Ask for a scope, not just a price
A useful estimate identifies the work included. Ask whether the engagement covers notice review, complaint preparation, service coordination, default papers, a contested hearing, writ coordination, a damages claim, or collection after judgment. Different facts require different work. A fixed amount for an uncontested possession case should not be assumed to cover counterclaims, an appeal, bankruptcy issues, or title disputes.
Separate third-party charges
Request a breakdown of court filing charges, summons charges, process service, sheriff charges, and any other anticipated out-of-pocket items. Use the relevant clerk and sheriff’s current information when budgeting. This site does not publish a universal court-cost figure because the case, number of defendants, requested relief, and current schedules matter. Keep receipts in the file so actual spending can be compared with the estimate.
Measure the property’s cash-flow exposure
Legal spending is only one part of the decision. Rent that is not being collected, continuing ownership expenses, and turnover work may affect the property even while a case is pending. The action center’s calculator converts your assumptions into an illustrative rent-exposure figure. It uses a stated 30-day convention and a period you choose. It does not predict an eviction’s duration or calculate recoverable damages.
Understand fee recovery without treating it as cash in hand
For residential matters, section 83.48 provides for reasonable attorney fees and court costs for the party in whose favor a judgment or decree is rendered in covered actions, subject to the statute’s terms and exception. An entitlement to seek fees does not establish the amount awarded or guarantee collection. Ask separately about the legal basis for recovery, the procedure to request it, and the practical value of pursuing collection.
Compare possession and money objectives
Make two lists: what is needed to regain control of the property, and what is needed to pursue an unpaid balance. They may involve different proof, procedural steps, and collection decisions. A landlord may value a documented surrender because it allows inspection and turnover planning, but the terms must address what is being released and what remains disputed. Do not assume that an agreement about keys settles the entire account.
Bring useful numbers to the first call
Provide the monthly base rent, period of nonpayment, payments received, security deposit held, and known turnover estimates. Identify whether any amounts are disputed. Ask the firm for a written engagement describing scope, fees, costs, and how additional work is handled. The goal is a decision based on the property’s actual circumstances, not a promise that every eviction costs the same.
Primary sources
Florida Statutes § 83.48 ↗Sources checked November 4, 2026. This guide is general preparation information.