Current through April 13, 2026

Florida Rules of Civil Procedure

Overview and 2025 Changes

The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure govern how civil cases are litigated in Florida state courts — from filing the complaint through trial. They apply statewide in circuit courts and county courts.

January 1, 2025: The largest FL civil procedure overhaul in decades.

The Florida Supreme Court issued two orders: SC2023-0962 amended 12 existing rules and created Rule 1.202; SC2024-0662 further amended Rules 1.202 and 1.510. The changes import federal practice into Florida state courts for the first time:

Initial disclosures are now mandatory — within 60 days of service, before anyone asks (Rule 1.280)
Meet and confer before most motions — a new statewide requirement with a written certificate (Rule 1.202)
Summary judgment response: 40 days from service — not 20 days before a hearing (Rule 1.510)
Case management deadlines strictly enforced — continuances now 'should rarely be granted'

Are there local rules in Florida state court? Florida's 20 judicial circuits can adopt local rules and administrative orders, but only for matters not covered by the statewide rules and only with Florida Supreme Court approval. These are narrower in scope than federal local rules. The statewide Florida Rules of Civil Procedure govern the substance of civil practice.

Primary source: The official current text is maintained by the Florida Bar at floridabar.org/rules/ctproc/. This page reflects the rules as amended effective January 1, 2025.

2025 Rule Changes — Complete Reference

All rules amended effective January 1, 2025. Ordered by rule number.

Rule	Topic	What Changed
Rule 1.090	Time computation	Trial continuances and CMO deadlines now governed by Rules 1.200/1.201, not 1.090
Rule 1.200	Case management	Mandatory track assignment within 120 days; CMO deadlines strictly enforced; 3 tracks
Rule 1.201	Complex litigation	8-factor test for complex case designation
Rule 1.202 NEW	Meet and confer	New rule: conferral required before most motions; Certificate of Conferral required
Rule 1.280	Discovery / Initial disclosures	Initial disclosures required within 60 days; federal proportionality standard adopted
Rule 1.340	Interrogatories	Objections must state specific grounds; untimely objections waived
Rule 1.350	Document production	Must state whether withholding on objection
Rule 1.380	Discovery sanctions	New exclusion sanction for initial disclosure failures
Rule 1.440	Setting action for trial	Trial-setting aligned with CMO track system
Rule 1.460	Continuances	Should rarely be granted; lack of diligence not good cause
Rule 1.510	Summary judgment	Response due 40 days after service (was: 20 days before hearing)

Rule-Specific Guides

2025 Amendments — All 12 Rules

Complete breakdown of every rule amended January 1, 2025 — what changed and what it means for your practice

Rule 1.202 — Meet and Confer

New statewide requirement: what counts as conferral, the full exempt-motion list, and the Certificate of Conferral

Rule 1.280 — Initial Disclosures

What you must disclose within 60 days of service, what can't excuse late disclosure, and the exclusion sanction

Rule 1.510 — Summary Judgment

The 40-day response deadline (why published summaries still say 60), and the full timing framework

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