Florida probate, civil and family deadlines

Two-year bar on claims against the decedent

24 months after the date of death

2 years after the death of a person, neither the decedent's estate, the personal representative, if any, nor the beneficiaries shall be liable for any claim or cause of action against the decedent, whether or not letters of administration have been issued, except as provided in this section.

Fla. Stat. §733.710(1) · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule

Inventory

60 days after the date letters were issued

Unless an inventory has been previously filed, the personal representative must file an inventory of the estate within 60 days after issuance of letters.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.340(a), (b) · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule

Final accounting and petition for discharge

12 months after the date letters were issued

The final accounting and petition for discharge must be filed and served on interested persons within 12 months after issuance of letters for an estate not filing a federal estate tax return, otherwise within 12 months from the date the return is due, unless the time is extended by the court for cause shown after notice to interested persons.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.400(c) · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule

Serve notice and death certificate on AHCA (decedent 55 or older)

3 months after the first publication of notice to creditors

within 3 months after the first publication of the notice to creditors.

Fla. Stat. §733.2121(3)(d) · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule

Creditor claims period closes (3 months after first publication)

3 months after the first publication of notice to creditors

on or before the later of the date that is 3 months after the time of the first publication of the notice to creditors or... 30 days after the date of service on the creditor

Fla. Stat. §733.702(1), (3) · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule

Publication, notice to known creditors and notice of administration are "promptly"

the personal representative shall promptly publish a notice to creditors.

Fla. Stat. §733.2121(1)–(3); Fla. Prob. R. 5.240(a), 5.241(a); Fla. Stat. §198.02 · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule

Serve summons and complaint

120 days after the complaint was filed

If service of the initial process and initial pleading is not made on a defendant within 120 days after filing

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.070(j) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Answer due

20 days after the summons and complaint were served

Unless a different time is prescribed in a statute of Florida, ... a defendant must serve an answer within 20 days after service of original process ... or not later than the date fixed in a notice by publication.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.140(a)(1) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Answer due (State of Florida defendant)

40 days after the summons and complaint were served

the state of Florida, an agency of the state, or an officer or employee of the state sued in an official capacity ... must serve an answer to the complaint or crossclaim, or a reply to a counterclaim, within 40 days after service.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.140(a)(2)(A) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Initial discovery disclosures due

60 days after the summons and complaint were served

within 60 days after the service of the complaint or joinder, unless a different time is set by court order.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.280(a)(3) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Answer due after ruling on pre-answer motion

10 days after the court decided the motion

the responsive pleadings must be served within 10 days after the filing of the court's order

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.140(a)(3) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Response to amended pleading due

10 days after the amended pleading was served

A party shall plead in response to an amended pleading within 10 days after service of the amended pleading ... unless the court otherwise orders.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.190(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Interrogatory answers and objections due

30 days after the discovery requests were served

The party to whom the interrogatories are directed must serve the answers and any objections within 30 days ... except that a defendant may serve answers or objections within 45 days

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.340(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Response to request for production due

30 days after the discovery requests were served

within 30 days after service of the request ... a defendant may serve a response within 45 days after service of the process and initial pleading on that defendant.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.350(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Answers/objections to requests for admission due (else deemed admitted)

30 days after the discovery requests were served

The matter is admitted unless the party to whom the request is directed serves on the party requesting the admission ... a written answer or objection addressed to the matter within 30 days after service of the request ... a defendant is not required to serve answers or objections before the expiration of 45 days

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.370(a), (b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Response to summary judgment motion due

40 days after the motion was served

No later than 40 days after service of the motion for summary judgment, the nonmovant must serve a response ...

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.510(c)(5) (as amended eff. Jan. 1, 2025) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Last day to serve a proposal for settlement

45 days before trial

No proposal may be served later than 45 days before the date set for trial or the first day of the docket on which the case is set for trial, whichever is earlier.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.442(b), (f)(1) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Motion for new trial or rehearing due (jury case)

15 days after the verdict or decision

A motion for new trial or for rehearing must be served not later than 15 days after the return of the verdict in a jury action or the date of filing of the judgment in a non-jury action.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.530(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Motion for new trial or rehearing due (non-jury case)

15 days after judgment was entered

A motion for new trial or for rehearing must be served not later than 15 days after the return of the verdict ... in a jury action or the date of filing of the judgment in a non-jury action.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.530(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Motion to alter or amend judgment due

15 days after judgment was entered

A motion to alter or amend the judgment shall be served not later than 15 days after the date of filing of the judgment,

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.530(g) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Motion for costs and attorneys' fees due

30 days after judgment was entered

Any party seeking a judgment taxing costs, attorneys' fees, or both shall serve a motion no later than 30 days ... after filing of the judgment, including a judgment of dismissal, or the service of a notice of voluntary dismissal,

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.525 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Notice of appeal due

30 days after judgment was entered

must be invoked by filing a notice with the clerk of the lower tribunal within 30 days of rendition ... An order is rendered when a signed, written order is filed with the clerk of the lower tribunal.

