Florida Laws
131 articles · page 1 of 3
A
Are Autopsy Reports Public Record in Florida? (2026)
Yes, Florida autopsy reports are public records. Learn who can request one, the photo and open-case exemptions, the fees, and how to get a report.
Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Florida? (2026 Fla. Stat. 790.09)
Florida makes selling brass knuckles a misdemeanor and treats them as a concealed weapon. See the home, car, school and license rules and penalties.
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal in Florida? Psilocybin Laws (2026)
Psilocybin is Schedule I in Florida: possession is a third-degree felony, and since July 2025 selling or transporting psilocybin mushroom spores is a misdemeanor.
B
Bankruptcy in Florida (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Florida bankruptcy: opted out of federal exemptions, the unlimited homestead with acreage limits and the 522(p) cap, plus current means-test figures.
C
Common Law Marriage in Florida: Is It Recognized? (2026)
Florida abolished common law marriage after January 1, 1968, under Fla. Stat. 741.211. Common law marriages formed before that date remain valid. Florida recognizes valid common law marriages from other states.
D
Does Florida Allow Legal Separation? Support Without Divorce (2026)
No Florida statute provides for a legal-separation decree. Learn how Fla. Stat. 61.09 and 61.10 let separated spouses seek support and a parenting plan.
F
FDBR Compliance Checklist: Florida Data Privacy
FDBR compliance under Fla. Stat. 501.701 et seq.: the $1B controller test, privacy notice, opt-in sensitive data, opt-outs, and $50,000 penalties.
FDBR Consumer Rights: Florida Data Privacy Rights
Florida Digital Bill of Rights (Fla. Stat. 501.705): access, delete, port, opt out of sale, and opt out of voice and facial recognition collection.
Florida Adoption Records: Original Birth Certificate Access
Florida seals an adult adoptee's original birth certificate under Fla. Stat. 63.162. Learn the court petition route, the DH429 mix up, and the reunion registry.
Florida Age of Consent Laws: Statutes, Penalties and Reporting
How Florida criminal law protects minors by age, with tiers for under 16 and ages 16 to 17, custodial authority, penalties, registration and reporting.
Florida Age Verification Law: Two Provisions, Two Lawsuits, One AG Crackdown
Florida's HB 3 created separate social-media and adult-content verification rules with different court outcomes, plus active AG enforcement.
Florida AI Laws and Regulation (2026)
Guide to Florida AI laws, regulation, and legislation covering deepfakes, employment AI, healthcare AI, and more.
Florida AI Meeting Recording Laws (2026)
Florida requires all-party consent for AI meeting recorders under Fla. Stat. 934.03. Felony penalties up to 5 years prison.
Florida Alimony Laws: Types, Duration, and the 2023 Reform (2026)
Florida abolished permanent alimony in 2023. Learn the four current types under Fla. Stat. 61.08, durational caps, the 35% amount rule, and how alimony ends.
Florida Annulment Laws: Grounds, Case Law and How It Works (2026)
Florida's marriage statutes set no annulment grounds, but courts annul marriages on recognized grounds such as bigamy, fraud or lack of consent. See the cases.
Florida Assault and Battery Laws: Charges and Penalties (2026)
Florida treats assault and battery as separate crimes under Chapter 784. See misdemeanor and felony grades, aggravated charges, protected victims and penalties.
Florida At-Will Employment Laws: Exceptions and Your Rights
Is Florida an at-will state? Yes. Learn the statutory exceptions (Fla. Stat. 448.102, 440.205), right-to-work status, and your rights if fired in Florida.
Florida Audio Recording Laws: All-Party Consent Rules and Penalties (2026)
Florida audio recording laws require all-party consent under F.S. 934.03. Learn the rules, criminal penalties, civil liability, and exceptions for recording conversations.
Florida Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Florida background check laws explained: Ban the Box rules, FCRA lookback periods, Level 1 and Level 2 screening, expungement, and housing checks.
Florida Biometric Privacy Laws: Collection, Consent & Penalties (2026)
Florida biometric privacy law covers fingerprints, voiceprints, and iris scans under the FDBR. Learn opt-out rights, penalties, and the $1B threshold.
Florida Birth Certificate: How to Order, Fees and Who Can Get One
Florida's Bureau of Vital Statistics charges $9 for a first certified birth certificate copy. How to order online, by mail or in person, and who is eligible.
