Contents and introductory material

FLORIDA SMALL CLAIMS RULES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CITATIONS TO OPINIONS ADOPTING OR AMENDING RULES ......................... 3 RULE 7.010. TITLE AND SCOPE ................................................................ 5 RULE 7.020. APPLICABILITY OF RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE ................ 5 RULE 7.040. CLERICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES OF CLERK .......... 6 RULE 7.050. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION; STATEMENT OF CLAIM ....... 8 RULE 7.060. PROCESS AND VENUE ....................................................... 10 RULE 7.070. METHOD OF SERVICE OF PROCESS .................................. 12 RULE 7.080. SERVICE AND FILING OF PLEADINGS AND DOCUMENTS OTHER THAN STATEMENT OF CLAIM ................................................. 14 RULE 7.090. APPEARANCE; DEFENSIVE PLEADINGS; TRIAL DATE ........ 15 RULE 7.100. COUNTERCLAIMS; SETOFFS; THIRD-PARTY COMPLAINTS; TRANSFER WHEN JURISDICTION EXCEEDED ................................... 19 RULE 7.110. DISMISSAL OF ACTIONS ..................................................... 21 RULE 7.130. CONTINUANCES AND SETTLEMENTS ................................. 24 RULE 7.135. SUMMARY DISPOSITION ..................................................... 24 RULE 7.140. TRIAL .................................................................................. 25 RULE 7.150. JURY TRIALS ...................................................................... 27 RULE 7.160. FAILURE OF PLAINTIFF OR BOTH PARTIES TO APPEAR ........................................................................................... 27 RULE 7.170. DEFAULT; JUDGMENT ....................................................... 28 RULE 7.175. COSTS AND ATTORNEYS’ FEES .......................................... 28 RULE 7.180. MOTIONS FOR NEW TRIAL; TIME FOR; CONTENTS ............ 29 RULE 7.190. RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT OR ORDER; CLERICAL MISTAKES ........................................................................................... 29 RULE 7.200. EXECUTIONS ...................................................................... 31 RULE 7.210. STAY OF JUDGMENT AND EXECUTION .............................. 31 RULE 7.220. SUPPLEMENTARY PROCEEDINGS ...................................... 32 RULE 7.221. HEARING IN AID OF EXECUTION ....................................... 32 RULE 7.230. APPELLATE REVIEW ........................................................... 33 RULE 7.300. FORMS ................................................................................ 34 FORM 7.310. CAPTION ............................................................................. 34 FORM 7.315. DESIGNATION OF E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY ...................................................... 34 FORM 7.316. CHANGE OF ADDRESS ....................................................... 36 FORM 7.322. SUMMONS/NOTICE TO APPEAR FOR PRETRIAL CONFERENCE ..................................................................................... 36

FORM 7.323. PRETRIAL CONFERENCE ORDER AND NOTICE OF TRIAL .. 39 FORM 7.330. STATEMENT OF CLAIM (AUTO NEGLIGENCE) .................... 45 FORM 7.331. STATEMENT OF CLAIM (FOR GOODS SOLD) ...................... 45 FORM 7.332. STATEMENT OF CLAIM (FOR WORK DONE AND MATERIALS FURNISHED) ....................................................................................... 45 FORM 7.333. STATEMENT OF CLAIM (FOR MONEY LENT) ....................... 46 FORM 7.334. STATEMENT OF CLAIM (PROMISSORY NOTE) .................... 46 FORM 7.335. STATEMENT OF CLAIM (FOR RETURN OF STOLEN PROPERTY FROM PAWNBROKER) ....................................................... 47 FORM 7.336. STATEMENT OF CLAIM FOR REPLEVIN (FOR RETURN OF PERSONAL PROPERTY/WEAPON FROM GOVERNMENT ENTITY) ........ 49 FORM 7.337. STATEMENT OF CLAIM (ACCOUNT STATED) ...................... 51 FORM 7.340. FINAL JUDGMENT .............................................................. 51 FORM 7.341. EXECUTION ........................................................................ 53 FORM 7.342. EX PARTE MOTION AND ORDER FOR HEARING IN AID OF EXECUTION ........................................................................................ 53 FORM 7.343. FACT INFORMATION SHEET ............................................... 54 FORM 7.344. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE ................................................... 60 FORM 7.345. STIPULATION FOR INSTALLMENT SETTLEMENT, ORDER APPROVING STIPULATION, AND DISMISSAL ....................................... 60 FORM 7.347. SATISFACTION OF JUDGMENT ........................................... 62 FORM 7.350. AUTHORIZATION TO ALLOW EMPLOYEE TO REPRESENT BUSINESS ENTITY AT ANY STAGE OF LAWSUIT ................................. 63 FORM 7.351. FORMAT FOR DEFENDANT’S MOTION ................................ 63 FORM 7.352. DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO CONTINUE ............................... 66 FORM 7.353. DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO INVOKE THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE ....................................................................................... 68

CITATIONS TO OPINIONS ADOPTING OR AMENDING RULES

Original Adoption, effective 1-1-68: 203 So. 2d 616 and 205 So. 2d 297.

