Florida Eviction Answer: 5-Day Rule & Court Registry Mandate

Florida Statutes § 83.60(2) Registry Trap

Under Florida law, a tenant has strictly 5 business days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) to file a written Answer. However, Florida has one of the strictest procedural rules in the nation: Fla. Stat. § 83.60(2).

The Mandatory Registry Deposit

If the eviction is based on non-payment of rent, the tenant must deposit the amount claimed in the complaint into the court registry at the exact time of filing the Answer. Failure to deposit the rent—or failure to file a formal Motion to Determine Rent requesting a hearing on the proper amount—results in an automatic waiver of all defenses and immediate default judgment.