Filing an eviction in Lee County.

Filing details.

Clerk's office

2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901

Filing fee

$185

Each additional summons

$10 per summons ($2.50 per defendant over five)

Sheriff service

$40

Writ of possession

$90 to the sheriff

Copies

For one tenant, 3 each of the notice, the lease and attachments, the summons, all motions and defaults, and the final judgment, and 2 of the writ. Also bring proof of ownership (the Affidavit of Ownership, local form TE-A) and a Civil Cover Sheet.

Envelopes

One stamped, legal-size envelope addressed to each tenant at filing, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the landlord and each tenant with later filings (motions, final judgment, writ). The clerk’s certificate of mailing is local form TE-G.

Payment

Cash, personal check, money order, cashier’s check or card, payable to Lee County Clerk of Court. The sheriff takes cash, money order or cashier’s check, not personal checks.

E-filing

E-filing is optional for self-represented landlords (Florida Courts E-Filing Portal or TurboCourt). You can also file by mail or in person.

Response, default and judgment.

Tenant response

The tenant has 5 days, not counting weekends or court holidays, to respond to the summons (§ 83.60). A tenant who raises a defense other than payment must also deposit the rent in the court registry.

Default

The tenant has 5 days (not counting weekends or legal holidays) after receiving the summons. The clerk has local default forms: TE-B Motion for Default for failure to deposit rent, and TE-C Default. The judge may also want the Nonmilitary Affidavit.

Summons in our eviction packet

Lee’s clerk has its own English-only summons (revised 4/8/2022). This packet’s summons follows the current statewide rule form. If the clerk asks for its own, use that one.

Property managers and entities

The clerk’s Affidavit of Ownership (TE-A) says a property manager needs the landlord’s written authorization, cannot sue in its own name or seek money, and cannot act once the case is contested; only an attorney may handle a contested eviction.

Details were read from the Lee County clerk’s published packet or fee pages in October 2026. Clerks change forms and fees, so confirm with the clerk before you file. Sources: www.leeclerk.org, www.leeclerk.org. Not legal advice.

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