Fla. R. App. P. 9.110(b); 9.020(h) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Outer limit for Rule 1.540(b)(1)-(3) motion

12 months after judgment was entered

The motion shall be filed within a reasonable time, ... for reasons (1), (2), and (3) not more than 1 year after the judgment, decree, order, or proceeding was entered or taken.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.540(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

No statewide deadline to respond to a general motion

A copy of any written motion which may not be heard ex parte and a copy of the notice of the hearing must be served a reasonable time before the time specified for the hearing.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.090(d) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Notice of hearing: 'reasonable time', no fixed number of days

must be served a reasonable time before the time specified for the hearing.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.090(d) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Summary judgment hearing must be at least 10 days after the response deadline

Any hearing on a motion for summary judgment must be set for a date at least 10 days after the deadline for serving a response, unless the parties stipulate or the court orders otherwise.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.510(b), (c)(6) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Case management order sets discovery, expert, motion and SJ deadlines

The court must issue the case management order no later than 120 days after commencement of the action as provided in rule 1.050. ... Deadlines in a case management order must be strictly enforced unless changed by court order.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.200(d)(2), (d)(4), (e)(1) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Discovery cutoff set by case management order

completion of fact discovery; ... completion of expert discovery; ... filing and service of motion for summary judgment;

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.200(d)(2) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Trial-setting timing obligations are the court's

not later than 45 days ... before the projected trial period set forth in the case management order, ... the court must enter an order setting the trial period.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.440(c)(2), (c)(4) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Post-judgment motions that delay the appeal clock

The following motions, if authorized and timely filed, toll rendition.

Fla. R. App. P. 9.020(h)(1)-(2) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Post-judgment motion deadlines cannot be extended

The court may not extend the time for making a motion for new trial, for rehearing, or to alter or amend a judgment

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.090(b)(2) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Serve petition and process

120 days after the petition was filed

is not made on a respondent within 120 days after filing of the pleading directed to that respondent.

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.070(l) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Earliest date for final judgment of dissolution

20 days after the petition was filedEarliest day, not a last day: the day after this period

No final judgment of dissolution of marriage may be entered until at least 20 days have elapsed ... from the date of filing the original petition for dissolution of marriage

Fla. Stat. §61.19 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Response to petition due

20 days after the petition was served

a respondent must serve a response within 20 days after service of original process

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.140(a)(1) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Initial mandatory disclosure due

45 days after the petition was served

within 45 days of service of the initial pleading on the respondent

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.285(b)(2) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Response due after ruling on a motion

10 days after the court decided the motion

the responsive pleadings must be served within 10 days after notice of the court's action.

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.140(a)(2) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Response to amended pleading due

10 days after the amended pleading was served

A party must plead in response to an amended pleading within 10 days after service of the amended pleading

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.190 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Interrogatory answers and objections due

30 days after the discovery requests were served

The party to whom the interrogatories are directed must serve the answers and any objections within 30 days ... after the service of the interrogatories, ... except that a respondent may serve answers or objections within 45 days

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.340(c) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Response to request for production due

30 days after the discovery requests were served

must serve a written response within 30 days after service of the request, except that a respondent or third-party defendant may serve a response within 45 days

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.350(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Answers/objections to requests for admission due (else deemed admitted)

30 days after the discovery requests were served

The matter is admitted unless the party to whom the request is directed serves ... within 30 days after service of the request ... a respondent will not be required to serve answers or objections before the expiration of 45 days

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.370(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Mandatory disclosure before temporary financial hearing (party seeking relief)

10 days before the hearing

at least ten days prior to the temporary financial hearing

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.285(b)(1)(A) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Mandatory disclosure before temporary financial hearing (responding party)

5 court days before the hearing

at least five days prior to the temporary financial hearing

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.285(b)(1)(B) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Motion for new trial or rehearing due (non-jury case)

15 days after the judgment was entered

A motion for new trial or for rehearing must be served not later than 15 days ... after the return of the verdict in a jury action ... or the date of filing of the judgment in a non-jury action.

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.530(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Motion to alter or amend judgment due

15 days after the judgment was entered

A motion to alter or amend the judgment must be served not later than 15 days after entry of the judgment,

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.530(h) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Notice of appeal due

30 days after the judgment was entered

must be invoked by filing a notice with the clerk of the lower tribunal within 30 days of rendition

Fla. R. App. P. 9.110(b); 9.020(d), (h) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Outer limit for Rule 12.540(b)(1)-(3) motion

12 months after the judgment was entered

The motion must be filed within a reasonable time ... for reasons (1), (2), and (3) not more than 1 year after the judgment, order, or proceeding was entered or taken ... except that there will be no time limit for motions based on fraudulent financial affidavits in marital or paternity cases.

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.540(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Post-judgment motions that delay the appeal clock

The following motions, if authorized and timely filed, toll rendition.

Fla. R. App. P. 9.020(h)(1)-(2) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Appeal of appealable non-final family orders: 30 days from rendition

with the clerk of the lower tribunal within 30 days of rendition of the order to be reviewed.

Fla. R. App. P. 9.130(a)(3)(C)(iii), (b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule