Florida Rule 1.200 case management: tracks, the case management order and strict deadlines
By Lou Navarro · · 8 min read
In Florida state court, the schedule most civil cases will be tried on is now set in their first four months, and the case is held to it.
That is the work of Rule 1.200 of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, rewritten by the Florida Supreme Court in 2024 and in force since January 1, 2025. The Court described what the amendments built:
“The amendments created a framework for the active case management of civil cases with a focus on adhering to deadlines established early based on the complexity of the case”
This article reads the rule as it stands in the October 1, 2026 edition: which actions it covers, how a case gets its track, what the case management order must contain, how strictly its deadlines hold, and what a case management conference asks of the lawyers who attend. For how Rule 1.200 works together with the initial disclosure duty of Rule 1.280, see our article on Rules 1.280 and 1.200.
Which actions Rule 1.200 covers
“The requirements of this rule apply to all civil actions except:”
Eighteen exceptions follow. They include actions under the summary procedure of section 51.011, Florida Statutes; small claims actions, with a narrow exception; the probate, trust and guardianship proceedings under the chapters the rule names; administrative review; eminent domain; in rem forfeitures; habeas petitions; actions to enforce an arbitration award or a foreign judgment; cases in a special division of the court, such as a complex business division, that enters its own case management orders; and claims a statute or rule requires to be resolved on an expedited or priority basis. The same list sets the actions exempt from Rule 1.280’s initial disclosures, so one look answers both questions.
Streamlined, general or complex: the track assignment
“Not later than 120 days after an action commences as provided in rule 1.050, the court must assign each civil case to 1 of 3 case management tracks either by an initial case management order or an administrative order on case management issued by the chief judge of the circuit: streamlined, general, or complex.”
“Assignment is not based on the financial value of the case but rather the amount of judicial attention required for resolution.”
The amount in controversy does not decide the track. Complex means a case the court has designated complex under Rule 1.201, and it proceeds under that rule. Streamlined
“cases are actions that reflect some mutual knowledge about the underlying facts, have limited needs for discovery, well-established legal issues related to liability and damages, few anticipated dispositive pretrial motions, minimal documentary evidence, and an anticipated trial length of no more than 3 days.”
The rule adds that uncontested cases should generally be presumed streamlined. General is everything else: every action that meets neither the streamlined nor the complex criteria. The court may change a track on its own motion. A party that wants a different track has a timing duty of its own:
“Any motion to change the track to which a case is assigned must be filed promptly after the appearance of good cause to support the motion.”
The case management order and the deadlines it must set
“In streamlined and general cases, the court must issue a case management order that specifies the projected or actual trial period based on the case track assignment, consistent with administrative orders entered by the chief judge of the circuit.”
The order’s deadlines differ between streamlined and general cases and must be consistent with the time standards for civil cases in Rule 2.250(a)(1)(B) of the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration. At a minimum, the order sets deadlines for:
- service of complaints, and service under extensions
- adding new parties
- completion of fact discovery, and of expert discovery
- filing and service of motions for summary judgment
- filing and resolution of all objections to pleadings
- filing and resolution of all pretrial motions
- completion of alternative dispute resolution
It comes quickly, and it does not wait for a hearing:
“The court must issue the case management order no later than 120 days after commencement of the action as provided in rule 1.050. No case management conference is required to be set by the court before issuance.”
The order must also say on its face that its deadlines will be strictly enforced unless the court changes them. The forms for these orders are set by the chief judge of each circuit, and must comply with the rule. Complex cases get their orders under Rule 1.201 instead.
Strict enforcement, and how deadlines move
“Deadlines in a case management order must be strictly enforced unless changed by court order.”
The rule leaves one narrow path for agreement between the parties:
“Parties may submit an agreed order to extend a deadline if the extension does not affect the ability to comply with the remaining dates in the case management order.”
Anything wider goes back to the order itself:
“If extending an individual case management deadline may affect a subsequent deadline in the case management order, parties must seek an amendment of the case management order, rather than submitting a motion for extension of an individual deadline.”
And the motion has to do real work:
“Any motion to extend a deadline, amend a case management order, or alter a projected trial period must specify:”
The four required items are the basis for the request and when it became known to the movant; whether the motion is opposed; the specific new date requested and whether all parties agree to it; and the action, with specific dates, that will let the movant meet the new deadline, including the confirmed availability of required participants such as third-party witnesses or experts. Once an actual trial period is set, changing it takes the showing Rule 1.460 requires; a projected trial period may be moved through the Rule 1.200(e)(3) motion. The general extension rule is not a way around any of this:
“Finally, the Court exempts trial continuances and extensions of deadlines in case management orders from the general extension of time rule, rule 1.090.”
