How to File for Trespassing in Orange County, Florida

Trespass claims by individuals are civil lawsuits.

When filing a civil trespass claim in Orange County, Fla., it is important to do so with the objective of recovering damages in mind. By appropriately filling out the paperwork required to file a claim as well as following any guidance given by the clerk of the court, you will be able to bring your claim in front of the court quickly and efficiently for the rendering of a judgment.

Things You'll Need

• Statement of Claim form
• Money for filing fee

Instructions

1. Write your name, address and phone number on the lines provided above the word "Plaintiff" on the claim form. You are the plaintiff because you are the person bringing the complaint. You should write your legal name as opposed to an alias so the court knows who you are.

2. Write the name, address, and phone number of the person who trespassed on your property on the lines directly above the word "Defendant". The person who trespassed is known as the defendant because he is the person you are making the claim against and will need to defend against the claim in court.

3. Write the facts of your claim. The facts of the claim include who trespassed, where the defendant trespassed and the damage to your property resulting from the trespass.

4. Calculate the amount of money damages you are requesting the defendant to pay you as a result of his trespassing and write it in the next blank space. The amount of money you write down must not include court costs or attorney fees. Instead, the written amount should be the monetary value of the damage done to your property as a result of the trespassing.

5. Sign the claim form on the line marked "Plaintiff(s)" at the bottom of the form. This prevents others from filing fraudulent claims on your behalf.

6. 

   Filing a civil suit can be expensive

   Give the complaint to the court clerk at the Orange County courthouse and pay the filing fee. The filing fee is determined by the amount of damages you are requesting. The clerk's office will provide you with the amount you owe.

Tips & Warnings

• If the facts of the claim take up too much space on the form, you may write the facts on a separate sheet of paper and bring it with you.

• The information provided in this article is not legal advice or legal representation. Consult with an attorney to discuss the law or filing a claim to ensure that your claim is timely filed in accordance with the law.

References

• Statement of Claim
• "Berman's Florida Rules of Civil Procedure; Bruce J. Berman; 2008
• Filing Fees
• Small Claims Court