reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
FL Stat § 49.31 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 49 - Constructive Service of Process|49.31 - Appointment of Ad Litem.

49.31 Appointment of ad litem.—(1) As used in this section, the term “ad litem” means an attorney, administrator, or guardian ad litem.(2) The court may appoint an ad litem for any party, whether known or unknown, upon whom service of process by publication under this chapter has been properly made and who has failed to file or serve any paper in the action within the time required by law. A court may not appoint an ad litem to represent an interest for which a personal representative, guardian of property, or trustee is serving.(a) If the court has appointed an ad litem and the ad litem discovers that a personal representative, guardian of property, or trustee is serving who represents the interest for which the ad litem was appointed, the ad litem must promptly report that finding to the court and must file a petition for discharge as to any interest for which the personal representative, guardian of property, or trustee is serving.(b) If the court has appointed an ad litem to represent an interest and the ad litem discovers that the person whose interest he or she represents is deceased and there is no personal representative, guardian of property, or trustee to represent the decedent’s interest, the ad litem must make a reasonable attempt to locate any spouse, heir, devisee, or beneficiary of the decedent, must report to the court the name and address of all such persons whom the ad litem locates, and must petition for discharge as to any interest of the person located.(3) The court may not require an ad litem to post a bond or designate a resident agent in order to serve as an ad litem.(4) The court shall discharge the ad litem when the final judgment is entered or as otherwise ordered by the court.(5) The ad litem is entitled to an award of a reasonable fee for services rendered and costs, which shall be assessed against the party requesting the appointment of the ad litem, or as otherwise ordered by the court. State funds may not be used to pay fees for services rendered by the ad litem unless state funds would have been expended for such services in the same circumstance before July 1, 2015.(6) In all cases adjudicated in which the court appointed an ad litem, a proceeding may not be declared ineffective solely due to lack of statutory authority to appoint an ad litem.(7) This section does not abrogate a court’s common law authority to appoint an ad litem.History.—s. 1, ch. 2015-95.
FL Stat § 50.021 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 50 - Legal and Official Advertisements|50.021 - Publication When No Newspaper in County.

50.021 Publication when no newspaper in county.—When any law, or order or decree of court, directs advertisements to be made in a county and there is no newspaper published in the county, the advertisement may be made by publication in any newspaper qualified under this chapter in an adjoining county or on the website of any such newspaper for governmental agency notices under s. 50.0211(1)(b), and on the statewide legal notice website as provided in s. 50.0211(5) or by posting three copies thereof in three different places in the county, one of which shall be at the front door of the courthouse, and by publication in the nearest county in which a newspaper is published.History.—RS 1297; GS 1728; RGS 2943; CGL 4667; s. 6, ch. 67-254; s. 2, ch. 2021-17.Note.—Former s. 49.02.
FL Stat § 50.031 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 50 - Legal and Official Advertisements|50.031 - Newspapers in Which Legal Notices and Process May Be Published.

50.031 Newspapers in which legal notices and process may be published.—No notice or publication required to be published in the print edition of a newspaper or on a newspaper’s website, if authorized, in the nature of or in lieu of process of any kind, nature, character or description provided for under any law of the state, whether heretofore or hereafter enacted, and whether pertaining to constructive service, or the initiating, assuming, reviewing, exercising or enforcing jurisdiction or power, by any court in this state, or any notice of sale of property, real or personal, for taxes, state, county or municipal, or sheriff’s, guardian’s or administrator’s or any sale made pursuant to any judicial order, decree or statute or any other publication or notice pertaining to any affairs of the state, or any county, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, shall be deemed to have been published in accordance with the statutes providing for such publication, unless the same shall have been published for the prescribed period of time required for such publication, in a newspaper or on a newspaper’s website which at the time of such publication shall have been in existence for 2 years and meets the requirements set forth in s. 50.011, or in a newspaper which is a direct successor of a newspaper which has been so published; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall apply where in any county there shall be no newspaper in existence which shall have been published for the length of time above prescribed. No legal publication of any kind, nature or description, as herein defined, shall be valid or binding or held to be in compliance with the statutes providing for such publication unless the same shall have been published in accordance with the provisions of this section or s. 50.0211(5). Proof of such publication shall be made by uniform affidavit.History.—ss. 1-3, ch. 14830, 1931; CGL 1936 Supp. 4274(1); s. 7, ch. 22858, 1945; s. 6, ch. 67-254; s. 1, ch. 74-221; s. 22, ch. 99-2; s. 4, ch. 2021-17.Note.—Former s. 49.03.
FL Stat § 50.041 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 50 - Legal and Official Advertisements|50.041 - Proof of Publication; Uniform Affidavits Required.

