Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.750

County Court Actions

sha256 84747a9d80282a8900e14f753a7dc07f… · retrieved 7/11/2026, 11:08:34 AM · The Florida Bar consolidated ed. eff. 04-01-2026 · verified 7/11/2026 by founder-directive-2026-07-11

RULE 1.750. 	COUNTY COURT ACTIONS
(a) 	Applicability. This rule applies to the mediation of
county court matters and issues only and controls over conflicting
provisions in rules 1.700, 1.710, 1.720, and 1.730.
(b) 	Limitation on Referral to Mediation. When a mediation
program utilizing volunteer mediators is unavailable or otherwise
inappropriate, county court matters may be referred to a mediator
or mediation program which charges a fee. Such order of referral
shall advise the parties that they may object to mediation on
grounds of financial hardship or on any ground set forth in rule
1.700(b). If a party objects, mediation shall not be conducted until
the court rules on the objection. The court may consider the
amount in controversy, the objecting party’s ability to pay, and any
other pertinent information in determining the propriety of the
referral. When appropriate, the court shall apportion mediation fees
between the parties.
(c) 	Scheduling. In small claims actions, the mediator shall
be appointed and the mediation conference held during or
immediately after the pretrial conference unless otherwise ordered
by the court. In no event shall the mediation conference be held
more than 14 days after the pretrial conference.
(d) 	Appointment of the Mediator. In county court actions
not subject to the Florida Small Claims Rules, rule 1.720(f) shall
apply unless the case is sent to a mediation program provided at no
cost to the parties.
(e) 	Appearance at Mediation. In small claims actions, an
attorney may appear on behalf of a party at mediation provided that

the attorney has full authority to settle without further
consultation. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, a nonlawyer
representative may appear on behalf of a party to a small claims
mediation if the representative has the party’s signed written
authority to appear and has full authority to settle without further
consultation. In either event, the party need not appear in person.
In any other county court action, a party will be deemed to appear if
the persons set forth in rule 1.720(b) are physically present or, if
authorized under rule 1.700(a), participating through the use of
communication technology.
(f) 	Agreement. Any agreements reached as a result of small
claims mediation must be written in the form of a stipulation. The
stipulation may be entered as an order of the court. Signatures for
the stipulation may be original, electronic, or facsimile and may be
in counterparts.

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