Effective Date Citation Rules Amended or Adopted 2-1-73: 270 So.2d 729. Complete revision. 1-1-79: 366 So.2d 398. Amended 7.010(b), 7.020, 7.060, 7.070, 7.110(e), 7.150, 7.170(a), 7.210(c). 1-1-79: 372 So.2d 449. Amended 7.050(a)(2); deleted 7.030. 1-1-81: 385 So.2d 1367. Amended 7.060, 7.170. 1-1-85: 461 So.2d 1344. Amended 7.010, 7.070, 7.090, 7.110, 7.130, 7.140, 7.150, 7.170, 7.180. 1-1-89: 537 So.2d 81. Amended 7.050(a)(2), (b), 7.060, 7.090(b), (c),

(e), 7.100(e), 7.140(f), 7.210(a); deleted 7.320, 7.321; added 7.050(e), 7.221, 7.322, 7.323, 7.340, 7.342, 7.343, 7.344. 1-1-93: 601 So.2d 1201. Four-year-cycle revision. Substantively amended 7.070, 7.340; added 7.345. 1-1-97: 682 So.2d 1075. Four-year-cycle revision. Amended 7.010(b), 7.020(b), 7.070, 7.110(e), 7.140(e), 7.221, forms 7.340, 7.343, 7.345. 1-1-01: 785 So.2d 401. Four-year cycle revision. Substantively amended 7.070, 7.135, 7.160, 7.221, 7.340, 7.345; added 7.080(f), 7.090(f)–(g). 1-1-04: 849 So.2d 293. Two-year-cycle revision. Amended 7.050(a)(2), 7.090(b), form 7.322. 1-1-06: 931 So.2d 78. Two-year-cycle revision. Amended form 7.343; added 7.175, forms 7.335, 7.343(b), 7.350. 1-1-08: 959 So.2d 1169. Three-year-cycle revision. Added form 7.347. 4-17-08: 980 So.2d 1054. Added committee note to form 7.347. 10-1-08: 985 So.2d 1033. Amended 7.090(f) and form 7.322. 1-1-11: 44 So.3d 573. Three-year cycle revision. Amended 7.050, 7.335, 7.342, 7.343. 7-1-11: 64 So.3d 1196. Amended 7.090(b). 10-1-11: 80 So.3d 317. Amended 7.140, and forms 7.340, 7.343. 12-15-11: 78 So.3d 1303. Amended 7.040. 9-1-12: 102 So.3d 505. Amended 7.050, 7.080. 4-1-13: 102 So.3d 451. Amended 7.080. 1-1-14: 123 So. 3d 41. Three-year-cycle revision. Amended 7.010, 7.050, 7.140, 7.322, 7.350. Adopted 7.336. 1-1-17: 200 So.3d 746. Three-year-cycle revision. Amended 7.050, 7.080, 7.090, 7.160. 1-1-20: 283 So.3d 802. Amended 7.010.

Effective Date Citation Rules Amended or Adopted 1-1-20: 285 So.3d 896. Three-year-cycle revision. Amended 7.020, 7.040, 7.050, 7.060, 7.080, 7.090, 7.100, 7.130, 7.150, 7.160, 7.175, 7.180, 7.190, 7.200, 7.221, 7.230, 7.322, 7.323, 7.330, 7.331, 7.322, 7.333, 7.334, 7.335, 7.342, 7.343, 7.345; Adopted 7.315, 7.316, 7.337, 7351, 7.352, 7.353. 4-8-21: 318 So.3d 1240. Amended 7.221 and 7.343. 10-28-21: 344 So.3d 940. Amended 7.050, 7.080, 7,315, 7.322, 7.323.

10-1-22: 346 So.3d 1105. Amended 7.090, 7.100, 7.140, 7.150.

10-24-22: AOSC22-78. Style changes to conform with the updated style guide.

1-1-24: 372 So.3d 586. Amended Rules 7.110 and Form 7.310.

1-1-26: 7-1-2026 421 So.3d 420. SC2025-1254

Amended Rules 7.010 and 7.020. Amended Rule 7.070

NOTE TO USERS: Rules reflect all changes through 421 So. 3d 420. Subsequent amendments, if any, can be found at ww.floridasupremecourt.org/decisions/rules.shtml.