Fla. Stat. § 83.40 et seq. § 83.625
Power to award possession and enter money judgment.
Operative Text
In an action by the landlord for possession of a dwelling unit based upon nonpayment of rent, if the court finds the rent is due, owing, and unpaid and by reason thereof the landlord is entitled to possession of the premises, the court, in addition to awarding possession of the premises to the landlord, shall direct, in an amount which is within its jurisdictional limitations, the entry of a money judgment with costs in favor of the landlord and against the tenant for the amount of money found due, owing, and unpaid by the tenant to the landlord. However, no money judgment shall be entered unless service of process has been effected by personal service or, where authorized by law, by certified or registered mail, return receipt, or in any other manner prescribed by law or the rules of the court; and no money judgment may be entered except in compliance with the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. The prevailing party in the action may also be awarded attorney’s fees and costs.
Florida Statute § 83.625 authorizes a court handling a landlord's eviction action based on unpaid rent to do more than simply award possession of the dwelling unit — it can simultaneously enter a money judgment against the tenant for the full amount of rent found to be due and unpaid, along with costs. This combined ruling is subject to the court's jurisdictional limits and requires that the tenant was properly served through personal service, certified or registered mail with return receipt, or another legally recognized method. The prevailing party in such an action — whether landlord or tenant — may also be awarded attorney's fees and costs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Fla. Stat. § 83.625, landlords pursuing an eviction for nonpayment of rent have the option of seeking not only the return of the unit but also a formal money judgment for all unpaid rent in the same proceeding. Operators who pursue this route generally ensure that service of process is completed through a legally recognized method — personal service, certified or registered mail with return receipt, or another court-approved means — because a money judgment cannot be entered without proper service. Compliant operators also ensure their filings conform to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, and they may request attorney's fees and costs as the prevailing party.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Fla. Stat. § 83.625 means that if a landlord wins an eviction case based on unpaid rent, the court can enter a money judgment against the tenant in the same action — not just order the tenant to vacate. Importantly, this money judgment can only be entered if the tenant was properly served with process, so tenants who believe service was defective may have grounds to raise that issue in the proceeding. Tenants facing such actions may benefit from reviewing their rights with a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office, and should be aware that the prevailing party — which could be the tenant if they successfully defend — may also be entitled to attorney's fees and costs under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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