We are often faced with deadlines, and it is not always easy to meet them with everything we deal with in our lives. However, missing legal deadlines may have serious consequences.

If a contract is broken because of a missed payment or some other breach of the contract, it may be possible to reach a workout. This may include catching up on the missed payments, modifying the loan, or re-working the agreement.

However, if you have a legal claim against another party, there are limitations of how long you have to bring the claim. If you do not file the claim in time, you may lose your right to do so. The intention of such rules and laws is to resolve legal disputes within a reasonable time.

If you are sued by another party, the consequences can be even worse. If you fail to answer or respond to the lawsuit, the other party can get a default judgment against you and you won’t even be able to defend yourself.

Florida case law is filled with cases of missing deadlines. For example, in Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC v. Paul Fernandes, 13 Fla.L.Weekly Supp. 560a (Fla. 15th Jud.Cir., Palm Beach County, 2006) the Court found that a case was barred because it was filed too late.

Don’t lose your right or your defenses because you miss a deadline. If you have questions regarding your legal rights and possible claims or defense of claims against you, please do not hesitate to contact our office for a FREE consultation. Phone: (813) 259-1017. We are here to help.