Our Circuit and County courts are dedicated to consistently resolving judicial matters in a timely and efficient manner while upholding the laws and regulations provided by the legal system with integrity and impartiality.
This program unites the judiciary, criminal justice entities, treatment providers, and the community helping nonviolent offenders.
The Juvenile Dependency Court that has the responsibility for hearing cases involving abused, neglected or abandoned children.
The general public may have access to digitally recorded court proceedings unless deemed confidential by judge.
Domestic Violence Court addresses assault, battery, abuse, kidnapping, false imprisonment by family member.
Brevard County Early Childhood Court (ECC) is for young children and their families involved in allegations of abuse or neglect.
Comprehensive approach to handling all cases involving children and families, while resolving family disputes in a timely manner.
Florida law specifies how foreclosures work, and both federal and state laws give you rights and protections throughout the process.
Providing qualified interpreters to limited-English-proficient and deaf persons in order to eliminate communication barriers.
This program unites the judiciary, criminal justice entities, treatment providers, and the community helping nonviolent offenders.
A court-appointed mediator will help parties negotiate issues and settlement in their civil or family case.
An online platform for small claims and debt collection cases that assist parties in negotiating settlement via messaging.
Settlement of the estates, wills, guardianship, involuntary hospitalization, and determination of competency.
The pro bono opportunities outlined represent just a few areas where attorneys can use their legal skills in service to our community.
Also known as Pro Se or Self-Help, is representing yourself in a legal procedure without the aid of an attorney that applies to civil law.
Links providing alternative self-improvement programs such as drug & alcohol therapy, anger management, driving courses, etc.
The Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit authorized therapy animals to assist in proceedings.
Traffic Court currently offers Civil Traffic Infraction hearings in person with the option to appear via video conference for any party.
Provides an inter-agency, collaborative, non-adversarial therapeutic justice program for American Veterans.
Attorneys in both Brevard and Seminole have the resources offering many new facets of modern technology including but not limited to online scheduling, instructions, provider listings, policies and procedures, and much more.
There are courtroom rules and policies governing all divisions of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court. All parties are expected to follow these rules. Click Courtroom Rules button below to review these rules.
Other AgenciesBrevard County Agencies
Seminole County Agencies
Florida Judicial Agencies
Florida State Agencies
Federal Judicial Agencies
Administrative Orders are provided here in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF). Administrative Orders are available online only for orders from 1999 to the present.
This Brevard Courts area provides instructions to attorneys on how to submit case management plans, orders, etc.
18th JudicialBrevard uses both the Judicial Automatic Calendar System (JACs) and a non-automated calendaring system.
18th JudicialThe Court provides the use of courtroom technology as a courtesy to legal professionals and court participants.
18th JudicialThe pro bono opportunities outlined within represent just a few areas where attorneys can use their legal skills in service to our community.
18th JudicialThe Eighteenth Judicial Circuit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, etc.
18th Judiciale-Notify was developed through a collaborative effort between the Florida State Courts System, the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers, the Clerks of Court Operations Corporation, and the Legislature.
Procedural instructions for attorneys along with policies that may differ within the guidelines of the law between judges and county or circuit courts.
This Seminole Courts area provides instructions to attorneys on how to submit case management plans, orders, etc.
18th JudicialThis area provides attorneys with arbitrator listings, registries, expert witness providers, orders, rates, policies, and more.
18th JudicialThis area provides lists of Process Servers, applications, etc. Certified Process Servers are NOT employees of the Eighteenth.
18th JudicialThe Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Self-Improvement course links offered by other Florida State Agencies that is open to all Florida Citizens.
18th JudicialOn this page, you will find videos that provide rules and guidance for self-represented litigants who will appear in a virtual court hearing and who are representing themselves in a case in Florida’s trial courts.
We want you to have the utmost confidence in our court system and are committed to providing you with information and access to the courts in an innovative and efficient manner.
We want you to have the utmost confidence in our court system and are committed to providing you with information and access to the courts in an innovative and efficient manner. Whether you are a citizen, litigant, defendant or attorney, the resources on this website will be of assistance to you and helpful in your interaction with the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.
All of our judges are committed to upholding the tremendous trust you have placed in us, and your comments about our website and operations are always welcomed. We hope to hear from you as we continue to look for ways to improve this website and our court programs.
Charlie Crawford
Chief Judge
The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit was created by the legislature in 1967 and is composed of Brevard and Seminole Counties. Prior to that time, Brevard and Seminole were part of the Ninth Circuit.
The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit was created by the legislature in 1967 and is composed of Brevard and Seminole Counties. Prior to that time, Brevard and Seminole were part of the Ninth Judicial Circuit along with Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, and St. Lucie Counties. Prior to the organizational change in the court system which occurred in 1972, the Eighteenth Circuit had a variety of courts including the Circuit Court, the Court of Record of Brevard County, the Brevard County Magistrate's Court, County Judge's Courts, Justice of the Peace Courts and a Small Claims Court. Additionally, each municipality had a Municipal Court.
The Circuit Court in Brevard County had jurisdiction to try capital cases and civil actions not cognizable in the County Judge's Court or the Magistrate's Court. In Seminole County the Circuit Court had jurisdiction to try all felony cases, including capital cases, and civil actions not cognizable in the County Court or the Small Claims Court. The Court of Record in Brevard County was a criminal court that tried all criminal cases except capital cases.
The reorganization of the court system in Florida in 1972 caused many of the courts to be abolished and resulted in statewide uniformity. The only trial courts remaining after the reorganization were the Circuit Court and the County Court. The judges of the abolished courts in Brevard County became Circuit Judges.
The population of the Circuit has grown substantially since 1972 due to the influence of the space program in Brevard County and the effects Disney World has had in Seminole County. In 1973, there were 13 Circuit Judges and 5 County Court Judges. Currently, there are 26 Circuit Judges and 17 County Court Judges.
Presently, the County Court has jurisdiction to try criminal cases classified as misdemeanors, civil actions where the amount in controversy is less than $30,000, small claims cases, landlord and tenant disputes and other miscellaneous actions. The Circuit Court is the state trial court of general jurisdiction. It has jurisdiction to try criminal cases which are classified as felonies, including capital cases; civil actions where the amount in controversy is $30,000 or greater and cases which do not traditionally involve juries such as probate of estates, mortgage foreclosures, juvenile cases, injunctions, dissolution of marriage actions and adoptions.
On January 1, 2023, the jurisdiction of county courts will be increased to include claims up to $50,000.00. This will give the circuit courts jurisdiction over any claims where the amount in controversy is in excess of $50,000.00. This law does not impact the jurisdictional limits of small claims court.
The 18th Circuit has a large geographical area with over eighty miles between the main courthouse in Viera (Melbourne) and the Criminal Justice Center in Sanford. There are a total of six courthouses in the circuit with main facilities located at Viera and Sanford.
