Florida Laws
131 articles · page 2 of 3
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Florida License Plate Reader Laws (2026)
Florida has no general ALPR statute. See 316.0777, the 2026 FDOT permit revocation, retention, and public records rules for plate reader data.
Florida Manslaughter Laws: DUI Manslaughter, Vehicular Homicide (2026)
Florida manslaughter (782.07) is a second-degree felony, up to 15 years. See aggravated manslaughter, the DUI manslaughter 4-year minimum and vehicular homicide.
Florida Marriage and Divorce Records: How to Get a Copy (2026)
Florida marriage and dissolution certificates run from June 6, 1927 at the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. $5 covers the search and one certified copy.
Florida Marriage License Requirements 2026: $86 Fee, 3-Day Wait
How to get a Florida marriage license: $86 fee ($61 with a premarital course), the 3-day wait and its exceptions, age rules, officiants and the 60-day limit.
Florida Medical Recording Laws: Patient Rights and HIPAA Rules (2026)
Florida medical recording laws require all-party consent for recording doctor visits under F.S. 934.03. Learn how HIPAA, state privacy laws, and consent rules interact.
Florida Medical Records Retention Laws (2026 Guide)
Florida medical records retention laws: how long hospitals and doctors keep your records, HIPAA rules, and patient rights.
Florida Minimum Wage 2026: $15.00 an Hour From September 30
Florida minimum wage is $15.00 an hour from September 30, 2026. See the $11.98 tipped cash wage, when the next change comes, and why cities cannot raise it.
Florida Name Change Laws: How to Legally Change Your Name
How to change your name in Florida: the circuit court petition under Fla. Stat. §68.07, fees, the fingerprint background check, and divorce restoration.
Florida Noise Laws: Quiet Hours, Car Stereos and Penalties
Florida noise rules are mostly local. Breach of the peace (877.03) is a misdemeanor, and car audio plainly audible at 25 feet is a nonmoving infraction.
Florida Non-Compete Laws (2026): Are Non-Competes Enforceable?
Florida enforces reasonable non-competes under Fla. Stat. 542.335, and the 2025 CHOICE Act lets employers bind high earners for up to 4 years. See the rules.
Florida Nursing Home Camera Laws (2026): No Statute, Bill Pending
Florida has no nursing home camera law yet. HB 651 died in 2026 after SB 64 died in 2025. What current law allows, the all-party consent risk, and the ombudsman path.
Florida Open Container Law (2026): Fla. Stat. § 316.1936
Florida bans open-container possession and drinking for drivers and passengers, even parked. Exemptions, local rules, and penalties under Fla. Stat. § 316.1936.
Florida Pepper Spray and Stun Gun Laws (2026)
Florida allows a 2 oz. self-defense spray and a nonlethal stun gun without a license, but minors, dealers, felons, and school property face real limits.
Florida Phone Call Recording Laws: Consent Rules for Calls (2026)
Florida phone call recording laws require all-party consent under F.S. 934.03. Learn the rules for recording calls, business call recording, and interstate calls.
Florida Police Bodycam Laws & Public Records
Florida has no statewide bodycam mandate. Learn when footage is public under Fla. Stat. 119.071(2)(l), the 90-day retention floor, and how to get a copy.
Florida Police Reports: How to Get a Copy, Fees, and What's Public
Get a Florida crash report from the FLHSMV Crash Portal for $10, request an incident report under Chapter 119, and see Florida's bodycam access rules.
Florida Pornography Laws (2026): Bare Possession Is a Crime Here
Florida criminalizes bare possession of obscene material, a rare exception nationally. Age verification, CSAM, NCII, and penalties under Florida law explained.
Florida Power of Attorney Laws: Durable, Medical, and Financial POA (2026)
Florida Power of Attorney Act (Fla. Stat. ch. 709): execution requires notarization plus two witnesses, no springing POAs after Oct 1 2011, health care decisions use a separate surrogate designation under ch. 765.
Florida Prenuptial Agreement Laws: Requirements and Enforceability
Florida prenups signed since Oct. 1, 2007 are governed by Fla. Stat. 61.079. See the signature rules, when a court refuses enforcement, alimony limits and postnups.
