Florida · Legal help by topic · Updated Oct 2026
Legal help in Florida: get back what you're owed
Eight free guides for Florida, in one place: the key facts and deadlines from each, and a direct link to the full guide. Start with the problem you have.
Small Claims Map
Small claims court in Florida
If someone owes you money and won't pay, you can sue without a lawyer.
- Most you can sue for
- $8,000
- Court
- small claims court
- Filing fee
- $55–$300
- Lawyers
- Optional
Facts from Small Claims Map. About this topic
Tenant Rights Map
Renters' rights in Florida
If you rent, state law sets how fast a deposit comes back, what the landlord must repair and the notice before an eviction case.
- Deadline to return a deposit
- 15 days (30 to claim deductions)
- Security deposit limit
- No statewide limit
- Notice before an eviction case for unpaid rent
- 3 business days
- Notice before the landlord enters
- 24 hours
- Florida renters' rights guide
- Getting your deposit back in Florida
- Repairs in Florida
- Eviction in Florida
- Deposit return calculator
- Free deposit demand letter
- Free repair request letter
- Eviction notice timeline
Facts from Tenant Rights Map, checked Oct 2026. About this topic
Wage Claim Map
Unpaid wages in Florida
If your employer didn't pay you, a state office may collect it for free.
- File a wage claim with
- US DOL (no state program)
- Minimum wage (2026)
- $15.00
- Final paycheck if fired
- No state deadline
- Deadline to file a wage claim
- 4 years
- Florida wage claim guide
- Wage-theft calculator
- When was your final paycheck due?
- Free demand letter for unpaid wages
Facts from Wage Claim Map, checked Oct 2026. About this topic
Lemon Car Map
Lemon law in Florida
If a new car keeps going back to the shop for the same defect, the maker may owe you a refund or a replacement.
- Lemon law period
- 24 months
- What makes it a lemon
- 3 repairs · 30 days
- Covers used cars
- No
- Before you sue
- Required
Facts from Lemon Car Map, checked Oct 2026. About this topic
Tax Appeal Map
Property tax appeals in Florida
If your home's assessed value is too high, you can appeal it, but only within a short window.
- Deadline to appeal
- 25 days after TRIM notice (mid-Sep)
- Where you appeal first
- County Value Adjustment Board (VAB)
- Median effective tax rate
- 0.76%
- Median yearly tax on a home
- $2,730
Closed for 2026Closed for 2026: the deadline was 25 days after the August TRIM notice. The next window opens with TRIM notices in August 2027. (as of October 21, 2026)
Facts from Tax Appeal Map, checked Oct 2026. About this topic
Exemption Map
Property tax exemptions in Florida
If you own and live in your home, you may qualify for breaks that lower your property tax. You usually have to apply.
- Homestead exemption
- $51,411
- Homestead deadline
- March 1
- Senior break
- Yes
- Disabled veterans
- Full exemption
- Florida property tax exemptions
- Eligibility finder for Florida
- County offices in Florida
- Breaks for seniors in Florida
- Breaks for veterans in Florida
- Breaks for people with disabilities in Florida
- Breaks for surviving spouses in Florida
Facts from Exemption Map, checked Oct 2026. About this topic
Owed Map
Unclaimed money in Florida
Old bank accounts, deposits, refunds and checks end up with the state. Searching and claiming is free.
- Official search
- Claim Your Cash Florida (ClaimYourCashFL.gov, formerly FLTreasureHunt.gov)
- Held by the state
- See the guide
- Cost to search and claim
- Free
- On MissingMoney.com
- Yes
- Florida unclaimed money guide
- Search Claim Your Cash Florida (ClaimYourCashFL.gov, formerly FLTreasureHunt.gov) (official site)
- Money owed to a relative who died
- Finder fees by state
Facts from Owed Map, checked Oct 2026. About this topic
Divorce Law Map
Divorce in Florida
Before you can file, one of you usually must have lived in the state for a set time, and many states make you wait before the divorce is final.
- Residency before you can file
- 6 months
- Waiting period
- 20 days after filing
- Filing fee
- Up to $295
- Florida divorce guide
- Divorce timeline estimator
- Divorce checklist
- Served with divorce papers: what to do
Facts from Divorce Law Map, checked Oct 2026. About this topic
Deadlines at a glance in Florida
Short forms of each guide's rule. Every deadline has details (when the clock starts, exceptions, how to count days): read the full rule in the guide before you rely on it. “See the guide” means our data has no short form for it.
| Topic | Deadline or time limit | Rule | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims court | Deadline to sue: written contract | 5 years | Small Claims Map |
| Small claims court | Deadline to sue: verbal agreement | 4 years | Small Claims Map |
| Small claims court | Deadline to sue: property damage | 4 years | Small Claims Map |
| Renters' rights | Deadline to return a deposit | 15 days (30 to claim deductions) | Tenant Rights Map |
| Renters' rights | Notice before an eviction case for unpaid rent | 3 business days | Tenant Rights Map |
| Unpaid wages | Deadline to file a wage claim | 4 years | Wage Claim Map |
| Unpaid wages | Final paycheck if fired | No state deadline | Wage Claim Map |
| Lemon law | Lemon law period | 24 months | Lemon Car Map |
| Lemon law | Deadline | Request state arbitration within 60 days after the 24-month Lemon Law rights period ends (or 30 days after a certified manufacturer program's final action, whichever is later) (§ 681.109(4)). | Lemon Car Map |
| Property tax appeals | Deadline to appeal | 25 days after TRIM notice (mid-Sep) | Tax Appeal Map |
| Property tax exemptions | Homestead deadline | March 1 | Exemption Map |
| Unclaimed money | Deadline to claim | See the guide | Owed Map |
| Divorce | Residency before you can file | 6 months | Divorce Law Map |
| Divorce | Waiting period | 20 days after filing | Divorce Law Map |
Several problems at once? Get one plan for Florida.
Open the finderOther problems: free official help
RobinClaim doesn't cover debt collectors, scams, custody and child support, and other areas yet. These official and nonprofit services can help in every state:
- Consumer protection office for Florida (as listed by USA.gov)
- LawHelp.org: legal aid and know-your-rights guides by state
- Legal Services Corporation: find free legal aid near you
- American Bar Association: lawyer referral services by state
- CFPB: your rights with debt collectors
- FTC: report fraud, scams and bad business practices
Links checked Oct 2026. Sources are listed in how we research.