How Long Does Small Claims Court Take in Florida?

The short answer: most Florida small claims cases resolve in 6 to 12 weeks from filing to judgment. The long answer depends on how quickly you serve the defendant, whether mediation settles the case, and whether the defendant shows up.

Here is a realistic breakdown of each stage and what causes delays.

Filing to Pretrial Conference: 30–50 Days

Under Rule 7.090(b), the clerk must schedule the pretrial conference within 50 days of filing your Statement of Claim. In practice, most counties schedule it in 30–45 days.

Once you file and pay the statewide base filing fee ($55 to $175 depending on the claim amount; county charges may add more), the clerk issues a summons with the pretrial date. Your job now is to get the defendant served at least 20 days before that date. If a Return of Non-Service is filed 5 days before the scheduled pretrial, the court cancels the conference as to that defendant under Rule 7.090(b), and you will need to arrange another service attempt.

Service of Process: 1–3 Weeks

How fast the defendant gets served is the single biggest variable in the early timeline. Sheriff service typically takes 1–2 weeks. A private process server can sometimes serve within days. Certified mail through the clerk depends on how quickly the defendant signs the green card.

If the defendant dodges service or the address is wrong, request an alias summons for another attempt. Difficult defendants who actively avoid service can stretch this stage to 4–6 weeks.

Pretrial Conference and Mediation: 1 Day

The pretrial conference itself is usually a single court appearance. It starts with mandatory mediation — a court mediator works with both sides to reach a settlement. If mediation succeeds (and it often does), the case ends here with a signed agreement. Total time from filing to resolution: about 6–8 weeks.

If mediation fails, the judge schedules a trial date — typically 2–4 weeks later, though some busy counties (Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough) may take longer.

Trial: 1 Day

Small claims trials in Florida are informal and usually take 30 minutes to 2 hours. Both sides present their evidence, the judge asks questions, and the ruling comes either immediately or within a few days by mail.

If the defendant does not appear, request entry of a default. The judge then receives evidence establishing damages and enters judgment according to the evidence and the law. If damages are unliquidated, the court schedules a final hearing to determine the amount.

Post-Judgment Collection: Weeks to Months

Winning a judgment is not the same as getting paid. If the defendant does not pay voluntarily, you enter the collection phase: recording a judgment lien, garnishing wages, or executing on bank accounts. This can take weeks (if the defendant has identifiable assets) to months (if they are difficult to locate or judgment-proof).

Florida judgments are enforceable for 20 years and may be renewed through a new action on the judgment before that period expires, so you have time — but active collection efforts produce faster results than waiting.

The Realistic Timeline

What Causes Delays

• Failed service — the biggest cause of early delays
• Continuances — either side can request a postponement, and judges grant them when there is good cause
• County court backlogs — varies by circuit; rural counties are faster, urban circuits slower
• Appeals — if the losing side files a notice of appeal within 30 days, the appeal goes to the District Court of Appeal

The Full Process Step by Step

The Florida Small Claims Filing Guide walks through every stage on this timeline with a deadline calendar so you can track each date and avoid the delays that slow most cases down.

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