Nor is the old habit of filing a notice of unavailability:
“Notices of unavailability have no effect on the deadlines set by the case management order.”
A party that cannot comply must act under Rule 1.200(e)(1). And if a deadline cannot be met for any reason, the rule gives a way to raise it with the court:
“If any party is unable to meet the deadlines set forth in the case management order for any reason, including due to the unavailability of hearing time, the affected party may promptly set a case management conference and alert the court.”
If a trial is not reached during its trial period, the court must enter an order setting a new one as soon as practicable, and that order must say what further activity will or will not be permitted.
Case management conferences
The court may set a case management conference at any time, on its own notice or on a party’s, with reasonable notice, as needed or on a periodic schedule. A party’s notice has content requirements:
“If noticed by a party, the notice itself must identify the specific issues to be addressed during the case management conference and must also provide a list of all pending motions.”
At the conference the court may take up every scheduling issue, including requests to amend the order, and other issues that may affect the trial. With reasonable notice and time available, it may also hear a pending motion the parties did not list, with one limit:
“Motions for summary judgment and motions requiring evidentiary hearings may not be heard as part of a case management conference, unless agreed to by the parties.”
The lawyers who attend have to come ready to decide things:
“Attorneys and self-represented litigants who appear at a case management conference must be prepared on the pending matters in the case, be prepared to make decisions about future progress and conduct of the case, and have authority to make representations to the court and enter into binding agreements concerning motions, issues, and scheduling.”
Where a party has more than one attorney, whoever attends must also know every attorney’s availability for future events. Unless the court drafts its own order, it sets a deadline for proposed orders from the conference. And the consequence of not showing up is spelled out:
“On failure of a party to attend a case management conference, the court may dismiss the action, strike the pleadings, limit proof or witnesses, or take any other appropriate action against a party failing to attend.”
Rule 1.200 and your circuit’s orders
“Rule 1.200 as amended is intended to supersede any case management rules issued by circuit courts and administrative orders on case management to the extent of contradiction.”
The same commentary says the rule does not preclude administrative orders and local rules that refine and supplement its procedures, including rollover practices for a trial not reached in its period. Read your circuit’s case management administrative orders beside the rule; where they contradict it, the commentary says the rule is meant to supersede them.
A Rule 1.200 checklist for every Florida file
- You know whether the action is one Rule 1.200(a) exempts, and the date it commenced under Rule 1.050.
- You know the track, and whether a motion to change it is warranted now rather than later.
- The case management order is in the file, and every deadline it sets is on the calendar with a person responsible for it.
- Before asking for more time, you know whether the change moves later deadlines, and the motion says everything Rule 1.200(e)(3) requires.
- Nobody on the file is relying on a notice of unavailability to move a date.
- Whoever attends a case management conference knows the pending motions, everyone's availability, and has authority to agree to a schedule.
Your case management order controls the details of your case. For the rest of a pretrial file, see the six areas of trial readiness.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the case management tracks under Florida Rule 1.200?
- Streamlined, general and complex. The court assigns each civil case to one of them no later than 120 days after the action commences, based on the judicial attention the case needs rather than its dollar value. Complex cases proceed under Rule 1.201.
- When must a Florida court issue the case management order?
- In streamlined and general cases, no later than 120 days after the action commences under Rule 1.050. The rule does not require the court to hold a case management conference first.
- Can the parties agree to extend a case management deadline?
- Only if the extension does not affect the ability to meet the remaining dates in the order; then they may submit an agreed order. If the change may affect a later deadline, they must seek an amendment of the case management order instead.
- Does a notice of unavailability stop case management deadlines?
- No. Rule 1.200(f) says notices of unavailability have no effect on the deadlines set by the case management order.
Keep the order’s dates where the team can see them
In Trial Commander, the deadlines a case management order sets can be entered on the matter’s deadline list, each with its own reminders. Florida matters get the Florida content described on our Florida page, and civil litigation is included in every seat (civil litigation in Trial Commander).
Want a quick look at a file first? The free Trial Readiness Self-Check asks 20 questions, including whether the case management order is in the file with every date it sets on your calendar. Nothing you enter is saved or sent.
Sources
Lou Navarro is a practicing Florida, Texas and D.C. trial lawyer and built Trial Commander. This article is general information for lawyers and their staff about Florida state-court practice. It is not legal advice. Check the current rules, your circuit’s administrative orders and your case management order before relying on it.