Business Law in Fort Lauderdale
By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 26, 2026
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.
If you’re starting or running a business in Fort Lauderdale, the formation paperwork is statewide: Florida LLCs, corporations, and fictitious names are filed with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), not a local office. When a business dispute lands in court, it’s heard in the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in and for Broward County, which maintains a Complex Business Litigation Division for larger commercial cases.
The local court decides where your case is heard; the substantive law lives in our statewide guides. Start with the Florida business law hub, then read about forming an LLC, choosing a business entity, or business disputes.
The right structure and clear contracts prevent most problems. To get matched with a local Fort Lauderdale business attorney, connect with a lawyer.
Filing office & local court
Where to file: Business entities are formed statewide with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), while business disputes for Fort Lauderdale companies are litigated in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court for Broward County, which maintains a Complex Business Litigation Division.
Florida entity filings — LLCs, corporations, and fictitious names — go to the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) statewide, not a local court. When a Fort Lauderdale business dispute goes to court, it is heard in the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in and for Broward County, which has a Complex Business Litigation Division for larger commercial cases. Verify current filing procedures with Sunbiz and the court before you file.
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Start your free intakeFrequently asked questions
- Where do I register a business in Fort Lauderdale?
- Florida business entities are formed statewide with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), not a Broward County office. The same applies whether you're forming an LLC, a corporation, or registering a fictitious name.
- Where are Fort Lauderdale business disputes litigated?
- In the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in and for Broward County. Larger commercial matters may be assigned to that court's Complex Business Litigation Division.