50.041 Proof of publication; uniform affidavits required.—(1) All affidavits made for the purpose of establishing proof of publication of public notices or legal advertisements shall be uniform throughout the state.(2) Each such affidavit shall be printed upon white paper and shall be 81/2 inches in width and of convenient length, not less than 51/2 inches. A white margin of not less than 21/2 inches shall be left at the right side of each affidavit form and upon or in this space shall be substantially pasted a clipping which shall be a true copy of the public notice or legal advertisement for which proof is executed. Alternatively, the affidavit may be provided in electronic rather than paper form, provided the notarization of the affidavit complies with the requirements of s. 117.021.(3) There may be a charge not to exceed $2 levied for the preparation and execution of each such proof of publication or affidavit.History.—s. 1, ch. 19290, 1939; CGL 1940 Supp. 4668(1); s. 1, ch. 63-49; s. 26, ch. 67-254; s. 1, ch. 76-58; s. 2, ch. 2012-212; s. 5, ch. 2021-17.Note.—Former s. 49.04.
FL Stat § 50.051 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 50 - Legal and Official Advertisements|50.051 - Proof of Publication; Form of Uniform Affidavit.

50.051 Proof of publication; form of uniform affidavit.—The printed form upon which all such affidavits establishing proof of publication are to be executed shall be substantially as follows:NAME OF COUNTYSTATE OF FLORIDACOUNTY OF  :Before the undersigned authority personally appeared  , who on oath says that he or she is   of the  , a   newspaper published at   in   County, Florida; that the attached copy of advertisement, being a   in the matter of   in the   Court, was published in said newspaper by print in the issues of   or by publication on the newspaper’s website, if authorized, on   (date)  .Affiant further says that the newspaper complies with all legal requirements for publication in chapter 50, Florida Statutes.Sworn to and subscribed before me this   day of  ,   (year)  , by  , who is personally known to me or who has produced (type of identification) as identification.  (Signature of Notary Public)    (Print, Type, or Stamp Commissioned Name of Notary Public)    (Notary Public)  History.—s. 2, ch. 19290, 1939; CGL 1940 Supp. 4668(2); s. 6, ch. 67-254; s. 1, ch. 93-62; s. 291, ch. 95-147; s. 23, ch. 99-2; s. 3, ch. 99-6; s. 6, ch. 2021-17.Note.—Former s. 49.05.
FL Stat § 50.061 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 50 - Legal and Official Advertisements|50.061 - Amounts Chargeable.

