Circuit Court
Filing fees depend on the case type and, for civil suits, the amount in controversy. Family law filings under chapters covering custody and related proceedings run $300. Dissolution of marriage filings cost $397.50, which includes surcharges for child welfare and domestic violence funding. Other civil filings such as name changes, adoptions, and trust petitions cost $400.
Standard civil lawsuit fees scale with the claim value. Real property or foreclosure disputes of $50,000 or less cost $400 to file. Claims between $50,001 and $249,999 cost $905, and claims of $250,000 or more cost $1,905.
If you cannot afford the fee, Florida law lets you apply for indigent status through the clerk of court. You qualify if your household income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. There is a presumption against indigency if you own assets with a net equity value of $2,500 or more, excluding your homestead and one vehicle worth up to $5,000. If approved, you go on a payment plan rather than paying upfront, and your case cannot be delayed for nonpayment.7The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes Chapter 57 Section 082 – Determination of Civil Indigent Status