FloridaLawHelp.org (Eviction & Legal Help)
Last updated August 2026
Florida evictions move faster than almost anywhere, and one rule decides most cases before a judge ever hears them. Served with an eviction summons? You have 5 business days to respond. In a nonpayment case you must ALSO put the claimed rent into the court registry, or ask the judge to set the amount. Skip that deposit and every defense except payment is waived. The landlord wins by default, immediately. FloridaLawHelp.org explains it all free.
The timeline from the top: a 3-day notice to pay or leave starts it. Do neither and the landlord files. Then you get served, and the 5-business-day clock starts, skipping weekends and holidays. The free Eviction Answer Builder and the courts' approved Answer form walk you through responding.
Putting the rent in the registry does not win your case. It keeps your defenses alive so a judge hears you. Miss a judge-set payment date later and the eviction can still finalize. But skipping the deposit loses instantly. If the money exists anywhere, it belongs in the registry.
Know what your landlord cannot do: change the locks, cut the power or water, or haul your things out. Self-help evictions are illegal in Florida, and tenants can recover up to 3 months' rent in damages for them.
FloridaLawHelp.org is run by the state's legal aid programs collectively, and its directory routes you to free lawyers by county and topic, each with its own income rules. If unpaid rent drove this, dial 2-1-1 about local rent funds the same day; the court clock and the money hunt run in parallel.
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- The information is free for everyone
- Legal aid programs it lists are generally income-based; each program screens you
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Count 5 business days from being served the summons, excluding weekends and holidays. Mark it everywhere.
- 2
In a nonpayment case, deposit the claimed rent into the court registry within those 5 days, or file a motion to determine rent. This is the step that decides cases.
- 3
File your Answer using the free Eviction Answer Builder or the courts' approved form on floridalawhelp.org.
- 4
Find a free lawyer through the site's legal aid directory for your county; each program has its own income rules.
- 5
Document everything if the landlord self-helps: lock changes and utility shut-offs are illegal and worth up to 3 months' rent in damages.
- 6
Dial 2-1-1 about local rent funds while the case proceeds.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How long do I have to respond to a Florida eviction?
5 business days from being served the summons, not counting weekends and legal holidays. In a nonpayment case you must also deposit the claimed rent into the court registry in that window.
What happens if I don't deposit rent with the court?
Under Florida law, every defense except payment is waived and the landlord is entitled to an immediate default judgment. If the amount seems wrong, file a motion to determine rent instead, within the same 5 days.
Does depositing the rent stop the eviction?
No, it keeps your defenses alive so the case gets heard. You must keep meeting any judge-set payment deadlines, or a final judgment can still issue.
Can my landlord lock me out or cut utilities?
No. Self-help evictions are illegal in Florida. Lock changes, utility shut-offs, and removing belongings can cost the landlord up to 3 months' rent in damages.
Where do I get free eviction forms?
floridalawhelp.org: the interactive Florida Eviction Answer Builder and the courts' approved Answer form, both free, plus plain-language guides.
How do I find a free lawyer in Florida?
Through the legal aid directory on floridalawhelp.org, which routes by county and legal topic. Each program sets its own income limits, so apply rather than assuming.
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