50.061 Amounts chargeable.—(1) The publisher of any newspaper publishing any and all official public notices or legal advertisements shall charge therefor the rates specified in this section without rebate, commission or refund.(2) The charge for publishing each such official public notice or legal advertisement shall be 70 cents per square inch for the first insertion and 40 cents per square inch for each subsequent insertion, except that government notices required to be published more than once, the cost of which is paid for by the government and not paid in advance by or allowed to be recouped from private parties, may not be charged for the second and successive insertions at a rate greater than 85 percent of the original rate.(3) Where the regular established minimum commercial rate per square inch of the newspaper publishing such official public notices or legal advertisements is in excess of the rate herein stipulated, said minimum commercial rate per square inch may be charged for all such legal advertisements or official public notices for each insertion, except that government notices required to be published more than once, the cost of which is paid for by the government and not paid in advance by or allowed to be recouped from private parties, may not be charged for the second and successive insertions at a rate greater than 85 percent of the original rate.(4) A governmental agency publishing an official public notice or legal advertisement may procure publication by soliciting and accepting written bids from newspapers published in the county, in which case the specified charges in this section do not apply.(5) If the public notice is published in the print edition of a newspaper, the posting of the notice on the newspaper’s website pursuant to s. 50.0211(3) must be done at no additional charge.(6) All official public notices and legal advertisements shall be charged and paid for on the basis of 6-point type on 6-point body, unless otherwise specified by statute.(7) Any person violating this section, either by allowing or accepting any rebate, commission, or refund, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.(8) Failure to charge the rates prescribed by this section shall in no way affect the validity of any official public notice or legal advertisement and shall not subject same to legal attack upon such grounds.History.—s. 3, ch. 3022, 1877; RS 1298; GS 1729; RGS 2944; s. 1, ch. 12215, 1927; CGL 4668; ss. 1, 2, 2A, 2B, ch. 20264, 1941; s. 1, ch. 23663, 1947; s. 1, ch. 57-160; s. 1, ch. 63-50; s. 1, ch. 65-569; s. 6, ch. 67-254; s. 15, ch. 71-136; s. 35, ch. 73-332; s. 1, ch. 90-279; s. 3, ch. 2012-212; s. 2, ch. 2014-210; s. 7, ch. 2021-17.Note.—Former s. 49.06.
FL Stat § 50.0711 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 50 - Legal and Official Advertisements|50.0711 - Court Docket Fund; Service Charges; Publications.

50.0711 Court docket fund; service charges; publications.—(1) The clerk of the court in each county may establish a court docket fund for the purpose of paying the cost of publication of the fact of the filing of any civil case in the circuit court of the county by the style and of the calendar relating to such cases. This court docket fund shall be funded by $1 mandatory court cost for all civil actions, suits, or proceedings filed in the circuit court of the county. The clerk shall maintain such funds separate and apart, and the proceeds from this court cost shall not be diverted to any other fund or for any purpose other than that established in this section. The clerk of the court shall dispense the fund to the designated record newspaper in the county on a quarterly basis.(2) A newspaper qualified under the terms of s. 50.011 shall be designated as the record newspaper for such publication by an order of the majority of the judges in the judicial circuit in which such county is located, and such order shall be filed and recorded with the clerk of the circuit court for such county. The designated record newspaper may be changed at the end of any fiscal year of the county by a majority vote of the judges of the judicial circuit of the county ordering such change 30 days prior to the end of the fiscal year, notice of which order shall be given to the previously designated record newspaper.(3) The publishers of any designated record newspapers receiving payment from this court docket fund shall publish, without additional charge, the fact of the filing of any civil case, suit, or action filed in such county in the circuit. Such publication shall be in accordance with a schedule agreed upon between the record newspaper and the clerk of the court in such county.(4) The publishers of any designated record newspapers receiving revenues from the court docket fund established in subsection (1) shall, without charge, accept legal advertisements for the purpose of service of process by publication under s. 49.011(4), (10), and (11) when such publication is required of persons authorized to proceed as indigent persons under s. 57.081.History.—s. 46, ch. 2004-265.
FL Stat § 51.011 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 51 - Summary Procedure|51.011 - Summary Procedure.

