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Quick summary: The Fifth Judicial Circuit covers Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties, in Central Florida’s Nature Coast and Ocala. 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 Fifth Circuit
| County | Main courthouse | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Citrus | Citrus County Courthouse 110 North Apopka Avenue, Inverness, FL 34450 | Citrus Clerk of Court |
| Hernando | Hernando County Courthouse 20 North Main Street, Brooksville, FL 34601 | Hernando Clerk of Court |
| Lake | Lake County Courthouse 550 West Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778 | Lake Clerk of Court |
| Marion | Marion County Judicial Center 110 NW First Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475 | Marion Clerk of Court |
| Sumter | Sumter County Courthouse 215 East McCollum Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513 | Sumter Clerk of Court |
The local economy, county by county
Citrus County
Citrus County is on Florida’s Gulf coast. Inverness is the county seat, and Crystal River, Homosassa Springs, Homosassa, and Floral City are other business centers.
Healthcare, retail, and nature tourism are major parts of the economy. The county is also working to grow manufacturing, aviation, and professional services. Industrial businesses cluster in Holder Industrial Park on U.S. 41, the Inverness Airport Business Park, and Shamrock Acres Industrial Park in Crystal River. Businesses tend to hold commercial real estate along U.S. 19, U.S. 41, and U.S. 98, along with equipment, inventory, and receivables.
Hernando County
Hernando County’s key industries are aviation and aerospace, manufacturing, and distribution and logistics. Brooksville is the county seat. Much of the industrial activity is at the Brooksville–Tampa Bay Regional Airport and its Technology Center. Local manufacturers include aerospace suppliers, electronics makers, plastic molders, and machine shops. Tourism, including Weeki Wachee Springs, adds to the economy.
Businesses here tend to hold specialized equipment, warehouse and industrial real estate near the airport, and receivables from logistics and supply contracts.
Lake County
Lake County’s seat is Tavares. Clermont is its largest city, and Leesburg, Eustis, Mount Dora, and Groveland are other business centers.
Healthcare, logistics, construction, and real estate development drive growth. The county focuses new business growth on Wellness Way, the Wolf Branch Innovation District, the Minneola area, and the Christopher C. Ford Commerce Park at U.S. 27 and the Florida Turnpike. Businesses range from small family-owned companies to large developers. They tend to hold commercial real estate, equipment, and medical or trade receivables.
The circuit’s official site is the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Appeals go to the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
What creditors should know here
- The circuit uses differentiated civil case management, and smaller county civil cases can be referred to mediation early. Expect to talk settlement before trial.
- The Sumter Clerk runs a limited-service annex in The Villages in addition to the Bushnell main office.
- 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 Fifth 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 Fifth Judicial Circuit?
Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties.
Where do I file a collection lawsuit in the Fifth 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 Fifth Circuit go?
To the Fifth 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 Fifth Circuit, contact us or call (813) 229-0900. We’ll tell you whether the file is worth chasing before you spend on it.