Florida Car Accident Laws: No-Fault, PIP, and Your Claim
Florida is a no-fault PIP state. Learn the verbal serious-injury threshold, 2-year lawsuit deadline, modified comparative negligence, and minimum insurance rules.
Florida Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Exceptions & HB 233
Florida requires car seats through age 3 and boosters at 4-5, per Fla. Stat. 316.613. See 3-point penalty, unattended-child rule, and HB 233's status.
Florida Child Custody Laws: Parental Responsibility, Time-Sharing, and Your Rights
Florida presumes equal time-sharing since 2023 (HB 1301). Learn how courts decide parental responsibility, time-sharing, relocation, and modification under F.S. 61.13.
Florida Child Support Laws (2026): Guidelines & Calculator
Florida uses the Income Shares Model under Fla. Stat. § 61.30. Learn how courts calculate support, time-sharing adjustments, modification rules, and enforcement.
Florida Court Records: How to Search by County, What's Public, and How Sealing Works
Florida has no statewide case search. Learn which county clerk portal to use, what's free vs paid, and how sealing differs from expunction.
Florida Dashcam Laws: Rules for Dashboard Cameras (2026)
Florida dashcam laws allow dashboard cameras but restrict audio recording and windshield placement. Learn the rules under F.S. 934.03 and F.S. 316.2004.
Florida Data Breach Notification Laws: Reporting Rules & Timelines (2026)
Learn Florida's 30-day data breach notification deadline, penalty structure up to $500,000, AG reporting rules, and encryption safe harbor under Fla. Stat. 501.171.
Florida Data Privacy Laws: Digital Bill of Rights & Breach Rules (2026)
Florida data privacy laws include the Digital Bill of Rights targeting Big Tech and FIPA breach notification rules. Learn FDBR thresholds, consumer rights, and penalties.
Florida Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One
Florida death certificates without cause of death are public; anyone 18+ can order one for $15. Cause of death is confidential for 50 years. Full guide.
Florida Debt Collection Laws: The $750 Head of Family Rule, Garnishment, and Debt Time Limits
Florida debt collection laws: the $750 a week head of family garnishment exemption, the 20-day claim procedure, 5 and 4 year debt deadlines, and repossession.
Florida Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026)
Florida criminalizes sexual deepfakes under § 836.13 (third-degree felony) and requires AI disclaimers in political ads under § 106.145. Here is what victims and creators need to know.
Florida Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)
Florida defamation laws: a 2-year deadline (Fla. Stat. 95.11), the 768.295 anti-SLAPP law, pre-suit retraction notice, per se categories, and how to sue.
Florida Disorderly Conduct and Trespass Laws: Penalties (2026)
Florida's breach of the peace and disorderly conduct law, 877.03, is a second-degree misdemeanor. Trespass is a misdemeanor unless armed or on listed property.
Florida Divorce Laws (2026): Grounds, Residency, and Process
Florida divorce law explained: pure no-fault (irretrievably broken), 6-month residency, 20-day waiting period, equitable distribution, and how to file in Circuit Court.
Florida Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights
Learn Florida's strict liability dog bite laws under Fla. Stat. 767.04, the 2-year statute of limitations, dangerous dog rules, and the 2025 Pam Rock Act.
Florida Drone Laws 2026: Privacy, Warrants & Penalties
Florida rewrote its drone privacy law effective October 1, 2025. See what Fla. Stat. Section 934.50 requires, the police-warrant rule, and the penalties for violating it.
Florida DUI Laws: Penalties, BAC Limit & License (2026)
Florida DUI laws: the 0.08% BAC limit, first-offense penalties under Statute 316.193, license revocation, ignition interlock, refusal, and the 10-year rule.
Florida E-Scooter Laws: Sidewalk, Helmet & Age Rules (2026)
Florida regulates e-scooters under Fla. Stat. section 316.2128 with bicycle rights and duties. There is no adult helmet or license rule, but riders under 16 must wear a helmet.
Florida Easements, Landlocked Property and Eminent Domain Laws
Florida easement and eminent domain law: the 20-year prescriptive period from case law, ways of necessity for landlocked land, slum and blight limits, and fee rules.
