Title: In Re: Amendments To The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure – Form 1.966 (Final Judgment on Foreclosure)

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC09-1579 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA RULES OF CIVIL 
PROCEDURE—FORM 1.996 (FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE). 
 
[December 9, 2010] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
This matter is before the Court for consideration of proposed amendments to 
the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. 
Const. 
Previously in this case, the Civil Procedure Rules Committee filed a “Fast-
Track Report in Response to Legislative Changes,” under Florida Rule of Judicial 
Administration 2.140(e), proposing amendments to form 1.996(a) (Final Judgment 
of Foreclosure) in order to bring it into conformity with current statutory 
provisions and requirements, improve the form’s clarity and readability, and better 
conform to prevailing practices in the courts.1  The Court adopted the amendments 
                                          
 
 
1.  This form was originally numbered 1.996, but was renumbered as 
1.996(a) due to the adoption of a new form 1.996(b) (Motion to Cancel and 
 
- 2 - 
to this form, along with amendments to other Rules of Civil Procedure and Forms, 
in an opinion consolidated with In re Amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil 
Procedure, case number SC09-1460.  See In re Amendments to Fla. Rules of Civil 
Pro., 44 So. 3d 555 (Fla. 2010).  The amendments in case number SC09-1460 were 
prompted by the recommendations of the Task Force on Residential Mortgage 
Foreclosure Cases that was “established to recommend to the Supreme Court 
policies, procedures, strategies, and methods for easing the backlog of pending 
residential mortgage foreclosure cases while protecting the rights of parties.”  In re 
Task Force on Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Cases, Fla. Admin. Order No. 
AOSC09-8, at 2 (March 27, 2009) (on file with Clerk of the Florida Supreme 
Court).   
Along with the amendments to form 1.996(a), rule 1.110(b) was amended to 
require verification of mortgage foreclosure complaints involving residential real 
property.   One of the primary purposes of this amendment was to ensure that 
plaintiffs and plaintiffs’ counsel do their “due diligence” and appropriately 
investigate and verify ownership of the note or right to enforce the note and ensure 
that the allegations in the complaint are accurate.  In light of recent reports of 
alleged document fraud and forgery in mortgage foreclosure cases, this new 
                                                                                                                                        
Reschedule Foreclosure Sale).  See In re Amendments to Fla. Rules of Civil Pro., 
44 So. 3d 555 (Fla. 2010).   
 
- 3 - 
requirement is particularly important.  The Court also adopted new form 1.924 
(Affidavit of Diligent Search and Inquiry) to standardize affidavits of diligent 
search and inquiry and provide information to the court regarding the methods 
used to attempt to locate and serve the defendant and new form 1.996(b) (Motion 
to Cancel and Reschedule Foreclosure Sale) to provide the court with an 
explanation of why a foreclosure sale needs to be cancelled and request that the 
court reschedule the sale. 
Because, unlike the other amendments, the amendments to form 1.996(a) 
had not been published for comment prior to adoption, the opinion adopting the 
amendments provided a sixty-day comment period with regard to the amendments 
to that form.  Several comments were filed, and the committee filed a response. 
Upon consideration of the comments and the committee’s response thereto, 
we adopt two further amendments to form 1.996(a).  First, in recognition of 
assertions in the comments that flat rate attorneys’ fee agreements are common in 
mortgage foreclosure cases, we amend the attorneys’ fee provisions of the form to 
accommodate this option.  Second, in order to ensure that the provisions of the 
form are not contrary to the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009, Pub. L. 
No. 111-22, §§ 701-704, 123 Stat. 1660-62, we delete the sentence from paragraph 
six of the form stating, “If any defendant remains in possession of the property, the 
 
- 4 - 
clerk shall without further order of the court issue forthwith a writ of possession 
upon request of the person named on the certificate of title.”   
Accordingly, form 1.996(a) (Final Judgment of Foreclosure) is hereby 
amended as reflected in the appendix to this opinion.  Added language is 
underlined; deleted language is struck through.  The amendments to the form shall 
become effective immediately upon the release of this opinion.   
It is so ordered.   
CANADY, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, POLSTON, LABARGA, 
and, PERRY, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
Original Proceeding – The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure Committee 
 
