Small claims cases may now be filed online with the Duval County Circuit Court.
The new system will allow customers to complete the initial filing of small claims cases through the Internet, saving them the time and effort of filing in-person, said Clerk of Court Jim Fuller.
Fuller’s office is one of the first in Florida, and one of few in the country, to accept online filings.
The steps for submitting a case are:
• Access the Clerk’s Website at http://www.duval.fl.us.landata.com, or
• Visit the site directly at http://www.duvalcourt.com
• Select Civil (Small Claim) — Electronic Filing
• Follow the instructions
• Submit the case for filing
The process should take five to seven minutes to complete. Once the clerk’s office receives the information, the case will be initiated and the appropriate documents will be mailed to the customer.
There is a convenience fee of $20 to file online. That charge, along with the filing fees, may be paid by credit card. If the individual receives a favorable judgment, the convenience fee may be reimbursed by the defendant in the case.
Setting the program up was done in conjunction with nCourt (www.ncourt.com), a national court and government legal service company.
“We have combined technology with a nontraditional approach to provide the citizens of Duval County with a better access to our court system,” said Fuller. “In addition, we have accomplished this task without any investment of taxpayer funds.
“nCourt has been a great partner and has been instrumental in completing this project.”
Individuals normally take 20 to 30 minutes to complete the required paperwork, said Gordon Morgan, chief assistant clerk of court.
“However, when added to the time it takes to drive to the courthouse, find a place to park, and wait for staff service, an individual can spend several hours away from home or work,” he added. “Our new service eliminates the hassle, inconvenience and loss of time.
“In addition, the website created by nCourt provides a wealth of information concerning the requirements and judicial process related to a small claims case. This information will prove to be invaluable to our citizens.”
For further information, call Connye Crossman at 630-2457.