Florida Emancipation Laws: How to Get Emancipated in Florida (2026)
Florida emancipation laws explained: Fla. Stat. 743.015 petition process, who files, age 16 minimum, court best-interest test, marriage route, and effects on child support and FAFSA.
Florida Embezzlement Laws: Grand Theft, Forgery and Penalties
Florida charges embezzlement as theft, a felony generally at $750 or more. Forgery and uttering are third-degree felonies at any amount. Penalties and time limits.
Florida Employee Monitoring Laws: Employer Rules (2026)
Florida has no electronic-monitoring notice law, but its all-party consent rule changes call monitoring. See what Fla. Stat. § 934.03 requires.
Florida Expungement Laws: Seal vs. Expunge, FDLE Certificate of Eligibility, and Eligibility Rules (2026)
Florida law offers two tracks to clear your record: sealing under Fla. Stat. § 943.059 and expungement under § 943.0585, both requiring a Certificate of Eligibility from FDLE. Learn who qualifies, what disqualifies you, and the step-by-step process.
Florida Felony Degrees and Misdemeanor Penalties (2026 Guide)
Florida felony and misdemeanor classes explained: capital, life and first to third degree felonies, misdemeanor degrees, fines, the scoresheet and probation.
Florida Final Paycheck Laws: No Deadline, Federal Rule Applies
Florida has no state deadline for final paychecks. See what the federal FLSA backstop requires, what Fla. Stat. 448.08 does, and how to recover unpaid wages.
Florida Fireworks Laws (2026): Sparklers vs. Holiday Rules
Florida's sparklers and novelties are legal year-round (Fla. Stat. § 791.01); real fireworks get a separate holiday exemption (§ 791.08) on 3 dates.
Florida GPS Tracking Laws: Is It Legal to Put a Tracker on a Car? (2026)
Putting a GPS tracker on someone's car without consent is now a felony in Florida. FS 934.425 penalties, the seven exceptions, AirTag rules, and employer limits.
Florida Grandparents' Rights: Visitation and Custody Laws
Florida grandparent visitation is only available after a parent's death, disappearance, or incapacity. What the law allows, and what it does not.
Florida Guardianship Laws: Minors, Adults and Alternatives (2026)
How Florida guardianship works under Chapter 744: clear and convincing proof, an appointed attorney, examining committee, preneed guardians and alternatives.
Florida Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do
Learn Florida hit and run penalties from misdemeanor to first-degree felony. Covers F.S. 316.027 duties, mandatory minimums, and insurance rules.
Florida Homestead Exemption: Amount, Deadline and How to Apply
Florida exempts $25,000 of a home's assessed value from all taxes plus up to $26,411 (2026) from non-school taxes. File DR-501 by March 1. Save Our Homes.
Florida Identity Theft Laws: Penalties, Protected Classes, and Victim Rights
Florida's identity theft law (Fla. Stat. § 817.568) starts as a third-degree felony and escalates with dollar value, victim count, and victim age.
Florida Jury Duty Laws: Pay, Excuses and Employer Rules (2026)
Florida jury duty rules: who must serve, the $15 and $30 daily pay, excuses for people 70 and older, parents and students, employer protections and fines.
Florida Knife Laws (2026): Carry, Pocketknives, Schools
Florida excludes a common pocketknife from 'weapon' but the concealed-carry offense uses a different definition that names dirk, not knife.
Florida Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026): Deposits, Notice, and Tenant Rights
Florida has no security deposit cap. Deposits must be returned in 15 days (or claim notice within 30). Landlords must give 12 hours notice to enter.
Florida Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Cameras and Privacy Rules (2026)
Florida landlord-tenant recording laws restrict cameras inside rental units and require all-party consent for audio. Learn the rules for landlords and tenants.
Florida Laws on Recording in Public: Your Rights and Limits (2026)
Florida public recording laws allow video and photography in public spaces but require all-party consent for audio of private conversations. Learn the Sunshine Law rules.
Florida Laws on Recording Police: Halo Law and Your Rights (2026)
Florida law protects your right to record police in public, but the 2025 Halo Law (F.S. 843.31) creates a 25-foot buffer zone. Learn the rules and penalties.
Florida Lemon Law (2026): How to Qualify & Get a Refund
Florida's lemon law covers new motor vehicles for 24 months. Learn the 3-repair-attempt rule, refund formula, free state arbitration, and filing deadlines.