When must a Florida summary-procedure defendant file an answer?

Establish the action’s actual summary-procedure basis and preserve the served process.

Read the actual summons and service proof, distinguishing process from a landlord notice.

Prepare the complete answer with all defenses and complete filing and prescribed service.

1. Establish the action’s actual summary-procedure basis and preserve the served process.
2. Rule 1.090(a) incorporates Rule 2.514(a). Exclude the established event. For seven days or longer, begin with the next day that is not Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday. Count intermediate calendar days. For fewer than seven days, omit intermediate Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. Do not treat a seven-day period as seven business days.
3. Establish the actual holiday calendar and any applicable court 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.

Fictitious example

Fictitious facts. Valid process is served in an action established to use section 51.011. The actual event is August 2, 2027. No mail-only addition, further closure, changed court period or federal/program-specific notice requirement is assumed.

Fictitious facts. Establish the stated procedure and actual event separately. No mail-only addition, further clerk holiday, tolling motion, chief-justice extension or different actual court order is assumed.

Summary procedure requires an actual statutory or rule basis

Section 51.011 applies only to actions specified by statute or rule. Its different time period controls a conflicting rule period. Section 83.59(2) gives the stated possession action summary procedure. Do not transfer five days to every Florida civil answer.

All defenses belong in the answer

Section 51.011(1) requires all defenses of law or fact in the answer. No other pleadings are permitted. The court must hear defensive motions, including motions to quash, before trial. A filed motion alone does not establish a new answer deadline.

The eviction registry requirement is a separate act

Section 83.60(2) addresses registry payment or a supported motion to determine rent when the tenant asserts a defense other than payment. Filing the answer alone does not complete that requirement or the ongoing rent obligation.

The holiday calendar and actual court directions matter

Rule 2.514(a)(2) excludes weekends and legal holidays from periods shorter than seven days. Preserve additional clerk holidays and any applicable court directions. Valid process, answer sufficiency and actual relief remain independently established facts.

• This page does not establish valid notice, valid process, claim or defense sufficiency, rent amounts, automatic possession or a stay.
• Check the governing historical edition, actual motions, orders, clerk holidays and filing receipts.

• Establish the action’s actual summary-procedure basis and preserve the served process.
• Read the actual summons and service proof, distinguishing process from a landlord notice.
• Prepare the complete answer with all defenses and complete filing and prescribed service.
• Section 51.011 applies only to actions specified by statute or rule. Its different time period controls a conflicting rule period. Section 83.59(2) gives the stated possession action summary procedure. Do not transfer five days to every Florida civil answer.
• Section 51.011(1) requires all defenses of law or fact in the answer. No other pleadings are permitted. The court must hear defensive motions, including motions to quash, before trial. A filed motion alone does not establish a new answer deadline.
• Section 83.60(2) addresses registry payment or a supported motion to determine rent when the tenant asserts a defense other than payment. Filing the answer alone does not complete that requirement or the ongoing rent obligation.
• Rule 2.514(a)(2) excludes weekends and legal holidays from periods shorter than seven days. Preserve additional clerk holidays and any applicable court directions. Valid process, answer sufficiency and actual relief remain independently established facts.
• 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.