Circuit Civil
Notice to Persons with Disabilities:
If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in a proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Court Administration Department, 250 NW Country Club Drive Suite #217, Port St Lucie, FL 34986, (772) 807-4370 within 2 working days of the receipt of the notice of a proceeding to make arrangements. For hearing or voice impaired contact 1-800-955-8771.

 

Address
New Location

201 S. Indian River Drive
Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Directions

Mailing Address
Clerk of Circuit Court
Circuit Civil Department
P. O. Box 700
Fort Pierce, Florida 34954

Phone:
(772) 462-6978
Fax:
(772) 462-1998

Hours: 8am-5pm

Department Functions and Services:

The Circuit Civil Division of the St. Lucie County Courthouse handles all Civil cases for damages of $15,000 and up. Civil case types include: Malpractice, Bond Validations, Contract Indebtedness, Habeas Corpus, Mortgage Foreclosure/Mechanic Liens, Auto Negligence, Other Negligence, Quiet Titles, Replevin, Other Complaints, Other Petitions, Products Liability, Condominium, Petition for Writ of Cetiorari, County Criminal Appeals, Appeals from County Court, Administrative Order Appeals and Eminent Domain.

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Additional Information    
 

Defaults:
The Clerk's Office must receive a Motion for Default along with the prepared Default. Also, for each Defendant, the Clerk must have a return of service on the Summons' or a proof of publication of a Notice of Action. The Clerk must also receive a Non-Military Affidavit for each of the Defendants before the Clerk can Default a Defendant.

Question: If the Motion for Default was clocked in before an Answer which may have been filed after the 20-day deadline, can the Clerk Default that Defendant?
Answer: No, only the Judge can Default a Defendant in this instance. Generally the Clerk will refer all Motions for Defaults to the Judge if there are any questions of timeliness.

90-Day Extensions of Time:
Send in the Original Extension of Time along with the $42.00 fee. If you wish, you may include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a copy of the Extension for the Clerk to clock in and return to you along with your receipt.

Foreign Judgments:
The filing fee is $300.00 plus $42.00. The amount of the Judgment must be more than $15,000.00. The Judgment filed with the Clerk must be a Certified Copy and there should also be an Affidavit filed with it.

Notice of Actions:
The Clerk will need an Affidavit for Constructive Service of Diligent Search, which must be signed and Notarized. Send the prepared Notice of Action to the Clerk and she will fill in the Publication Dates, as well as the deadline date to answer. Please provide an extra copy along with a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wish to have one conformed and sent to you. Make sure that you put the Notice to Persons with Disabilities paragraph on your Notice of Action.

Summons, Alias Summons, and Pluries Summons:
There is a $10.00 charge to issue Summons. Prepare and deliver to the Clerk an original and a copy for each Defendant to be served. The Clerk will automatically look to see if there has been a previous or an outstanding Summons already filed in the case. If there is a previous Summons on the individual to be served, then the Clerk's office must receive the Return of Service for the Summons before an Alias Summons may be issued. If there is a previous Alias Summons on the individual to be served, then the Clerk's office must receive the Return of Service for that Alias Summons before a Pluries Summons may be issued. Once a Return of Service on a Pluries Summons is received by the Clerk, then another Pluries Summons may be issued.

Writ of Execution:
There is no charge to issue a Writ of Execution. The Clerk will review the Order that instructs the Clerk to issue a Writ of Execution. The Clerk must wait 10 days from the date of the Judgment before a Writ of Execution can be issued. If the Judgment states "Instanter, Forthwith, Immediately" then the Clerk can issue the Writ of Execution without waiting the 10 days.

Writ of Garnishment:
There is a Clerk's fee of $188.00 for each Garnishee. The Clerk will check the Final Judgment amount to be sure the Writ of Garnishment amount is correct. The Clerk must receive a Motion for Writ of Garnishment as well. The original Garnishment along with a conformed copy will be mailed back to the Attorney or placed in the Sheriff Box for service. You should provide a cover letter directing the Clerk with what you want done with the Writ of Garnishment. The Clerk will make a photo copy of the original Writ of Garnishment for the Court file. Upon receipt of an Answer of Garnishee, the Clerk will request a $100.00 check to finance for payment of Garnishee Attorney fees.

Appeals from County Court to Circuit Court:
Notice of Appeal must be filed in County Court within 30 days of the entry of the Final Judgment. The filing fee is $281.00 and it goes to the county court.

The filing fee for Petition for Writ of Certiorari is $300.00. Petitions for Writ of Certiorari combined with other forms of relief shall be filed as a Civil case assigned to a Circuit Court Judge. Original plus 3 copies.
Pro Se Parties (those filing without an attorney) should comply with the Rules of Appellate Procedures, found in the Law Library, before filing an Appeal. Anyone filing Indigent should comply with Fla.R.App.P.9.340

Appeals from Circuit Court to 4th District Court of Appeals:
Notice of Appeal must be filed in the Circuit Court within 30 days of the entry of the Final Judgment. The filing fee for the Circuit Court is $100.00 plus $1.00 per page to copy the document, and $2.00 to certify. Original plus 3 copies.

The filing fee for the 4th District Court of Appeals is $300.00 The check should be made out to the 4th District Court of Appeals, but should accompany the Notice of Appeal. The check for the 4th District's fee will be sent to them, attached to the certified copy of the Notice of Appeal, by the Circuit Court Clerk.

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