Florida Small Claims Rules – 2026
The Florida Small Claims Rules govern civil actions for money damages not exceeding the jurisdictional limit in Florida county courts. Includes plain-English summaries and committee notes.
Browse all 25 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.
Rule 7.010
Title and Scope
Rule 7.020
Applicability of Rules of Civil Procedure
Rule 7.040
Clerical and Administrative Duties of Clerk
Rule 7.050
Commencement of Action; Statement of Claim
Rule 7.060
Process and Venue
Rule 7.070
Method of Service of Process
Rule 7.080
Service and Filing of Pleadings and Documents Other Than Statement of Claim
Rule 7.090
Appearance; Defensive Pleadings; Trial Date
Rule 7.100
Counterclaims; Setoffs; Third-party Complaints; Transfer When Jurisdiction Exceeded
Rule 7.110
Dismissal of Actions
Rule 7.130
Continuances and Settlements
Rule 7.135
Summary Disposition
Rule 7.140
Trial
Rule 7.150
Jury Trials
Rule 7.160
Failure of Plaintiff or Both Parties to Appear
Rule 7.170
Default; Judgment
Rule 7.175
Costs and Attorneys’ Fees
Rule 7.180
Motions for New Trial; Time For; Contents
Rule 7.190
Relief from Judgment or Order; Clerical Mistakes
Rule 7.200
Executions
Rule 7.210
Stay of Judgment and Execution
Rule 7.220
Supplementary Proceedings
Rule 7.221
Hearing in Aid of Execution
Rule 7.230
Appellate Review
Rule 7.300
Forms
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the Florida Small Claims Rules cover?
The Florida Small Claims Rules govern civil cases filed in Florida county courts where the dispute involves money damages within the small claims jurisdictional limit. They cover the full process from filing a claim through judgment, including service of process, hearings, and enforcement of judgments. These rules are designed to make resolving smaller money disputes more accessible and less complicated than full civil litigation.
How are the Florida Small Claims Rules different from the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure?
The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure apply to general civil cases in circuit and county courts, while the Small Claims Rules are a separate, streamlined set of rules specifically for lower-dollar money disputes in county court. Small claims proceedings are intentionally less formal, with simplified pleading requirements and procedures that do not always mirror what you would find in standard civil litigation. When the Small Claims Rules do not address a particular situation, the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure may apply as a fallback.
Where in these 25 rules can I find information about what happens at the actual hearing?
The rules addressing the conduct of the small claims hearing, including how evidence is presented and how the judge manages the proceeding, are found in the later sections of the rule set. You can browse the individual rule summaries on this page to locate the specific rule that covers trial procedure and judgment. The plain-English summaries next to each rule make it straightforward to spot the hearing-related provisions without having to read through the full legal text first.