In Re: Amendments to Florida Small Claims Rules 7.010 and 7.020

Supreme Court of Florida
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No. SC2024-1765
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IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA SMALL CLAIMS RULES
7.010 AND 7.020.

October 23, 2025

PER CURIAM.

The Small Claims Rules Committee has filed a report

proposing amendments to Florida Small Claims Rules 7.010 (Title

and Scope) and 7.020 (Applicability of Rules of Civil Procedure). 1

The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors recommends acceptance of

the proposed amendments. The proposed amendments were

published by the Committee, and one comment was received. We

republished the proposed amendments and received no comments.

Having considered the Committee’s report and the comment

the Committee received, we hereby amend rules 7.010 and 7.020

with a modification to the Committee’s proposal. As the Committee

1. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.; see
also Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.140(b)(1).
proposes, minor stylistic changes are made throughout rules 7.010

and 7.020 to conform with this Court’s guidelines for rules

submissions, and rule 7.020(a) is amended to add subdivisions (a)

through (d) of Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.190 to the list of civil

procedure rules applicable to actions brought under the Small

Claims Rules.

Regarding this Court’s modification to the Committee’s

proposal, the Committee proposed adding to rule 7.010(b) a

sentence reading: “These rules do not apply to an action that

includes a claim for foreclosure.” We decline to amend rule 7.010

in this manner.

Accordingly, Florida Small Claims Rules 7.010 and 7.020 are

amended as set forth in the appendix to this opinion. New language

is indicated by underscoring; deletions are indicated by struck-

through type. The amendments shall become effective January 1,

2026, at 12:01 a.m.

It is so ordered.

MUÑIZ, C.J., and CANADY, LABARGA, COURIEL, GROSSHANS,
FRANCIS, and SASSO, JJ., concur.

THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS.

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Original Proceeding – Florida Small Claims Rules

Amanda Roath Duffy, Chair, Small Claims Rules Committee,
Tampa, Florida, Zoran David Jovanovich, Past Chair, Small Claims
Rules Committee, Deerfield Beach, Florida, Joshua E. Doyle,
Executive Director, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, and Kelly
Smith, Bar Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida,

for Petitioner

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APPENDIX

RULE 7.010. TITLE AND SCOPE

(a) Title. These rules shall beare cited as Florida Small
Claims Rules and may be abbreviated “Fla. Sm. Cl. R.” These rules
shallmust be construed to implement the simple, speedy, and
inexpensive trial of actions at law in county courts.

(b) Scope. These rules are applicable to all actions of a civil
nature in the county courts which contain a demand for money or
property, the value of which does not exceed $8,000 exclusive of
costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees. If there is a difference between
the time period prescribed by these rules and by section 51.011,
Florida Statutes, the statutory provision shall governs.

Committee Notes

1978 Amendment-2013 Amendment. [No Change]

RULE 7.020. APPLICABILITY OF RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
(a) Generally. Florida Rules of Civil Procedure 1.090(a), (b),
and (c); 1.190(a)–(e); 1.210(b); 1.260; 1.410; and 1.560 are
applicable in all actions covered by these rules.
(b) Discovery. Any party represented by an attorney is
subject to discovery pursuant to Florida Rules of Civil Procedure
1.280–1.380 directed at said party, without order of court. If a party
not represented by an attorney directs discovery to a party
represented by an attorney, the represented party may also use
discovery pursuant to the above-mentioned rules without leave of
court. When a party is not represented by an attorney, and has not
initiated discovery pursuant to Florida Rules of Civil Procedure
1.280–1.380, the opposing party shallis not be entitled to initiate

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such discovery without leave of court. However, the time for such
discovery procedures may be prescribed by the court.

(c) Additional Rules. In any particular action, the court
may order that action to proceed under 1 or more additional Florida
Rules of Civil Procedure on application of any party or, the
stipulation of all parties, or on the court’s own motion.

Committee Notes

1972 Amendment-1996 Amendment. [No Change]

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