51.011 Summary procedure.—The procedure in this section applies only to those actions specified by statute or rule. Rules of procedure apply to this section except when this section or the statute or rule prescribing this section provides a different procedure. If there is a difference between the time period prescribed in a rule and in this section, this section governs.(1) PLEADINGS.—Plaintiff’s initial pleading shall contain the matters required by the statute or rule prescribing this section or, if none is so required, shall state a cause of action. All defenses of law or fact shall be contained in defendant’s answer which shall be filed within 5 days after service of process. If the answer incorporates a counterclaim, plaintiff shall include all defenses of law or fact in his or her answer to the counterclaim and shall serve it within 5 days after service of the counterclaim. No other pleadings are permitted. All defensive motions, including motions to quash, shall be heard by the court prior to trial.(2) DISCOVERY.—Depositions on oral examination may be taken by any party at any time. Other discovery and admissions may be had only on order of court setting the time for compliance. No discovery postpones the time for trial except for good cause shown or by stipulation of the parties.(3) JURY.—If a jury trial is authorized by law, any party may demand it in any pleading or by a separate paper served not later than 5 days after the action comes to issue. When a jury is in attendance at the close of pleading or the time of demand for jury trial, the action may be tried immediately; otherwise, the court shall order a special venire to be summoned immediately. If a special venire be summoned, the party demanding the jury shall deposit sufficient money with the clerk to pay the jury fees which shall be taxed as costs if he or she prevails.(4) NEW TRIAL.—Motion for new trial shall be filed and served within 5 days after verdict, if a jury trial was had, or after entry of judgment, if trial was by the court. A reserved motion for directed verdict shall be renewed within the period for moving for a new trial.(5) APPEAL.—Notice of appeal shall be filed and served within 30 days from the rendition of the judgment appealed from.History.—s. 7, ch. 67-254; s. 23, ch. 73-333; s. 5, ch. 87-405; s. 292, ch. 95-147.
FL Stat § 55.01 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 55 - Judgments|55.01 - Judgments; General Form.

55.01 Judgments; general form.—(1) In all actions where either party recovers a sum of money, the amount to which he or she is entitled may be awarded by the judgment generally, without any distinction being therein made as to whether such sum is recovered by way of debt or damages.(2) Each final judgment shall contain thereon the address and the social security number, if known to the prevailing party, of each person against whom judgment is rendered. Errors in names, addresses, or social security numbers or failure to include same shall in no way affect the validity or finality of a final judgment.History.—s. 40, ch. 1096, 1861; RS 1171; GS 1598; RGS 2800; CGL 4486; s. 9, ch. 67-254; s. 1, ch. 79-387; s. 9, ch. 93-250; s. 293, ch. 95-147.
FL Stat § 55.03 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 55 - Judgments|55.03 - Judgments; Rate of Interest, Generally.

55.03 Judgments; rate of interest, generally.—(1) On December 1, March 1, June 1, and September 1 of each year, the Chief Financial Officer shall set the rate of interest that shall be payable on judgments or decrees for the calendar quarter beginning January 1 and adjust the rate quarterly on April 1, July 1, and October 1 by averaging the discount rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the preceding 12 months, then adding 400 basis points to the averaged federal discount rate. The Chief Financial Officer shall inform the clerk of the courts and chief judge for each judicial circuit of the rate that has been established for the upcoming quarter. The interest rate established by the Chief Financial Officer shall take effect on the first day of each following calendar quarter. Judgments obtained on or after January 1, 1995, shall use the previous statutory rate for time periods before January 1, 1995, for which interest is due and shall apply the rate set by the Chief Financial Officer for time periods after January 1, 1995, for which interest is due. Nothing contained herein shall affect a rate of interest established by written contract or obligation.(2) Any judgment for money damages or order for a judicial sale and any process or writ directed to a sheriff for execution shall bear, on its face, the rate of interest that is payable on the judgment. The rate of interest stated in the judgment, as adjusted in subsection (3), accrues on the judgment until it is paid.(3) The interest rate is established at the time a judgment is obtained and such interest rate shall be adjusted annually on January 1 of each year in accordance with the interest rate in effect on that date as set by the Chief Financial Officer until the judgment is paid, except for judgments entered by the clerk of the court pursuant to ss. 55.141, 61.14, 938.29, and 938.30, which shall not be adjusted annually.(4) A sheriff shall not be required to docket and index or collect on any process, writ, judgment, or decree, described in subsection (2), and entered after the effective date of this act, unless such process, writ, judgment, or decree indicates the rate of interest. For purposes of this subsection, if the process, writ, judgment, or decree refers to the statutory rate of interest described in subsection (1), such reference shall be deemed to indicate the rate of interest.History.—s. 1, ch. 1562, 1866; RS 1176; GS 1604; RGS 2806; CGL 4493; s. 1, ch. 16051, 1933; s. 9, ch. 67-254; s. 7, ch. 77-354; s. 8, ch. 79-396; ss. 1, 2, ch. 80-110; s. 1, ch. 81-113; s. 37, ch. 81-259; s. 8, ch. 94-239; s. 4, ch. 98-410; s. 101, ch. 2003-261; s. 1, ch. 2011-169.
FL Stat § 55.04 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 55 - Judgments|55.04 - Judgments; Rate of Interest, Bonds of County, Etc.

