The Civil Law Department handles all cases which involve monetary judgment, injunctions, declaratory judgments, mortgage foreclosures, negligence, professional malpractice and other matters where a claimant may be made whole by receiving a money judgment.
Cases are filed in Small Claims Court when the amount in controversy is $5,000 or less, County General Civil when the amount is more than $5,000 but less than $15,000 and in Circuit Court when the amount is $15,000 or more.
Clerk staff may assist customers with filing questions, processes, forms, instructional materials and references when cases are filed in Small Claims Court, but are generally able only to provide minimal assistance, under current law and Court Rules, with filing questions in General Civil or Circuit Court Civil.
Court services are available in Bartow at the Polk County Courthouse at 255 North Broadway, phone 863-534-4556, in Lakeland at 930 E. Parker Street, Room 240, phone 863-603-6412; and Winter Haven-Haines City Branch at the Northeast Polk County Government Center, 3425 Lake Alfred Road, 7 Gill Jones Center, Winter Haven, Fl 33881, phone 863-401-2400. All locations are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.