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Quick summary: The Fourteenth Judicial Circuit covers Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington Counties, in the Panhandle and Panama City. 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 Fourteenth Circuit
| County | Main courthouse | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Bay | Bay County Courthouse 300 East 4th Street, Panama City, FL 32401 | Bay Clerk of Court |
| Calhoun | Calhoun County Courthouse 20859 East Central Avenue, Blountstown, FL 32424 | Calhoun Clerk of Court |
| Gulf | Gulf County Courthouse 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd., Port St. Joe, FL 32456 | Gulf Clerk of Court |
| Holmes | Holmes County Courthouse 201 North Oklahoma Street, Bonifay, FL 32425 | Holmes Clerk of Court |
| Jackson | Jackson County Courthouse 4445 Lafayette Street, Marianna, FL 32446 | Jackson Clerk of Court |
| Washington | Washington County Courthouse 1293 Jackson Ave., Chipley, FL 32428 | Washington Clerk of Court |
The local economy, county by county
Bay County
Bay County is on the Gulf Coast in the Panhandle. Panama City is the county seat. The other cities are Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, Callaway, Parker, Springfield, and Mexico Beach.
Tourism is a major industry, with hotels, rentals, and shops along Front Beach Road and at Pier Park. Defense is another. Tyndall Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity Panama City bring contractors and suppliers. Port Panama City and its rail-served Intermodal Distribution Center support shipping and distribution businesses. Healthcare, retail, construction, and manufacturing round out the base. Assets here include commercial real estate, construction and hospitality equipment, inventory, and receivables that rise and fall with the tourist season.
Calhoun County
Calhoun County is a rural county in the Panhandle. Blountstown is the county seat, and Altha is the other incorporated town.
Farming and timber have long driven the economy. Peanuts and cotton are the leading crops, and aquaculture and cattle are the main livestock sales. Government, healthcare, and retail are also major employers. The Calhoun County Industrial Park near Blountstown sits beside the county airport. Most businesses are small and closely held. Their main assets tend to be land, timber, farm equipment, and vehicles.
Gulf County
Gulf County is on the Gulf Coast in the Panhandle. Port St. Joe is the county seat, and Wewahitchka is the other incorporated city. Cape San Blas and St. Joe Beach are coastal communities.
Tourism is now a main driver, along with ecotourism, fishing, and scalloping. Seafood, timber, cattle, and honey production also matter here. Wewahitchka is known for tupelo honey. The deepwater Port of Port St. Joe is part of the county’s plans for growth, and shipbuilding has returned to the area. Businesses here include vacation rental companies, seafood harvesters and processors, and contractors. Their assets tend to be coastal real estate, boats, processing equipment, inventory, and seasonal receivables.
Holmes County
Holmes County is a rural county in the northern Panhandle. Bonifay is the county seat and main business center. Esto, Noma, Ponce de Leon, and Westville are the other incorporated towns.
Agriculture leads the economy. Farms raise cattle and poultry and grow hay, peanuts, cotton, and nursery plants. Timber is also important. Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 cross the county, and the Holmes County Industrial Park in Bonifay has direct I-10 access. Most businesses are small and locally owned. Their main assets tend to be farmland, timber, livestock, farm equipment, and vehicles.
The circuit’s official site is the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. Appeals go to the First District Court of Appeal.
What creditors should know here
- Six counties, one circuit. The circuit publishes a directory of all six clerks, which helps you confirm the right filing office.
- Small claims go up to $8,000, county civil covers $8,001 through $50,000, and circuit civil covers claims over $50,000, including contract and indebtedness cases.
- 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 Fourteenth 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 Fourteenth Judicial Circuit?
Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington Counties.
Where do I file a collection lawsuit in the Fourteenth 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 Fourteenth Circuit go?
To the First 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 Fourteenth Circuit, contact us or call (813) 229-0900. We’ll tell you whether the file is worth chasing before you spend on it.