Quick Answers
- All-in cost (one tenant): about $530, covering the court filing fee, summons, process server, and the firm's flat attorney fee.
- Attorney flat fee (uncontested): $295.
- Court filing fee: $185 base, plus $10 per summons (one summons per tenant named).
- Sheriff writ of possession: $90 in almost every Florida county; $115 in Miami-Dade. Paid only if the tenant does not leave after the judgment.
- Timeline: about 4 to 5 weeks for an uncontested case, from filing to removal.
- Contested cases: quoted case by case.
Get a Clear Price Before You File
A flat fee on an uncontested eviction, statewide, with no surprise hourly billing.
What a Florida Eviction Actually Costs
The total cost of an uncontested residential eviction in Florida breaks into two buckets: the court and service costs paid to third parties (the clerk, the sheriff, and the process server), and the attorney fee. At Kelley, Grant & Tanis, the attorney fee for a standard uncontested eviction is a flat $295, so the all-in number for a single tenant lands at roughly $530.
That figure rises only modestly when more than one tenant is named, because each tenant needs a separate summons. It rises more substantially only if the case becomes contested or you also sue for unpaid rent and damages.
| Cost item | One tenant | Two tenants | Three tenants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $185 | $185 | $185 |
| Summons ($10 per tenant) | $10 | $20 | $30 |
| Process server (approximate) | about $40 | about $40 | about $40 |
| Attorney flat fee (uncontested) | $295 | $295 | $295 |
| Approximate all-in | about $530 | about $540 | about $550 |
Process service can cost more if multiple tenants must be served separately or at different addresses. The summons cost ($10 each) is the part that scales reliably with the number of tenants named.
What the $295 Flat Fee Covers (and What Is Extra)
The flat fee is for a standard uncontested action for possession. It covers the pre-suit review, drafting the eviction complaint, and filing and prosecuting the uncontested case through to the judgment for possession. What it does not cover are the third-party court costs above and a handful of optional or situational extras.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Uncontested action for possession | $295 flat |
| Optional notice drafted and served by the firm (Three-Day or Thirty-Day) | $80 |
| Sheriff writ of possession (only if the tenant will not leave) | $90 most counties; $115 Miami-Dade |
| Suing for back rent or damages | Higher sliding-scale filing fee (about $300 for damages of $2,500 to $15,000) |
| Contested eviction | Quoted case by case |
The Sheriff's Fee Comes Later, and Only Sometimes
The sheriff's writ of possession fee is separate from the filing fee and is paid only at the end, and only if the tenant has not moved out on their own after the judgment. In almost every Florida county, including Palm Beach, Broward, Hillsborough, Orange, and Lee, that fee is $90. Miami-Dade is the exception at $115. After the sheriff posts the writ, the tenant has 24 hours to leave before the sheriff returns to oversee the removal.
The Refund Policy if the Tenant Pays or Leaves
Tenants sometimes pay up or move out once they receive the notice, before a case is ever filed. If that happens within the notice period and before filing, the attorney fee is refundable less $150, which covers the pre-suit legal advice already given. Any costs already incurred to prepare the case are non-refundable. That is worth knowing up front, because it means serving notice through the firm carries limited downside if the tenant resolves things on their own.
The attorney flat fee is the smallest and most predictable number in the whole equation. The expensive part of an eviction is delay, not the fee. A notice that demands the wrong amount, for example by folding late fees or utility charges into the "rent" demanded under Florida Statute 83.56(3), can be thrown out and force you to start the clock over, adding weeks of lost rent that dwarf any difference between a $195 and a $295 flat fee.
So shopping on the headline fee alone optimizes the wrong number. What protects your bottom line is a notice and complaint that are correct the first time, which is exactly where the firm's 35,000 eviction cases earn their keep.
How KGT's Fee Compares
At $295, the firm's flat fee sits in the middle of the Florida market. Some attorneys advertise less and some charge more. The reason to choose a firm is not the lowest sticker price; it is whether the fee buys a clean, correctly handled case that does not stall. A cheap eviction that gets dismissed on a notice technicality is far more expensive than it looks once you add the extra month or two of lost rent.
Ready to file, or want a flat-fee quote first?
Kelley, Grant & Tanis has handled more than 35,000 eviction cases across Florida. Call 1 (877) 871-8300 or start your eviction online. If your tenant has simply stopped paying, see what to do when a tenant stops paying rent, and for timing, see how long an eviction takes in Palm Beach County or Broward County.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Florida?
For an uncontested residential eviction with one tenant, the all-in cost is about $530. That includes the $185 court filing fee, a $10 summons, a process server fee of about $40, and the firm's flat attorney fee of $295. Contested cases and cases that also sue for back rent cost more and are quoted separately.
What does the $295 flat fee cover?
The flat fee covers a standard uncontested action for possession, including the pre-suit review, drafting the eviction complaint, and filing and prosecuting the case through to the judgment for possession. Court costs, the sheriff's writ fee, optional notice drafting, and any contested defense are separate.
How much is the court filing fee for a Florida eviction?
The base court filing fee for an eviction is $185, plus $10 for each summons, and one summons is issued per tenant named. If you also sue for back rent or damages, the filing fee rises on a sliding scale, for example to about $300 for damages between $2,500 and $15,000.
How much does the sheriff charge to remove a tenant in Florida?
The sheriff's writ of possession fee is $90 in almost every Florida county, including Palm Beach, Broward, Hillsborough, Orange, and Lee. Miami-Dade is the exception at $115. This fee is paid only if the tenant does not move out voluntarily after the judgment.
Does the cost go up if I have more than one tenant?
Yes, but only modestly. Each tenant named needs a separate summons at $10 each, so two tenants add about $10 and three add about $20 over the single-tenant total. The attorney flat fee and the base filing fee do not change for an uncontested case.
Can I get a refund if my tenant pays or leaves before I file?
Yes. If the tenant pays the rent due or moves out within the notice period and before the case is filed, the attorney fee is refundable less $150 for the pre-suit legal advice already provided. Costs already incurred to prepare the case are non-refundable.
Does the flat fee cover a contested eviction?
No. The $295 flat fee is for an uncontested action for possession. If the tenant files a defense and the case becomes contested, the matter is quoted case by case based on what the defense involves.
How much extra does it cost to also sue for unpaid rent?
Suing for back rent or damages raises the court filing fee on a sliding scale, for example to about $300 for a claim between $2,500 and $15,000. Keep in mind that recovering a money judgment requires personal service on the tenant, not just posting the notice on the door.
Is the cheapest eviction attorney the best choice?
Not necessarily. At $295 the firm's fee sits mid-market, with some attorneys charging less and some more. The larger cost in any eviction is delay, so a correctly drafted notice and complaint that avoid a dismissal usually save far more than a small difference in the flat fee.