When must a Florida party file and serve its mediation authority certification?

Identify the actual mediation conference and the party’s scheduled appearance.

Check any party stipulation changing the ordinary certification requirement.

Identify every required party and insurer representative and establish their actual authority.

1. Identify the actual mediation conference and the party’s scheduled appearance.
2. This requirement runs backward from the actual appearance. Rule 1.090(a) incorporates Rule 2.514, including its directional closed-day provisions. This preset remains guarded until the complete backward calculation and governing stipulation are verified. Do not use a forward ten-day addition or treat a computed day as proof of filing and service.
3. Check the observed statutory holidays, actual clerk calendar and chief-justice directions.
4. Complete the required act with the proper court or recipient.

Apply the observed New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day holidays. Section 110.117 observes Saturday holidays on the preceding Friday and Sunday holidays on the following Monday. Rule 2.514 also includes clerk-observed holidays and days designated by the chief justice or chief judge. An ineligible final day moves in the counting direction. The bundled Florida calendar covers 2026 through 2028. Verify additional closures and chief-justice extensions separately.

The encoded backward preset remains guarded pending individual verification of the complete closed-day calculation and stipulated branch. This source guide establishes the actual appearance and authority duties without supplying a computed date.

The required party representative must have full authority

Rule 1.720(b) requires the party or representative with full authority to settle without further consultation, counsel of record if any, and the prescribed insurer representative. Paragraph (c) requires a final decision maker with legal capacity to execute a binding settlement. Actual authority does not require accepting settlement.

The insurer representative has a specific authority boundary

For an insured party, Rule 1.720(b)(3) requires an insurance-carrier representative other than outside counsel with authority up to the lower of the plaintiff’s last demand and policy limits, without further consultation. Establish the actual representative and amounts.

Public entities have a distinct appearance rule

For a public entity operating under chapter 286, paragraph (d) identifies a representative with authority to negotiate and recommend settlement to the appropriate decision-making body. Do not substitute the ordinary binding-execution formulation for that branch.

Missing certification creates a rebuttable presumption

Rule 1.720(f) makes failure to file the required confirmation, or failure of an identified person to appear, a rebuttable presumption of failure to appear. The court acts on motion when a party fails to appear without good cause. The date alone establishes no sanction.

• This page does not establish a valid referral, actual court setting, sufficient good cause, settlement authority or court enforcement.
• Check the operative edition, actual notice, record activity, motions, interruptions, orders and additional closures.

• Identify the actual mediation conference and the party’s scheduled appearance.
• Check any party stipulation changing the ordinary certification requirement.
• Identify every required party and insurer representative and establish their actual authority.
• Rule 1.720(b) requires the party or representative with full authority to settle without further consultation, counsel of record if any, and the prescribed insurer representative. Paragraph (c) requires a final decision maker with legal capacity to execute a binding settlement. Actual authority does not require accepting settlement.
• For an insured party, Rule 1.720(b)(3) requires an insurance-carrier representative other than outside counsel with authority up to the lower of the plaintiff’s last demand and policy limits, without further consultation. Establish the actual representative and amounts.
• For a public entity operating under chapter 286, paragraph (d) identifies a representative with authority to negotiate and recommend settlement to the appropriate decision-making body. Do not substitute the ordinary binding-execution formulation for that branch.
• Rule 1.720(f) makes failure to file the required confirmation, or failure of an identified person to appear, a rebuttable presumption of failure to appear. The court acts on motion when a party fails to appear without good cause. The date alone establishes no sanction.
• File the written notice with the court and serve all parties as separate acts. Identify the appearing representatives and confirm Rule 1.720(b) authority. Preserve filing and service evidence and actual attendance. A certification does not establish sufficient authority, good cause for nonappearance, settlement or an automatic sanction. Rule 1.080(b) incorporates Rule 2.525 filing. Attorneys ordinarily file through the portal or designated electronic facility. An eligible unrepresented party may elect electronic filing; prescribed paper exceptions remain. Preserve the successful filing timestamp under Rule 2.525(e). Rule 2.514(a)(4) ordinarily sets 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time for electronic filing or service by any means, and scheduled clerk closing for nonelectronic filing. Complete filing and required service as separate acts. A computed date does not establish successful submission, valid original process or sufficient pleading.