Miami Beach District Court Services
The services provided by the Miami Beach District Court include:
- Small Claims
- County Court
- Landlord and Tenant Disputes
- Civil Summons and Subpoenas
- District Court Hearings
- Marriage Licenses and Ceremonies
- Misdemeanor and Felony Fine Payments
- Take an Oath of Witness to a Will
- Traffic and Parking Violations
Small Claims
Small Claims cases can only be initiated in the county where the defendant resides, where the cause of action took place, or where the involved property is located. Prior to considering the filing of a Small Claims case, it is advisable to attempt direct communication with the opposing party to clarify the nature of the dispute.
Sending a letter that clearly outlines your complaint is a prudent step, as it may facilitate the resolution of the issue without the need for legal proceedings. Filing a lawsuit should be considered a last resort for resolving civil disputes.
Claims valued at up to $8,000, excluding costs, interest, and attorney’s fees, can be submitted to the Clerk’s Office as a Small Claims action.
County Court
Cases submitted to the civil division of the Clerk’s Office are categorized under either County Court or Circuit Court jurisdiction.
County court cases are governed by the rules of civil procedure. These rules cover cases where the amount of damages exceeds $8,000 but is not more than $50,000 as well as tenant eviction cases.
Landlord and Tenant Disputes
For landlord and tenant disputes, it is imperative to file the case within the geographical district where the property is situated.
District Court Hearings
These include Family Court, which oversees cases falling within three primary categories: domestic relations, probate, and domestic violence.
Traffic and Parking Violations
Traffic citations are categorized into two types: civil traffic infractions and criminal traffic violations. These citations typically feature a combination of seven numbers and letters.
- A civil traffic infraction pertains to a situation where an individual is suspected of committing a non-criminal traffic violation. These infractions are categorized as either moving or non-moving violations. Importantly, civil traffic infractions do not carry the possibility of incarceration, and there is no entitlement to a trial by jury or the provision of court-appointed counsel.
- A criminal traffic violation is issued when there is suspicion that an individual has committed a traffic violation that qualifies as a misdemeanor offense. In cases of a criminal traffic offense, a driver may be subject to arrest.
Location & Contact Information
1130 Washington Ave #200,
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: (305) 275-1155
