Florida Courts’ Response to COVID-19

Executive Order 20-180 that suspended any Florida statute providing for evictions and mortgage foreclosure proceedings under Florida law solely when the proceeding arises from non-payment of rent by residential tenants and non-payment of a mortgage by single-family mortgagors adversely affected by COVID-19 expired on October 1, 2020.

Those experiencing loss of employment, diminished wages or business income, or other monetary loss that directly impacted their ability to pay rent or make mortgage payments due to COVID-19 were covered under the provision. Since the measure expired, there is no longer a state-mandated moratorium suspending evictions and mortgage foreclosure proceedings in the state of Florida.

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles T. Canady issued Administrative Order AOSC20-32 on May 21, 2020, which restricted in-person contact to the courthouses throughout the state. Therefore, in-person court hearings are not allowed and hearings on foreclosures and evictions are currently being conducted by teleconferencing or videoconferencing.