The 2025 amendments to Florida’s Rules of Civil Procedure bring significant changes aimed at improving efficiency, consistency, and accountability in civil litigation. While these updates streamline many aspects of civil proceedings, certain cases remain exempt, preserving their unique processes. Below, we cover the key changes and provide a complete list of exemptions to help you navigate these updates.
Cases And Proceedings Exempt From The Amendments
Not all cases are subject to the updated rules. The following cases and proceedings are exempt from the 2025 amendments:
1.Chapter 51.011 Proceedings – Summary procedures designed for expedited resolutions.
2.Chapter 45.075 Proceedings – Expedited trial proceedings.
3.Small Claims Cases – Cases with streamlined rules for smaller disputes.
4.Chapter 731 Actions – Probate cases related to the administration of estates.
5.Chapter 415 Cases – Adult protective cases, such as those addressing abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
6.Administrative Proceedings – Cases under administrative jurisdiction.
7.Eminent Domain Actions – Proceedings involving the government’s acquisition of private property for public use.
8.In Rem Forfeitures – Cases concerning property seized by authorities.
9.Habeas Corpus Petitions – Legal challenges to the validity of a person’s detention or imprisonment.
10.Pro Se Persons in Custody – Cases involving self-represented individuals currently incarcerated.
11.Arbitration Enforcement – Proceedings for enforcing arbitration agreements and awards.
12.Extraordinary Writs – Special petitions, such as mandamus or certiorari, challenging specific actions.
13.Enforcement of Foreign Judgments – Cases seeking to confirm and enforce judgments from outside jurisdictions.
14.Administrative Summons or Subpoenas – Legal matters involving subpoenas or summons issued by government agencies.
15.Actions Confirming Foreign Judgments – Proceedings validating and enforcing foreign court judgments.
16.Chapter 56 Proceedings – Actions relating to the execution of judgments.
17.Cases in Special Divisions by Administrative Order (AO) – Includes complex business and tort cases assigned to specialized divisions.
18.Expedited Proceedings – Cases qualifying for expedited processing under applicable laws.
These exemptions ensure that specialized proceedings follow their tailored rules, unaffected by the recent amendments.
Key Changes In The 2025 Amendments
The amendments introduce updates to case management, deadlines, discovery rules, and trial scheduling to create a more streamlined litigation process.
1. Case Management Orders (CMOs)
Civil cases are now categorized into complex, streamlined, and general tracks. Courts are required to issue tailored CMOs with deadlines specific to the case type:
•Complex Cases: Governed by Rule 1.201, these cases receive enhanced court oversight.
•Streamlined and General Cases: CMOs set deadlines for trial periods and key actions based on the assigned track.
Strict enforcement of these deadlines ensures cases move forward efficiently.
2. Deadline Enforcement
CMO deadlines are firm, with limited flexibility:
•Minor extensions are allowed by agreement if they do not disrupt the trial timeline.
•Significant changes require amending the CMO itself.
Failure to meet deadlines can lead to dismissal or limitations on evidence and witnesses.
3. Attorney Preparedness
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must be ready to address case issues and make binding decisions during case management conferences. Lack of preparation or failure to appear may result in penalties, including dismissal of the case.
4. Mandatory Initial Discovery Disclosures
Parties must provide initial disclosures within 60 days of service, including:
•Contact information for individuals with relevant information.
•Descriptions or locations of documents, electronically stored information, or tangible items supporting claims or defenses.
•Insurance policies potentially covering liabilities.
•A breakdown of claimed monetary damages, except for noneconomic damages, which only require categorization and supporting documents.
Excuses such as incomplete investigations or disputes over another party’s compliance are not acceptable.
5. Updated Discovery Rules
The amendments replace the previous rule on discovery supplementation. Parties must now correct or update their discovery responses as new information becomes available. This ensures transparency throughout the litigation process.
6. Trial Scheduling and Continuances
Courts can now set trial dates even if pleadings are not fully resolved. Continuances are strongly discouraged and will only be granted for compelling reasons. Successive continuances or requests based on lack of preparation are unlikely to succeed.
If a trial is rescheduled, the court must set a new date as soon as possible and specify any additional actions allowed before the trial.
Why The 2025 Amendments Matter
These amendments demonstrate Florida’s commitment to improving the civil litigation process by enforcing stricter case management, mandatory disclosures, and faster trial scheduling. By reducing delays and increasing accountability, the amendments ensure fairer and more efficient outcomes for all parties involved.
If your case falls under one of the exempt categories, be sure to follow the specific rules that apply. For all other cases, it’s important to understand and adapt to these changes to ensure compliance and success in court.
If you need to litigate a breach of contract or have a business or real estate dispute, Law Office of Ryan S. Shipp, PLLC and its team has got you covered. Call us today @ 561.699.0399 to learn more. Our office is in Lantana, Florida. We ligitate throughout Florida’s 67 Counties.