Palm Beach County Small Claims Court
How to file a small claims case in Palm Beach County, FL. Courthouse locations, hours, fees, and filing options for the West Palm Beach area.
E-Filing
✓ Available
File your claim online — no trip to file
Max Claim
$8,000
Courts (4)
4 courthouses
Palm Beach County has 4 independent courts
How to choose: Per Florida Statute § 47.011, venue is proper where the defendant resides, where the cause of action accrued, or where the property in litigation is located. For small claims, file in the county where the defendant resides OR where the contract/transaction/incident occurred.
All Courts in Palm Beach County
Main Courthouse — Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)
205 N. Dixie Highway, Room 2.2200 (2nd Floor)
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Serves: Primary courthouse — serves all of Palm Beach County including West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Island, Lake Worth Beach, Lantana, and central Palm Beach County
North County Courthouse — Palm Beach Gardens
3188 PGA Boulevard, Room 1210
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Serves: North Palm Beach County including Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Tequesta, Juno Beach, North Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, Lake Park, and surrounding northern communities. Branch Manager: Bea Lovelace.
South County Courthouse — Delray Beach
200 West Atlantic Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Serves: South Palm Beach County including Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Highland Beach, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, and surrounding southern communities. Branch Manager: Ralph Foreman.
West County Courthouse — Belle Glade
2950 State Road 15, Room S-100
Belle Glade, FL 33430
Serves: Western Palm Beach County including Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay, Canal Point, and the agricultural communities near Lake Okeechobee. Branch Manager: April Gruendel.
How to File in Palm Beach County
E-filing available
This county accepts electronic filing for small claims cases.
File in person
Bring your completed forms to the courthouse clerk during business hours. Pay the filing fee by cash, check, or credit card.
File by mail
Most small claims courts accept filing by mail — check with this courthouse first. Typically you mail your completed forms with the filing fee (check or money order) plus a self-addressed stamped envelope for your returned copies.
Important for Palm Beach County: Florida small claims procedure has unique features: (1) MANDATORY pretrial conference per Rule 7.090 — defendant must appear in person at scheduled pretrial conference; (2) Mediation FREQUENTLY ORDERED at pretrial — Fifteenth Circuit provides court-connected mediation services; (3) NO formal written answer required from defendant before pretrial — defendant 'answers' by appearing; (4) Asymmetric corporate representation rule — corporations CAN file as plaintiff pro se via authorized employee, but defendant entities generally MUST have attorney unless court grants permission. (5) Multi-courthouse choice within Palm Beach County — litigants can generally file at any of the 4 locations for convenience, though hearings may be scheduled near defendant's residence.
Ready to get your money back?
A demand letter often settles disputes before a case is ever filed — and it only takes a few minutes.
Read the demand letter guideFor statewide rules including filing limits, statutes of limitations, and court procedures, see the full Florida small claims court guide →