Florida Civil Litigation Deadlines Cheat Sheet

Pleadings

• Answer: 20 days after service of original process and the initial pleading, unless a Florida statute prescribes a different time. The state, its agencies and its officers sued in an official capacity have 40 days, except in actions under s. 768.28 (Rule 1.140(a)).
• Crossclaims and counterclaims: 20 days to answer a crossclaim after service, and 20 days for the plaintiff to answer a counterclaim.
• Reply: if a reply is required, 20 days after service of the answer.
• After a Rule 1.140 motion: serving most motions under the rule pauses the response time. If the court denies the motion or postpones it until trial, responsive pleadings are due within 10 days after the order. An amended pleading the court permits or requires is due within 10 days after the order unless the court sets another time.

Case management

• The court must assign a track and issue a case management order no later than 120 days after the action commences (Rule 1.200).
• The order must set at least nine deadlines and states that they are strictly enforced. See how to read a case management order.

Disclosure and discovery

• Initial disclosures: within 60 days after service of the complaint or joinder, unless the court sets a different time or the action is exempt under Rule 1.200(a) (Rule 1.280). No discovery from any source before that party serves its initial disclosures, unless stipulated or ordered. See the initial disclosures checklist.
• Interrogatories: no more than 30 including subparts without leave. Answers and objections are due within 30 days after service, or 45 days after service of process and the initial pleading for a defendant (Rule 1.340).
• Requests for production: a written response is due within 30 days after service, or 45 days after service of process and the initial pleading for a defendant (Rule 1.350).
• Requests for admission: no more than 30 including subparts without leave or stipulation. A matter is admitted unless a written answer or objection is served within 30 days after service, with defendants not required to respond before 45 days after service of process and the initial pleading unless the court shortens the time (Rule 1.370).

Motions

• Conferral: required before most non-dispositive motions, with a certificate of conferral at the end of the motion. See Rule 1.202.
• Summary judgment: may be filed any time after 20 days from commencement. The movant serves its supporting factual position with the motion, the response is due 40 days after service of the motion, and the hearing must be set at least 10 days after the response deadline unless the parties stipulate or the court orders otherwise. See the Rule 1.510 timeline.

Counting

Count every period under Rule 2.514 and serve under Rule 2.516. The details, including the extra five days for service by mail only, are in computing time in Florida courts.

This sheet covers the general rules. Statutes, local rules and court orders can set different times, and probate and guardianship proceedings follow their own rules. General information for Florida practitioners, reviewed in October 2026 against the rule text linked above. It is not legal advice, and rules change, so confirm against the current text before relying on it.

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