How long do I have to sue someone in Florida for unpaid money

Use the free tool — Small Claims Letter FL

How long do you have to sue for unpaid money in Florida?

Florida law sets deadlines for different kinds of money claims under Fla. Stat. 95.11. The exact deadline depends on what kind of claim you have — a written contract, an oral agreement, a debt, and so on are treated differently under that statute. Small Claims Letter FL can point you to the statute of limitations that fits the kind of claim you describe. This is not legal advice, and it cannot tell you with certainty what a judge will decide, so confirm the exact deadline for your situation with your county clerk's self-help centre or a professional before you rely on it.

The case starts with a demand letter, not the courthouse

Before you file anything, a firm demand letter that states the amount, explains why you're owed it, and gives a response date shows the other side — and later, a judge — that you tried to resolve it first. Small Claims Letter FL drafts that letter and computes the response date for you, based on what you describe: who owes you, how much, why, when, what you've already asked for, and what proof you have.

Florida small claims: the limit, the court, and the fees

Small claims in Florida covers disputes up to $8,000.
Cases are heard in county court.
Filing fees vary depending on the amount you're claiming.
There is a pre-trial conference along the way.

Filing fees and some procedures vary slightly by county. The clerk of court in your county is the final authority on the exact fee and any local steps.

Where to file and what to bring

You generally file where the defendant lives or where the deal happened. Filing involves a statement of claim and serving the other side, followed by the pre-trial conference mentioned above. Small Claims Letter FL can tell you what to gather for the day you file, based on the dispute you describe — but it does not file anything for you.

What this doesn't cover

If your claim is over $8,000, if it's against a government entity, or if it's a landlord eviction, it falls outside small claims and outside this tool. Business invoices should use Invoice Chaser instead. Free help is also available through your county clerk's self-help centre or floridalawhelp.org.

Small Claims Letter FL is not legal advice and cannot predict what a judge will decide. It's for individuals, not businesses. It is not affiliated with any court or agency.

What to do next

Describe your dispute — who, how much, why, when, what you've asked for, what proof you have — in the free tool. It reads your own description and returns a demand letter with a computed response date, the small-claims rules and fees that apply, the statute of limitations for your kind of claim, and a list of what to gather before you file. It's free, and available in English and Spanish.

Use the free tool

Small Claims Letter FL is an informational tool based on the Florida Small Claims Rules, Fla. Stat. 34.041, 83.49 and 95.11 as of 2025–26. It is not legal advice and does not file anything. Filing fees and procedures vary slightly by county; the clerk of court is the authority. It is for individuals; businesses chasing invoices should use Invoice Chaser. It is not affiliated with any court or agency.