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Quick summary: The Tenth Judicial Circuit covers Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties, in Polk, Hardee and Highlands. Here’s where its courthouses are, which clerk takes your filing, and what a creditor should know before suing or collecting a judgment here.
Courts and clerks in the Tenth Circuit
| County | Main courthouse | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Hardee | Hardee County Courthouse 417 W. Main St., Wauchula, FL 33873 | Hardee Clerk of Court |
| Highlands | Highlands County Courthouse 430 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring, FL 33870 | Highlands Clerk of Court |
| Polk | Polk County Courthouse 255 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830 | Polk Clerk of Court |
The local economy, county by county
Hardee County
Hardee County is in inland Florida, south of Polk County. Wauchula is the county seat and main business center. Bowling Green and Zolfo Springs are the other towns. Smaller communities include Fort Green, Ona, and Popash.
Agriculture is the base of the economy, led by citrus, cattle, and vegetable crops. Phosphate mining is also important, with large operations near Fort Green and Ona. Most commercial debtors are farms, ranches, mining suppliers, and small manufacturers and retailers. Their main assets are usually farmland, farm and mining equipment, and income from crop and cattle sales. That income is often seasonal, which can affect when money is available.
Highlands County
Highlands County is in South Central Florida. Sebring is the county seat. Avon Park and Lake Placid are the other main towns.
Agriculture leads the economy. Citrus is especially strong around Avon Park, cattle ranching is widespread, and Lake Placid is known for caladium bulbs. Health care is a major employer and a target industry. Manufacturing and processing, retail, and tourism also matter. Sebring International Raceway draws visitors, and the Sebring Regional Airport and Commerce Park is the main industrial site. Local businesses tend to hold farmland and equipment, commercial buildings, and receivables from health care and retail work.
Polk County
Polk County lies between Tampa and Orlando along I-4. Bartow is the county seat, and Lakeland is the largest city. Winter Haven, Auburndale, Haines City, Davenport, and Lake Wales are other business centers.
Logistics is now a leading industry. Major distribution centers operate along I-4, and the CSX Intermodal Logistics Center in Winter Haven moves freight by rail and truck. Citrus and phosphate mining remain part of the economy. Tourism is anchored by LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven. Manufacturing, health care, and business services round out the base. Local businesses often hold warehouses and industrial property, shopping centers, farmland, trucks and equipment, and receivables.
The circuit’s official site is the Tenth Judicial Circuit. Appeals go to the Sixth District Court of Appeal.
What creditors should know here
- The circuit keeps its own list of certified process servers, which helps when a debtor in Polk, Hardee, or Highlands is hard to serve.
- Polk County also has a Lakeland branch at 930 East Parker Street and a Northeast Polk Government Center in Lake Alfred.
- Florida sends a money claim to court by size. Small claims cover up to $8,000. County court handles claims up to $50,000. Circuit court takes claims over $50,000. Filing is electronic through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
How Kass Shuler handles collection matters in the Tenth Circuit
We represent creditors and businesses in courts across Florida from our Tampa office, and have since 1978. In this circuit, that includes:
- Pre-suit demand and resolution
- Collection litigation
- Judgment enforcement and garnishment
- Domesticating out-of-state judgments
- Skip tracing and asset investigations
- Mortgage default and foreclosure
- Creditors’ rights in bankruptcy
Frequently asked questions
Which counties are in Florida’s Tenth Judicial Circuit?
Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties.
Where do I file a collection lawsuit in the Tenth Circuit?
With the Clerk of Court in the county where the case belongs, usually where the debtor lives, where the contract was made or broken, or where the property is. Small claims and cases up to $50,000 go to county court, and larger claims go to circuit court.
Where do appeals from the Tenth Circuit go?
To the Sixth District Court of Appeal.
Can I enforce a judgment from another Florida county or another state here?
Yes. A Florida judgment can be recorded as a lien in any county. An out-of-state judgment first has to be domesticated in Florida. See domestication of foreign judgments.
Bottom line: If your debtor or your dispute is in the Tenth Circuit, contact us or call (813) 229-0900. We’ll tell you whether the file is worth chasing before you spend on it.