Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Fees & Costs Self Service Center: Your Guide Through the Courts Prepare Forms Online for Evictions & Small Claims Civil Courts Public Records Search County Civil Court Services: County Civil Main Page Small Claims County Civil Court Locations: Open Monday - Friday Except legal holidays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Main Courthouse 205 N. Dixie Hwy. Suite 2.2200 P.O. 3406 West Palm Beach, FL 33402 Phone: (561) 355-2500 Fax: (561) 355-6211 North County Courthouse 3188 PGA Blvd., Room 1202 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Phone: (561) 624-6650 South County Courthouse 200 W. Atlantic Ave. Room 160 Delray Beach, FL 33444 Phone: (561) 274-1588 West County Courthouse 38844 State Rd. #80 Belle Glade, FL 33430 Phone: (561) 996-4843 Disclaimer

Evictions (Landlord and Tenant Action)

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Instructions for the Completion of a Landlord and Tenant Action
Chapter 83 Florida Statutes

NOTE: The forms used for filing an eviction may be obtained from the Clerk & Comptroller's Self Service Center, or you may use the low-cost online form preparation program.

Step I. Three-Day Notice to Tenant(s)

The statutory, three-day Notice to Tenant(s) must be served by mail, hand delivered or posted prior to filing an Eviction Action.

Step II. Paperwork and Filing Fee Needed for Filing Eviction After Giving Tenant(s) the Three-Day Notice

• Complaint for Tenant Eviction (form may be obtained from Clerk & Comptroller's office)
• Copy of the three-day, statutory Notice to Tenant (defendant)
• Lease/Rental Agreement (if applicable)
• Filing fee in form of cash, check, MasterCard or Visa, certified check, or money order payable to Sharon R. Bock, Clerk & Comptroller.
• Service of Summons Fee for each tenant (defendant) in form of check or money order and payable to SHERIFF OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, plus a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage for each Defendant.

Step III. Copies and Other Attachments

Make copies of all forms and related documents for your records.

The following copies must be submitted with the documents from Step II:

• Original Complaint for Tenant Eviction and two copies for each tenant (defendant). In order for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to serve the Five (5) day Summons without delay, please verify the following are correct on the Complaint: the Eviction address, the apartment number and the spelling of the street address.

• Copy of the Statutory Notice to Tenant and Lease/Rental Agreement if any, along with two additional copies for each tenant (defendant).

• Two legal size (#10) envelopes for each tenant (defendant) and one for yourself (plaintiff). Envelopes must be addressed to each tenant (defendant), yourself (plaintiff) and contain sufficient postage to mail copies of the complaint, three-day notice, lease/rental agreement (if applicable) and summonses.

Step IV. Filing and Service of Summons

You may file your case with the Clerk & Comptroller's office either in person or by mail, at any of the locations listed above. The clerk will transmit copies of the Summons and Complaint to the Sheriff for service only if the Eviction is in Palm Beach County and if you include the Sheriff’s service of process fee and indicate that you wish the document transmitted to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Fees:

For current fees, please review County Civil Fees & Costs. Make sure to have:

• Cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, certified check, or money order payable to Sharon R. Bock, Clerk & Comptroller, in the amount listed for Removal of Tenant action (eviction)

• Certified check or money order payable to the Sheriff of Palm Beach County in the amount listed for Service of Process

Step V. What to Expect After Filing

Once you have filed your Complaint with the Clerk & Comptroller's office, and after the Defendant(s) are served, each Defendant has 5 (five) business days to respond to the Complaint, excluding the day the Summons is served, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

You may contact the Clerk & Comptroller's County Civil Division by telephone to verify if the tenant(s) has responded to the Complaint. If the Tenant(s) fail to respond, you may continue with the following steps:

Step VI. Paperwork Required to Obtain Judgment for Eviction

• Motion for Default (form may be obtained from Clerk)
• Final Judgment (form may be obtained from Clerk)

Step VII. Originals, Copies and Attachments

• One original completed Motion for Default.
• One original completed Final Judgment: one copy for each tenant (defendant) and one copy for yourself.
• One stamped legal size (#10) envelope for each tenant, and one stamped/addressed to you.

NOTE: If the Tenant (defendant) does not vacate after Final Judgment has been entered, you will need to obtain a Writ of Possession from the Clerk.

Step VIII. Obtaining a Writ of Possession

1. Contact the Clerk & Comptroller's office in person or by mail and request the issuance of the Writ of Possession.
2. The Sheriff will require a fee for service of the Writ of Possession in form of check, cashier's check or money order, payable to SHERIFF OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. Current fees
3. Self-addressed stamped envelope for each Defendant.
4. Completed Sheriff Information Sheet. (Form may be obtained from the Clerk).

   YOU MAY CONTACT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT (561) 355-2763 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE WRIT OF POSSESSION OR OTHER SERVICES.

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