Florida Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Florida probate explained: how the process works, who inherits without a will, the new $150,000 small estate threshold, and Florida's estate tax status.
Florida Property Records: How to Find Out Who Owns a Property (2026)
Search Florida property records free by county or statewide via MyFloridaCounty.com. Learn how to find a property owner and order a certified deed copy.
Florida Public Records Laws: The Public Records Act (Chapter 119) Explained
How Florida's Public Records Act works: who can request, the good-faith response standard, 15-cent copy caps, bodycam exemptions, and the Sunshine Law.
Florida Punitive Damages Laws: Caps and Standards (2026)
Florida generally caps punitive damages at the greater of 3 times compensatory or $500,000, with exceptions for financial-gain motive, intent to harm and impairment.
Florida Quitclaim Deed: Requirements, Recording and Doc Stamp Tax
Florida quitclaim deed rules: the s. 689.025 form, two witnesses, notary, homestead spouse joinder, clerk recording fees, doc stamp tax and fraud alerts.
Florida Reckless Driving Laws: Penalties, Points and Speed (2026)
Florida reckless driving (316.192): up to 90 days and a $25-$500 fine for a first offense, a felony with serious injury, and 4 points. Speeding and racing rules.
Florida Recording Laws (2026): All-Party Consent Rules
Florida requires all-party consent to record conversations under Fla. Stat. § 934.03. Violations are a third-degree felony. Learn the rules, penalties, and exceptions.
Florida Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get an Injunction for Protection
Learn how to get an injunction for protection in Florida. Covers all 5 types, who qualifies, how to file for free, and how long a final order lasts.
Florida Ring Doorbell Laws: What You Need to Know in 2026
Florida all-party consent law makes unauthorized Ring doorbell audio recording a third-degree felony. Learn Fla. Stat. 934.03 penalties and how to stay legal.
Florida Scam and Fraud Laws: Where to Report, Your Right to Sue (2026)
Florida scam victims: where to report, suing under FDUTPA for actual damages, elder exploitation protections, bank holds, and the crypto ATM law starting in 2027.
Florida School Recording Laws: Classroom, Campus, and Student Privacy (2026)
Florida school recording laws cover classroom recording, campus surveillance, FERPA, and student privacy. Learn the rules for students, parents, and educators.
Florida Security Camera Laws: Home, Business, and HOA Rules (2026)
Florida security camera laws allow video surveillance in many settings but restrict audio recording and cameras in private areas. Learn the rules for homes, businesses, and HOAs.
Florida Self-Defense Laws: Stand Your Ground & Castle Doctrine (2026)
Florida is the original stand-your-ground state. Learn how § 776.012 removes the duty to retreat, § 776.013 covers the castle doctrine and occupied vehicles, and the 2017 burden shift under § 776.032.
Florida Self-Driving Car Laws: Robotaxis and Insurance (2026)
Florida lets fully autonomous cars run with no one aboard under Fla. Stat. 316.85. Robotaxis need $1 million in coverage. Tickets, crashes and city rules.
Florida Severance Pay Laws (2026): Is Severance Required?
Florida does not require severance pay. See how the federal WARN Act, promised severance, reemployment assistance delays and release rules work in 2026.
Florida Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties
Understand Florida's sexting laws: criminal penalties for adults and minors, revenge porn laws, and defenses available under Florida law.
Florida Slip and Fall Laws: Proving Premises Liability in the Sunshine State
Florida slip and fall law: Fla. Stat. § 768.0755 constructive-notice rule, 2-year SOL, modified 51% comparative fault, open-and-obvious doctrine, and government claim deadlines.
Florida Small Claims Court: $8,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Florida small claims cases cover up to $8,000 in county court. Learn the filing fees, service rules, pretrial conference, appeals and how to collect a judgment.
Florida Small Estate Affidavit: Limits, Options and 2026 Changes
Florida's only court-free small estate affidavit covers up to $2,000 in bank accounts after 6 months. See the court options up to $150,000 and the July 2026 changes.
Florida Smart Glasses Recording Laws (2026)
Florida requires all-party consent to record audio under Fla. Stat. § 934.03 — a third-degree felony if violated. Learn when smart glasses recording is legal in Florida.
