How to Fill Out and File the Final Disposition Form (Form 1.998)

Florida’s Form 1.998 final disposition form is a one-page filing the prevailing party submits to the clerk of court to officially close a civil case, and Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.545 requires it whenever an order, judgment, settlement, or dismissal ends the litigation.¹ You fill in the case caption, check one box describing how the case ended, note any judgment amount, sign, and file it with the clerk at the same time as the event that closed the case.

Who Files It and When

Rule 1.545 assigns responsibility three different ways depending on how the case ends.

If the case ended by court order or judgment, the prevailing party files Form 1.998 at the same time the final order or judgment is filed.
If the case settled or was voluntarily dismissed without a court order, the plaintiff or petitioner files it immediately.
If the case involves a pro se party or was dismissed for lack of prosecution, the clerk fills out the form. Neither party has to do anything.

“Immediately” in the rule means the form should accompany the closing event or follow within days. There is no grace period built into the rule.¹

Where to Download the Form

Form 1.998 is available as a PDF from the Florida Supreme Court’s website.² Many circuit clerks also post fillable copies; the 15th Judicial Circuit, for instance, provides a Word version.³ Before filling anything in, pull up your complaint or a recent docket entry so you can copy the case caption exactly.

How to Fill It Out

Case Header

At the top, enter the name of the court (for example, “Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida”), the case number, and the assigned judge. List every plaintiff and defendant exactly as they appear on the docket. A mismatch between your case style and the official docket can get the filing rejected, so copy the names and number directly from a court document.

Means of Final Disposition

Section II is the substantive part. Check one box out of seven, using the definitions printed on the form:

Dismissed Before Hearing. Settled or voluntarily dismissed before any hearing.
Dismissed After Hearing. Dismissed by the judge, voluntarily dismissed, or settled after a hearing was held.
Disposed by Default. The defendant failed to respond or contest, and the court entered a default judgment.
Disposed by Judge. The judge entered a judgment or other disposition without a trial. This covers summary judgments, stipulations, and conditional judgments — any judge-decided outcome that is not a default.
Disposed by Non-Jury Trial. A contested trial was held without a jury.
Disposed by Jury Trial. The case went to a jury trial. A jury trial is considered to have begun once jurors and alternates are selected and sworn.
Other. The case was consolidated with another case, sent to arbitration or mediation, transferred, or resolved by some means not listed.

Only one box gets checked. If your situation seems to straddle two categories, “Disposed by Judge” is broader than it sounds and absorbs most judge-entered resolutions that are not defaults, dismissals, or trials. “Other” catches things outside the court’s direct adjudication, like arbitration or consolidation.²

Amount of Final Judgment

If a monetary judgment was entered, write the total amount awarded. If the case was dismissed or settled without a court-entered monetary judgment, the field can be left blank or marked as not applicable.

Signature

The attorney of record signs. A self-represented litigant signs personally. In the pro se and lack-of-prosecution scenarios covered by Rule 1.545, the clerk completes and signs the form instead.¹

How to File It

Through the E-Filing Portal

Represented parties file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com.⁴ The workflow:

Log in and select the county where the case is pending.
Choose “Pleading on Existing Case” and enter the division and case number.
Confirm the case information matches your matter.
Upload the completed Form 1.998 as a PDF.
Complete the service list, checking off any parties who need to be served.
Review and submit. The portal returns a timestamped confirmation and reference number.

The portal itself is free to use, with small payment-processing fees only when statutory fees accompany a submission.⁴ The disposition form does not carry its own filing fee based on standard clerk schedules, but check with your local clerk if you are bundling it with other filings.

By Mail or in Person

Self-represented litigants who are exempt from mandatory e-filing can deliver the form to the clerk of the circuit court where the case was filed.⁵ Mail it to the civil records division of the courthouse, or hand-deliver it to the clerk’s filing window. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want a file-stamped copy returned. Keep a copy for your own records either way.

After You File

The clerk reviews the form for completeness and updates the case docket, changing the status from active to closed. You can verify by searching your case number on the clerk’s online docket; the form should appear as a docket entry and the status should read “Closed” or the local equivalent.

What Happens If You Skip It

Rule 1.545 does not attach a fine or sanction to a party who fails to file the form. The practical consequence is that the case stays open on the public docket. An open case can turn up on background checks and courthouse record searches even though no further litigation is happening, and mortgage lenders in particular routinely search public court records and may flag an unresolved case during underwriting. Filing the one-page form avoids that.

Family Law Cases Use Form 12.999

Form 1.998 covers civil cases under the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. If your matter is a divorce, custody, paternity, or other family law case filed under the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, the equivalent closing document is Form 12.999, filed by the petitioner or respondent when the case is completed.⁶

1
The Florida Bar. Florida Rules of Civil Procedure – Rule 1.545 Final Disposition Form
2
Supreme Court of Florida. Form 1.998 Final Disposition Form
3
15th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Form 1.998 Final Disposition Form
4
Florida Courts E-Filing Authority. Florida Courts E-Filing Authority
5
Florida Courts. Filing Your Forms
6
Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller. Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.999 Final Disposition Form