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Quick summary: The Ninth Judicial Circuit covers Orange and Osceola Counties, in Orlando, Orange and Osceola. 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 Ninth Circuit
| County | Main courthouse | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Orange | Orange County Courthouse 425 N. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 | Orange Clerk of Court |
| Osceola | Jon B. Morgan Osceola County Courthouse 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741 | Osceola Clerk of Court |
The local economy, county by county
Orange County
Orange County sits at the center of the Orlando metro area. Orlando is the county seat and largest city. Apopka, Maitland, Ocoee, Winter Garden, and Winter Park are other business centers. Business activity concentrates in downtown Orlando, along International Drive, at the Central Florida Research Park near UCF, and in Lake Nona.
Tourism is the largest industry, led by theme parks, hotels, and convention business. Health care and life sciences are growing, especially around Lake Nona. The region is also a hub for modeling, simulation, and training, much of it for the military. Aerospace, technology, and real estate development add to the mix. Hotels and service firms tend to hold receivables. Tech and defense firms often own equipment and intellectual property. Many businesses also own commercial real estate.
Osceola County
Osceola County is directly south of Orange County. Kissimmee is the county seat, and St. Cloud is the other city. Poinciana and Celebration are large unincorporated communities. NeoCity, near Kissimmee, is the county’s technology district.
Tourism and hospitality remain the base of the economy. The county is also growing in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and photonics at NeoCity, aviation at Kissimmee Gateway Airport, and life sciences and health care. Cattle ranching and citrus still operate in the rural parts of the county. Local businesses tend to hold commercial real estate, equipment, and inventory. Tech firms may also hold specialized equipment and intellectual property.
The circuit’s official site is the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Appeals go to the Sixth District Court of Appeal.
What creditors should know here
- The Ninth Circuit runs a Business Court for complex business litigation, Division 43 in Orange and Division 23 in Osceola. Filers use a Business Court addendum with the civil cover sheet.
- In county civil cases the plaintiff must file and serve the court’s standing case management order with the summons. Unserved defendants are dismissed after the service deadline, which is 120 days and can be extended to 150.
- 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 Ninth 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
City guide: Orlando, Kissimmee.
Frequently asked questions
Which counties are in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit?
Orange and Osceola Counties.
Where do I file a collection lawsuit in the Ninth 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 Ninth 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 Ninth Circuit, contact us or call (813) 229-0900. We’ll tell you whether the file is worth chasing before you spend on it.