Donald Edward Christopher, Chair, Civil Procedure Rules Committee, Orlando, 
Florida, John H. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director, Ellen H. Sloyer, Bar Staff 
Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
Deborah Marks, Miami, Florida; Alice M. Vickers, Florida Legal Services, Inc., 
Tallahassee, Florida, Jeffrey Hearne, Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., 
Miami, Florida, Jeffrey G. Haynie, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc., Jacksonville, 
Florida, and Michael L. Resnick, Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar 
Association, Orlando, Florida, on behalf of the Housing Umbrella Group of Florida 
Legal Services, Inc.; Suzanne Barto Hill of Rumberger, Kirk, and Caldwell, 
Orlando, Florida, and Roy A. Diaz, Smith, Hiatt and Diaz, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, 
Florida, on behalf of Florida Default Law Group, P.L.; Marc A. Ben-Ezra of Ben-
Ezra and Katz, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Terry Resk of Haile, Shaw and 
Pfaffenberger, P.A., North Palm Beach, Florida, 
 
 
Responding with comments 
 
- 5 - 
APPENDIX 
FORM 1.996(a). 
FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE 
 
FINAL JUDGMENT 
 
 
This action was tried before the court. On the evidence presented 
 
 
 
IT IS ADJUDGED that: 
 
 
1. 
Plaintiff, .....(name and address)....., is due  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal 
$.................... 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest to date of this judgment 
.................... 
 
 
 
 
 
Title search expense 
.................... 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxes 
.................... 
 
 
 
 
 
Attorneys’ fees 
 
 
       Finding as to reasonable number of hours: .................... 
 
       Finding as to reasonable hourly rate: 
        .................... 
 
       Other*: 
 
…………… 
(*The requested attorney’s fee is a flat rate fee that the firm’s client has agreed to pay in this 
matter.  Given the amount of the fee requested and the labor expended, the Court finds that a 
lodestar analysis is not necessary and that the flat fee is reasonable.) 
 
    
 
 
 
          Attorneys’ fees total 
................... 
 
 
 
 
 
Court costs, now taxed 
.................... 
 
 
 
 
 
Other: ..................... 
.................... 
 
 
 
 
Subtotal 
$................... 
 
 
 
 
 
LESS: Escrow balance 
.................... 
 
 
 
 
 
LESS: Other .................... 
.................... 
 
 
 
 
TOTAL 
$................... 
 
that shall bear interest at the rate of .....% a year. 
 
 
2. 
Plaintiff holds a lien for the total sum superior to all claims or estates of 
defendant(s), on the following described property in .................... County, Florida: 
 
- 6 - 
 
(describe property) 
 
 
3. 
If the total sum with interest at the rate described in paragraph 1 and all costs 
accrued subsequent to this judgment are not paid, the clerk of this court shall sell the property at 
public sale on .....(date)....., to the highest bidder for cash, except as prescribed in paragraph 4, at 
the courthouse located at .....(street address of courthouse)..... in .................... County in 
.........................(name of city)....., Florida, in accordance with section 45.031, Florida Statutes, 
using the following method (CHECK ONE): 
 
 
□ 
At .....(location of sale at courthouse; e.g., north door)....., beginning at .....(time of 
sale)..... on the prescribed date. 
 
 
□ 
By electronic sale beginning at .....(time of sale)..... on the prescribed date at 
.....(website)...... 
 
 
4. 
Plaintiff shall advance all subsequent costs of this action and shall be reimbursed 
for them by the clerk if plaintiff is not the purchaser of the property for sale, provided, however, 
that the purchaser of the property for sale shall be responsible for the documentary stamps 
payable on the certificate of title. If plaintiff is the purchaser, the clerk shall credit plaintiff’s bid 
with the total sum with interest and costs accruing subsequent to this judgment, or such part of it 
as is necessary to pay the bid in full. 
 
 
5. 
On filing the certificate of title the clerk shall distribute the proceeds of the sale, 
so far as they are sufficient, by paying: first, all of plaintiff’s costs; second, documentary stamps 
affixed to the certificate; third, plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees; fourth, the total sum due to plaintiff, 
less the items paid, plus interest at the rate prescribed in paragraph 1 from this date to the date of 
the sale; and by retaining any remaining amount pending the further order of this court. 
 
