Miami-Dade County court forms come from two places: the Florida Supreme Court publishes statewide approved forms for family law and other common matters, and the Eleventh Judicial Circuit publishes local forms for probate, guardianship, and administrative filings specific to the county. You can download either set online, pick up paper packets at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, and file almost everything through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. Filing fees run from $55 for the smallest small claims cases to $409 for a dissolution of marriage and higher for large foreclosures.
Where the Forms Live
The Florida Supreme Court publishes approved family law forms designed for anyone to use, including people representing themselves, and those forms are the same across all 20 judicial circuits.1Florida Supreme Court. Court Forms Miami-Dade-specific forms for probate, guardianship, and certain administrative matters come from the Eleventh Judicial Circuit’s website.2Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Miami-Dade County Court Forms The Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts hosts its own portal for records and form access.3Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. Records
If you would rather work with paper or want someone to point you to the right packet, the Family Court Self-Help Program is on the 24th Floor, Room 2441, of the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center at 175 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128.4Florida Courts. Self-Help Programs Staff hand out pre-assembled packets grouped by case type.
Picking the Form That Matches Your Case
Family Law
Family law forms cover dissolution of marriage (simplified and regular), child custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence injunctions, and name changes. Most family cases also require a Financial Affidavit: the short form (Form 12.902(b)) if your individual gross income is under $50,000 per year, or the long form (Form 12.902(c)) if it is $50,000 or above.5Florida Courts. Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(b) You can skip the financial affidavit only in narrow situations, such as a simplified dissolution where both spouses waive it in writing.
Small Claims and County Civil
Small claims is a simplified procedure for disputes of $8,000 or less, not counting interest, costs, or attorney fees.6Florida Courts. Florida Courts – Small Claims Miami-Dade county court handles civil actions up to $50,000.7Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 34 Section 01 Eviction cases use their own forms and carry a $185 filing fee.8Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. Civil and Family Court For amounts above $50,000, you file in circuit court.
Probate and Guardianship
There are no statewide probate forms.9Florida Courts. Probate Miami-Dade filers use the Eleventh Judicial Circuit’s Probate Smart Forms instead.10Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Probate Smart Forms Probate is more complex than most other filings, and self-help staff can walk you through procedure but not legal strategy.
Filling Out the Form
Gather Your Information First
Before you start typing into blanks, collect the full legal names, dates of birth, and addresses of everyone involved, along with any existing case numbers. Family and probate filings ask for gross income, asset values, and debts. Property cases need confirmed addresses and legal descriptions from official records. Errors trigger a deficiency notice from the clerk, and your case sits idle until you correct them.
Signatures and Notarization
Every document filed with a Florida court must be signed. Under Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.515, a self-represented filer signs and includes an address and phone number, and electronic signatures using the “/s/” format are accepted for e-filed documents.11Florida Courts. Rule 2.515 – Signature and Certificates
Rule 2.515 says documents do not need to be notarized unless another rule or statute requires it, but many common forms do. Financial affidavits, petitions for injunctions, and several family law forms include a jurat block, meaning you sign in front of a notary who administers an oath and you swear the contents are true. Check the last page. If it says “Sworn to” or “State of Florida, County of,” you need a notary. Florida notaries can charge up to $10 per notarial act.12Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 117 Section 05 The Clerk’s office at the courthouse usually has one available during business hours.
Certificate of Service
After the initial filing that triggers a summons, every later document must include a certificate of service showing you sent a copy to the other party. If your form has a built-in certificate of service, fill it in. If not, file a separate Certificate of Service using Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.914.13Florida Courts. Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.914 – Certificate of Service Check the delivery method (mail, email, or hand delivery), fill in the date, and make sure the copy actually goes out that same day. Mailed copies must be postmarked on the date listed.
Protecting Confidential Information
Florida court filings are public records. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, dates of birth, and names of minor children need special handling. Under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, when you file a document that contains confidential information, you also file a separate Notice of Confidential Information Within Court Filing.14Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Notice of Confidential Information within Court Filing The notice tells the clerk exactly where in the document the sensitive data appears so it can be shielded from public view.
The clerk reviews the notice to confirm the information qualifies as confidential under the rule. If the clerk disagrees, you get written notice within five days and have 10 days to file a motion arguing otherwise. Skipping the notice leaves your private information in a publicly searchable record.
Submitting the Form
Electronic Filing
Nearly all court documents in Florida go through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com.15Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. File Court Documents Online You create an account, select the Miami-Dade County circuit or county court division, upload PDFs, and pay the filing fee online. Documents must use letter-size pages (8.5 by 11 inches) and fonts that comply with the Rules of Judicial Administration.16Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. PDF/A Frequently Asked Questions
Expect a convenience fee on top of the filing fee: 3.5 percent for credit card payments or a flat $5 for electronic check.17Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. E-Filing Authority Convenience Fee Review On a $409 dissolution paid by card, that adds roughly $14. ACH is cheaper for any filing over about $143.
In Person or by Mail
You can file in person at the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts, 73 West Flagler Street in downtown Miami, or mail documents to the Clerk’s main office at 20 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128. Paper filers pay the same fees at the window. Keep a copy of everything you submit and ask the clerk to stamp your copy with the filing date; that stamped copy is your proof.
Filing Fees
Fees vary by case type and claim amount. The most common ones for Miami-Dade County:
- Small claims under $100: $55
- Small claims $100 to $500: $80
- Small claims $500.01 to $2,500: $175
- Small claims over $2,500 (up to $8,000): $300
- Eviction: $185
- Civil circuit filing: $401
- Dissolution of marriage: $409
- Mortgage foreclosure (up to $50,000): $401
- Mortgage foreclosure ($50,001 to $249,999): $906
- Mortgage foreclosure ($250,000 and above): $1,906
These figures come from the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts fee schedule.18Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts. Fee Schedule Fees are due at the time of filing; the clerk will not process your documents without payment or an approved fee waiver.
Fee Waivers
If you cannot afford the filing fee, apply for a determination of civil indigent status under Florida Statute 57.082. The application asks for net income, other income sources, assets, and liabilities. You qualify if your household income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.19The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 57.082 – Determination of Civil Indigent Status There is a presumption against eligibility if you own assets with net equity of $2,500 or more, not counting your home and one vehicle worth up to $5,000. Submit the application with your filing. If the clerk denies it, you can ask the judge to review that decision.
After You File
Serving the Other Party
Filing with the clerk does not notify the other side. For initial filings like a complaint or petition, you arrange formal service of process through the county sheriff or a certified process server. You cannot hand the papers over yourself.20Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 48 Section 021 Private process servers typically charge between $45 and $100 per attempt. After serving, the server files a return of service with the court confirming the date, time, method, and identity of the person served.
Response Deadlines
Once the other party is served, the clock starts. Under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.140, a defendant has 20 days after service to file a written response.21Supreme Court of Florida. Florida Rules of Civil Procedure – Rule 1.140 Missing that deadline can lead to a default judgment, meaning the court may rule for the other party without hearing the defendant’s side. If you were served and need more time, file a motion for extension before the 20 days expire, explaining the reason.
What Court Staff Can and Cannot Do
Self-help center staff and courthouse clerks can point you to the right forms, tell you where to file, and explain procedural steps. They cannot tell you what to write, whether your case is strong, or how to argue in front of a judge. Florida law draws a firm line between procedural information and legal advice, and court staff are restricted to the procedural side.22Florida Courts. Family Law Forms For help choosing claims or responding to a motion, contact an attorney or legal aid. The Florida Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service and Miami-Dade Legal Aid can connect you with low-cost or free legal help.