Palm Beach County Court Overview
The County Court is one of Florida's two trial courts, and it carries the heaviest volume of everyday cases. In Palm Beach County, it hears misdemeanors, criminal traffic, traffic infractions, small claims, evictions, county and municipal ordinance matters, and civil cases of $50,000 or less. These are the cases most residents are likely to encounter, from a speeding ticket to a landlord-tenant dispute. The County Court sits within the same Fifteenth Judicial Circuit as the Circuit Court.
County Court services run through the Main Courthouse and the branch locations, with the same Clerk handling filings and records. The second floor of the Main Courthouse holds the criminal and traffic service window, which covers misdemeanors, infractions, payments, and court dates. County Court cases are searchable in the same free portal used for circuit cases.
Palm Beach County Court Locations
The County Court operates from the Main Courthouse and branch service locations rather than numbered courts. The table lists the main locations with their addresses and the public phone line.
| Location | Role | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Courthouse | Misdemeanor, traffic, small claims, civil, records | 205 N. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach | (561) 355-2996 |
| West County Courthouse | West county branch services | 2950 State Road 15, Belle Glade | (561) 355-2996 |
| Royal Palm Beach Branch | Clerk branch services | Royal Palm Beach service area | (561) 355-2996 |
The Main Courthouse criminal and traffic window in Room 2.2300 handles traffic tickets, misdemeanors, infractions, payments, court dates, and case inquiries.
County Court vs. Circuit Court
The two trial courts divide the work by case size and seriousness. The County Court takes the smaller and lower-level matters. The Circuit Court takes felonies, family law, probate, and the larger civil cases. Florida does not use a separate justice or JP court, so the split is between these two levels.
| County Court | Circuit Court | |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Limit | $50,000 or less | Over $50,000 |
| Criminal Jurisdiction | Misdemeanors, criminal traffic | Felonies |
| Small Claims | Yes | No |
| Evictions | Yes | No |
| Family / Probate | No | Yes |
For the higher court, see the Palm Beach County Circuit Court page. Both courts share the Clerk and the eCaseView search system.
How a County Court Case Moves
County Court cases follow a shorter path than felony cases, but they can still be appealed. A traffic or misdemeanor case starts with a citation or arrest and moves to a first appearance or arraignment, then to pretrial and trial if it is not resolved earlier. Small claims and eviction cases follow a civil track. Appeals from County Court move into the appellate system under Florida rules.
Misdemeanor flow: Citation or Arrest › First Appearance › Arraignment › Pretrial › Trial › Sentencing › Appeal
Small claims flow: Statement of Claim Filed › Pretrial Conference › Mediation › Trial › Judgment › Appeal
County Court Case Types
County Court covers a wide set of everyday matters. The list below shows the main categories that appear in the Clerk's case data under county court types.
- Misdemeanors - lower-level criminal charges below felony grade.
- Traffic - moving and non-moving infractions plus criminal traffic such as some DUI cases.
- Small claims - county civil disputes of $8,000 or less.
- Evictions - landlord-tenant possession cases.
- County civil - civil claims up to $50,000.
- Ordinance matters - county and municipal code, parking, and animal cases.
How to Search Palm Beach County Court Records
County Court records are public and free to search in the Clerk's eCaseView portal. Pick a county court type such as Misdemeanor, Traffic Infractions, Small Claims, or County Civil, then search by case number or party name. For traffic, the citation number is the most precise field. The court records and traffic court records pages cover the search steps in more detail.
Q: Which court handles my Palm Beach County traffic ticket?
Traffic infractions and criminal traffic cases are County Court matters, handled through the Clerk's criminal and traffic window. The case shows in eCaseView under Traffic Infractions or Criminal Traffic. Pay or contest the ticket through official Clerk channels, and never through a phone payment to an individual.
Appeals From County Court
A party who loses in County Court can appeal. County Court appeals move into the appellate system under Florida rules, and the path generally leads to a Florida District Court of Appeal. Appeals are different from the original case, with their own deadlines and filing rules, so a litigant who plans to appeal should act quickly and read the judgment carefully. The Clerk records the notice of appeal in the case docket.
Small Claims in Palm Beach County Court
Small claims is the County Court track for money disputes of $8,000 or less. It is built for people without lawyers, with simpler rules and a pretrial conference where the judge often pushes the sides toward settlement or mediation. A case starts when the plaintiff files a statement of claim with the Clerk and pays the filing fee. The defendant is served, and both sides appear at the pretrial conference.
The Clerk's Self-Service Center on the first floor of the Main Courthouse offers small claims forms and packets, plus Navigator appointments. Florida also publishes statewide forms. After judgment, collecting the money is a separate step, since the court enters the judgment but does not collect it for the winner.
Evictions and Landlord-Tenant Cases
Residential evictions are County Court cases. A landlord files for possession after the proper notice, and the tenant has a short window to respond. Because the timelines are tight, both sides benefit from acting fast and reading the docket. Eviction filings show in the Clerk's case portal under county civil eviction categories. The Clerk's Self-Service Center provides eviction forms for landlords and answer forms for tenants.
An eviction case can move quickly to a judgment if the tenant does not respond or deposit disputed rent into the court registry as required. A tenant who needs help can contact the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County or another civil legal aid provider. The case file, once filed, is a public record searchable by party name.
County Court Fees and Forms
Filing fees for county civil, small claims, and eviction cases are set by Florida law and vary by claim amount. The specific county court filing fees were not in the figures gathered, so confirm them with the Clerk before filing. The Clerk's published copy and certification fees apply to county court records, including $1 per page for many copies and $2 to certify each instrument. Online card payments add a 3.5 percent processing charge. Free forms and packets are available through the Clerk's Self-Service Center and the Florida Courts forms library.