The Hearing Room

In an effort to further the proceedings and in the interest of securing substantial justice, the court shall assist any party not represented by an attorney on: (1) courtroom decorum; (2) order of presentation of material evidence; and (3) handling private information. The court may not instruct any party not represented by an attorney on accepted rules of law.

The rule's own two-sided promise: the judge helps an unrepresented party with decorum, the order of presenting evidence, and private information — and the same sentence draws the line: the court cannot teach the law itself. That line is why the spine, the desks, and a licensed reader exist.

Where all parties are represented by an attorney, counsel may agree to waive personal appearance at the initial pretrial conference, if a written agreement of waiver signed by all attorneys is presented to the court prior to or at the pretrial conference.

The waiver door exists only when EVERY party has counsel — a self-represented party's own appearance obligation stands (in person or through approved communication technology under Rule 2.530, where the court allows it).

“Audio-video communication technology” means electronic devices, systems, applications, or platforms that permit all participants to hear, see, and speak to all other participants in real time.

The small-claims rules lean on Rule 2.530 for remote appearance and remote testimony — this is that rule's own definition of the technology. Whether a particular appearance may be remote is the court's call under 2.530's full text, which serves at /rules.

The summons/notice to appear shall specify that the initial appearance shall be for a pretrial conference. The initial pretrial conference shall be set by the clerk not more than 50 days from the date of the filing of the action. Appearance may be in person or through the use of communication technology under Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.530.

Both sides must appear at the pretrial — remote appearance rides Rule 2.530 where allowed. The conference covers issue simplification, admissions, witness limits, and settlement; mediation often happens the same day.

Unless required by order of court, written pretrial motions and defensive pleadings are not necessary. The filing of a motion or a defensive pleading shall not excuse the personal appearance of a party or attorney on the initial appearance date (pretrial conference).

Small claims inverts general civil practice: the defendant defends by SHOWING UP, not by filing an answer. Filing papers does not substitute for appearing.

Jury trials may be had upon written demand of the plaintiff at the time of the commencement of the suit, or by the defendant within 10 days after service of the summons/notice to appear or at the pretrial conference, if any. Otherwise, the jury trial shall be deemed waived.

SCF-2: the plaintiff's demand rides the filing itself; the defendant's window is 10 days after service or the pretrial conference. The stake is the rule's own: no timely written demand, and the jury trial is deemed waived. Subdivision (b) adds a 10-day stipulation-plus-motion path for juror participation by audio-video technology, on the court's authorization.

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. Any agreements reached as a result of small claims mediation must be written in the form of a stipulation.

Whoever appears must hold full settlement authority; agreements become written stipulations the court may enter as orders. Non-compliance can carry the other side's costs and fees.

At pretrial conference or at any subsequent hearing, if there is no triable issue, the court shall summarily enter an appropriate order or judgment.

SHALL, not may — where nothing is genuinely disputed, judgment enters on the spot. Both sides walk into the pretrial with the case potentially ending there.

The court shall set the case for trial not more than 60 days from the date of the pretrial conference. Notice of at least 10 days of the time of trial shall be given.

Small claims runs on a 95-day time-standard guideline end to end (the committee notes say so). Trials are nonjury unless a jury is properly demanded, and the courtroom's own instruction sheet warns: proceedings are not recorded unless a party hires a reporter — which shapes any later appeal.

If the defendant does not appear at the scheduled time, the plaintiff is entitled to a default to be entered by either the judge or clerk. After default is entered, the judge shall receive evidence establishing the damages and enter judgment in accordance with the evidence and the law.

Default follows non-appearance, but judgment still rides evidence of damages — and the judge may police venue abuse before entering it.