Under Florida law, a tenant has five calendar days from the date they are served with the eviction lawsuit to pay their rent to the clerk, or to pay you and submit proof of payment to the clerk. If they pay the rent within that time frame, they are entitled to a hearing at which they can try to convince the court not to evict them. If they fail to pay the rent the court within the five day period, the court should deem the defenses waived and issue an order of eviction.