55.04 Judgments; rate of interest, bonds of county, etc.—All judgments and decrees rendered on any bonds or other written evidence of debt of any county, special road and bridge districts or any county for the use and benefit of any special road and bridge districts or incorporated city or town or taxing district bear interest at the rate of 5 percent a year. When a judgment or decree is rendered on a bond or other written evidence of debt providing for a lesser rate of interest, the judgment or decree bears interest at the rate specified in such bond or other written evidence of debt.History.—s. 1, ch. 16835, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 4493(1); s. 9, ch. 67-254.
FL Stat § 55.05 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 55 - Judgments|55.05 - Judgments; Power of Attorney to Confess Invalid.

55.05 Judgments; power of attorney to confess invalid.—All powers of attorney for confessing or suffering judgment to pass by default or otherwise, and all general releases of error, heretofore made or to be made hereafter by any person whatsoever within or without this state, before such action brought, shall be absolutely null and void.History.—s. 67, Nov. 23, 1828; RS 1178; GS 1606; RGS 2808; CGL 4495; s. 1, ch. 59-321; s. 9, ch. 67-254.
FL Stat § 55.07 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 55 - Judgments|55.07 - Judgments; Effect of Failure to Record.

55.07 Judgments; effect of failure to record.—The failure to record any order, judgment or decree shall not affect the validity of any proceedings had thereon when collaterally attacked; provided, rendition of such order, judgment or decree is shown by the progress docket in the cause. This section shall apply to all proceedings heretofore had as well as to those hereafter had.History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 12114, 1927; CGL 4496; s. 9, ch. 67-254.
FL Stat § 55.071 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 55 - Judgments|55.071 - Judgments; Effect of Invalid Affidavit or Oath.

55.071 Judgments; effect of invalid affidavit or oath.—No order, judgment or decree heretofore or hereafter entered (including decrees pro confesso, defaults and judgments by default) which was or shall be predicated on a sworn statement, affidavit or oath shall be set aside or held void or voidable because the officer before whom such sworn statement or affidavit was or shall be made or such oath was or shall be administered was the attorney of record or otherwise the attorney for the person making such sworn statement, affidavit or oath.History.—s. 1, ch. 22843, 1945; s. 9, ch. 67-254.
FL Stat § 55.081 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 55 - Judgments|55.081 - Statute of Limitations, Lien of Judgment.

55.081 Statute of limitations, lien of judgment.—Subject to the provisions of s. 55.10, no judgment, order, or decree of any court shall be a lien upon real or personal property within the state after the expiration of 20 years from the date of the entry of such judgment, order, or decree.History.—s. 1, ch. 29954, 1955; s. 9, ch. 67-254; s. 1, ch. 87-67.
FL Stat § 55.11 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure|Chapter 55 - Judgments|55.11 - Judgments; No Lien Against Municipalities.

55.11 Judgments; no lien against municipalities.—No money judgment or decree against a municipal corporation is a lien on its property nor shall any execution or any writ in the nature of an execution based on the judgment or decree be issued or levied.History.—s. 1, ch. 17125, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 4492(4); s. 9, ch. 67-254.