IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 1.442 AND FORMS 1.902 AND 1.938. (2025)

The Florida Bar's Civil Procedure Rules Committee filed a report proposing amendments to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.442 (Proposals for Settlement), form 1.902 (Summons), and form 1.938 (Forcible Entry and Detention).¹ The Committee published the proposal for comment, as did the Court. The Court received one comment, and the Committee amended the proposal in response to the comment.

We now amend rule 1.442, form 1.902, and form 1.938 as revised by the Committee in response to the comment. Notably, we amend form 1.902 to clarify that the written response to a summons may be filed through the Florida Courts E-filing Portal or with the clerk of court, and that the written response must include an e-mail address for service, unless the clerk of court excuses the defendant from electronic service. The revised form also refers defendants seeking legal assistance to The Florida Bar's Lawyer Referral Service or local legal aid programs listed on the Bar's website.

We amend form 1.938 to require that the plaintiff disclose the legal description and address of the subject property if available, how the defendant obtained possession of the property, whether the plaintiff is the owner of the property, and if not, how the plaintiff is entitled to possession of the property.

Additionally, changes are made throughout in accord with In re Guidelines for Rules Submissions, Florida Administrative Order No. AOSC22-78 (Fla. Oct. 24, 2022).

The Court hereby amends the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure as reflected in the appendix to this opinion. New language is indicated by underscoring; deletions are indicated by struck-through type. The amendments to the rules shall become effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m.

It is so ordered.

APPENDIX

FOOTNOTES

1.   We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.; see also Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.140(b)(1).

PER CURIAM.

MUÑIZ, C.J., and CANADY, LABARGA, COURIEL, GROSSHANS, FRANCIS, and SASSO, JJ., concur.