Florida Social Security Disability: Rates & Wait Times
Social Security disability in Florida: no general state SSI supplement, automatic Medicaid on SSI approval, approval odds, and how long an ALJ hearing takes.
Florida Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Florida requires 7 years of adverse possession plus annual tax payments under Fla. Stat. § 95.18. Learn the 2024 § 82.036 sheriff-removal process and standard eviction route.
Florida Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type
Florida statute of limitations for personal injury, contracts, fraud, and criminal cases. Updated for 2023 HB 837 tort reform reducing negligence claims to 2 years.
Florida Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Florida surveillance camera laws: home security, workplace cameras, neighbor disputes, audio recording rules.
Florida Theft Laws: Felony Threshold, Petit vs. Grand Theft (2026)
Florida theft becomes a felony at $750 under section 812.014. See petit and grand theft tiers, repeat-offense rules, retail theft and the civil demand statute.
Florida Trade Secret Laws: UTSA, Remedies & Deadlines
Florida Uniform Trade Secrets Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 688.001-688.009): what qualifies, the 3-year deadline, injunctions, 2x damages, and how the federal DTSA applies.
Florida Unclaimed Property: How to Search & Claim Your Money (2026)
Florida holds over $2 billion in unclaimed money. Learn how to search FLTreasureHunt.gov for free and claim what's yours, with no deadline to file.
Florida Unemployment Benefits 2026: $275 Max, 12 Weeks, How to File
Florida pays $32 to $275 a week in unemployment for up to 12 weeks on 2025-2026 claims. Learn who is eligible, the waiting week, how to file and how to appeal.
Florida Video Recording Laws: What You Can and Cannot Record (2026)
Florida video recording laws allow silent video in public but require all-party consent when audio is captured. Learn the rules under F.S. 934.03 and 810.145.
Florida Voyeurism and Hidden Camera Laws: Digital Voyeurism Penalties (2026)
Florida voyeurism and hidden camera laws under F.S. 810.145 and 810.14 carry felony penalties. Learn what digital voyeurism means and the consequences of hidden recording.
Florida Warrant Search: How to Check If You Have a Warrant (2026)
Check if you have an active warrant in Florida using the free, public FDLE Wanted Persons Search and county sheriff tools. Learn what to do next.
Florida Whistleblower Laws: Protections and How to Report
Learn about Florida whistleblower laws for public and private sector employees, including protections under Fla. Stat. 112.3187 and 448.102, remedies, and how to file.
Florida Will and Trust Laws: Witnesses, Electronic Wills (2026)
A Florida will needs two witnesses who sign in front of the testator and each other. Handwritten wills are no exception; electronic wills have strict remote rules.
Florida Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits
Florida requires 28% VLT on front windows, 15% on sedan rear windows, and 6% on SUV/truck rear windows. Learn the rules, medical exemptions, and penalties.
Florida Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)
Florida windshield mounting laws: restrictions, penalties, and exemptions. Complete guide.
Florida Workers' Compensation Laws: Benefits, Deadlines, and Your Rights
Florida workers' comp guide: construction 1+, non-construction 4+, agriculture 6+/12+ thresholds, 2-year filing deadline, employer-directed care, and 66 2/3% wage replacement.
Florida Workplace Harassment Laws: FCRA, 15 Employees, 365 Days
Florida reaches workplace harassment through the Civil Rights Act of 1992, which covers employers with 15 or more employees. FCHR complaints are due in 365 days.
Florida Workplace Recording Laws: Employee and Employer Rules (2026)
Florida workplace recording laws prohibit secret audio recording under F.S. 934.03. Learn the rules for employers, employees, video surveillance, and whistleblowers.
Florida Wrongful Death Laws (2026): Deadlines & Who Can Sue
Florida wrongful death claims: the 2-year deadline, who the personal representative sues for, damages, the medical-malpractice limit on adult children, caps.
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How Long Is a Life Sentence in Florida? (2026 Guide)
Complete guide to life sentences in Florida: parole eligibility, LWOP rules, notable cases, recent legislative changes, and sentencing statutes. Updated March 2026.
How to Find a Cause of Death in Florida (2026)
Find a cause of death in Florida by ordering the confidential death certificate as eligible family, requesting the autopsy report, or checking an obituary.