Landlord & Tenant Residential Evictions
The Clerk’s office located on the second floor of the Judicial Wing at the Hendry County Courthouse in LaBelle, Florida, or the Clerk’s office located at the sub-office in Clewiston, Florida, has eviction forms for residential leases only. If you have a commercial, agricultural, or personal property lease, you should consult with an attorney.
The residential landlord and tenant relationship is controlled by the terms of your lease and by Chapter 83, Part II of the Florida Statutes. The procedures for enforcing your rights under your lease and Chapter 83, Part II are set forth in Section 51.011 of the Florida Statutes. You are advised to carefully review these statutes before starting any legal proceedings concerning a residential lease.
Filing an Eviction
Giving Notice
Before you can file an eviction, you must give one of the following proper written notices to the tenant(s):
- 3-day notice for failing to pay rent
- 7-day notice for failing to comply with the lease
These days exclude the day of service, holidays, and weekends. If the tenant fails to comply with the Notice, you may then file the eviction. These forms are available at the Clerk’s office.
Filing & Fees
When you file the eviction, you will need one copy of the 3 or 7-day notice that you gave the tenant for the file. Eviction Complaints are available at the Clerk’s office.
There will be a $185.00 filing fee for the Clerk of the Court and a $10.00 fee to issue each summons.
There is an additional $40.00 per defendant for the Sheriff to serve the Summons. You must have a separate money order or check made out to the Hendry County Sheriff’s Department.
Court Hearings
If the defendant fails to comply with the Eviction Summons within 5 days (this excludes the day of service, holidays, and weekends), the landlord can obtain a Motion for Default. The Default form may be obtained from the Clerk’s office.
Once the Default has been entered, the Judge will then enter a Judgment. If the defendant should comply with the summons, a hearing will be scheduled, and all parties will receive a Notice of Hearing by mail from the Clerk. The landlord will be required to appear in person for the Court unless represented by an Attorney.
If the Judge orders a Final Judgment, the Plaintiff may request a Writ of Possession from the Clerk, which will be delivered to the Sheriff for service (there is an additional $90.00 charge that you must pay to the Sheriff for serving the Writ).
When a complaint contains a claim for back rent and damages, the Defendant has 20 days to answer that part of the eviction, and a hearing will also be scheduled. A copy of this hearing will be served on the tenant along with the Summons. The landlord will receive a copy by mail. The landlord will be required to appear in person for the court unless represented by an Attorney.