How to File a Case in Bay County Court in Florida
The Bay County Courthouse is located in Panama City, Fla., and is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida. You will need to file your case in the main courthouse of Bay County by visiting the Bay County clerk's office. After the other party has been provided the information about your suit and both of you have had time to prepare your arguments, the matter will be set for trial, where it may be heard by a judge or a jury, depending on the type of case.
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Instructions
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Draft your complaint. You can obtain a blank copy of a complaint form from the Bay Courthouse clerk's office. If you are filing a small claims case, the filing packet is available online from the office of the clerk's website, which has been provided below. You will need to input the name of the person or corporation you are suing and all identification information. Input into the narrative the basis for your suit including a basic explanation of the facts, and cite the laws which you believe the party has violated.
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File your complaint in the clerk's office of the Bay County Courthouse. The filing fee as of 2011 is based upon the value of the suit, but will range from $55 to $300, in addition to a $40 service of process fee for the county sheriff office to effect service of suit. The sheriff will provide notice to the defendant, and the court will set the matter for pretrial and mediation, which should occur within two months from your original date of filing.
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Attend pretrial and mediation. Florida courts prefer parties to come to an amicable resolution of a dispute, and thus encourage the parties to explore the possibility of a mediated agreement. If agreement cannot be reached, the matter (if small claims) will be set for a final hearing before a judge who will review the merits of the complaint.
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