Boca Raton Divorce Attorneys

The Structure of the Florida State Court System

Unbeknownst to many people, there are two major court systems in the United States: the federal courts system and 50 state courts systems, obviously one for every state. Each state’s court system is governed by that state only. Florida, like every state, has its own, unique court system. Understanding its structure is crucial to being successful within the Florida courts system.

There are four layers in the Florida court system. The first, bottommost layer is the County Court. County courts deal with small criminal cases, like misdemeanors such as stealing a candy bar, as well as small civil cases, namely those involving claims of $15,000 or less. There are a total of 254 county court judges.

The next level in the Florida court system, above county courts, is the Circuit Court. This circuit courts deal with the majority of cases in Florida, ranging from civil disputes over $15,000, major criminal offense, domestic matters like divorce, as well as probate-related cases. There are a total of 442 circuit court judges.

Above circuit courts is the District Court of Appeal. District courts of appeal deal only with cases that have been appealed from circuit and county courts. The decisions rendered in district courts of appeal are final for most cases, as most cases do not go on to the next level of appeal. There are 61 district courts of appeal judges, who make decisions in panels of three.

The final, and highest, level of the Florida state court system is the Supreme Court. The Florida Supreme Court takes appeals from the district courts of appeals. It deals with both civil and criminal cases. Only some cases are taken, though, depending on their significance. There are seven Supreme Court judges.

The Florida court system has a relatively simple structure, but understanding that structure is important to be successful within it, regardless of whether it is a criminal case like divorce or not.

Speak with a Boca Raton Divorce Lawyer

If you are in a divorce case, having an attorney who can successfully navigate the Florida court system is important. We, the Boca Raton divorce attorneys of Eric N. Klein & Associate, P.A., know how to. For more information, contact us at 561-353-2800.