 
6. 
On filing the certificate of sale, defendant(s) and all persons claiming under or 
against defendant(s) since the filing of the notice of lis pendens shall be foreclosed of all estate 
or claim in the property, except as to claims or rights under chapter 718 or chapter 720, Florida 
Statutes, if any. Upon the filing of the certificate of title, the person named on the certificate of 
title shall be let into possession of the property. If any defendant remains in possession of the 
property, the clerk shall without further order of the court issue forthwith a writ of possession 
upon request of the person named on the certificate of title. 
 
 
7. 
Jurisdiction of this action is retained to enter further orders that are proper 
including, without limitation, a deficiency judgment. 
 
IF THIS PROPERTY IS SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTION, THERE MAY BE 
ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THE SALE AFTER PAYMENT OF PERSONS WHO 
ARE ENTITLED TO BE PAID FROM THE SALE PROCEEDS PURSUANT TO THE 
FINAL JUDGMENT. 
 
 
- 7 - 
IF YOU ARE A SUBORDINATE LIENHOLDER CLAIMING A RIGHT TO FUNDS 
REMAINING AFTER THE SALE, YOU MUST FILE A CLAIM WITH THE CLERK 
NO LATER THAN 60 DAYS AFTER THE SALE. IF YOU FAIL TO FILE A CLAIM, 
YOU WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ANY REMAINING FUNDS. 
 
[If the property being foreclosed on has qualified for the homestead tax exemption in the most 
recent approved tax roll, the final judgment shall additionally contain the following statement in 
conspicuous type:] 
IF YOU ARE THE PROPERTY OWNER, YOU MAY CLAIM THESE FUNDS 
YOURSELF. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE A LAWYER OR ANY OTHER 
REPRESENTATION AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ASSIGN YOUR RIGHTS TO 
ANYONE ELSE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO CLAIM ANY MONEY TO WHICH YOU 
ARE ENTITLED. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE CLERK OF THE COURT, (INSERT 
INFORMATION FOR APPLICABLE COURT) WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE SALE TO 
SEE IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THE FORECLOSURE SALE THAT 
THE CLERK HAS IN THE REGISTRY OF THE COURT. 
 
IF YOU DECIDE TO SELL YOUR HOME OR HIRE SOMEONE TO HELP YOU 
CLAIM THE ADDITIONAL MONEY, YOU SHOULD READ VERY CAREFULLY ALL 
PAPERS YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN, ASK SOMEONE ELSE, PREFERABLY AN 
ATTORNEY WHO IS NOT RELATED TO THE PERSON OFFERING TO HELP YOU, 
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SIGNING AND THAT 
YOU ARE NOT TRANSFERRING YOUR PROPERTY OR THE EQUITY IN YOUR 
PROPERTY WITHOUT THE PROPER INFORMATION. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD 
TO PAY AN ATTORNEY, YOU MAY CONTACT (INSERT LOCAL OR NEAREST 
LEGAL AID OFFICE AND TELEPHONE NUMBER) TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY 
FINANCIALLY FOR THEIR SERVICES. IF THEY CANNOT ASSIST YOU, THEY 
MAY BE ABLE TO REFER YOU TO A LOCAL BAR REFERRAL AGENCY OR 
SUGGEST OTHER OPTIONS. IF YOU CHOOSE TO CONTACT (NAME OF LOCAL 
OR NEAREST LEGAL AID OFFICE AND TELEPHONE NUMBER) FOR ASSISTANCE, 
YOU SHOULD DO SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE. 
 
 
ORDERED at ...................., Florida, on .....(date)...... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Judge 
 
 
NOTE: Paragraph 1 must be varied in accordance with the items unpaid, claimed, and 
proven. The form does not provide for an adjudication of junior lienors’ claims nor for 
redemption by the United States of America if it is a defendant. The address of the person who 
claims a lien as a result of the judgment must be included in the judgment in order for the 
judgment to become a lien on real estate when a certified copy of the judgment is recorded. 
Alternatively, an affidavit with this information may be simultaneously recorded. For the specific 
requirements, see section 55.10(1), Florida Statutes; Hott Interiors, Inc. v. Fostock, 721 So. 2d 
1236 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998). 
 
 
- 8 - 
Committee Notes 
[No change]