The state of Florida Constitution and Florida statutes passed by the Florida state legislature and signed into Florida state laws by the state governor make up Florida state law. Florida state courts determine how a statute or an article in the Florida Constitution will be enforced. Florida Supreme Court opinions may change, validate or eliminate statutes.

FL law includes the following items:

1. State of Florida Constitution
2. Florida state laws statutes passed by the Florida legislature
3. Florida Supreme Court opinions
4. State of Florida tax laws
5. Florida municipal codes and ordinances

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get an overview of law in FL from the state legal system

As a starting point for learning about law in Florida, find out what specific Florida state law terms mean.

I recommend: The Florida Bar offers a concise overview of the Florida legal system and a list of links related to Florida law. The US Law Library of Congress provides a master list of informational links regarding Florida law and the Florida legal system. The State of Florida offers a particularly useful glossary of legal terms commonly used within the Florida legal system and an overview of information resources about the legislative process.

To fully understand Florida state law, read the Florida Constitution and statutes as primary sources

Statutes are laws of Florida that have been/are created, amended, or changed by Florida state legislatural bodies.

I recommend: The Florida Senate website offers the complete Florida Constitution and Florida statutes, as well as a search engine for the Florida Senate online legal database of specific statute laws in Florida. The Florida House of Representatives website has a chart that easily explains how a legislative bill becomes Florida law. To keep updated yearly with new resolutions and the laws of Florida, read the annual Laws of Florida publication, courtesy of the Florida Department of State.

Find out how Florida Supreme Court opinions and briefs serve to create laws of Florida

Learn about the Florida Supreme Court's jurisdiction regarding opinions that change, validate, or eliminate Florida law statutes.

I recommend: The Research Center at Florida State University offers online access to Florida Supreme Court opinions and briefs, or you can search the Florida Supreme Court Library online database. It also contains documents (PDF) that fully explain the jurisdiction of the court's opinions that change, validate or eliminate Florida law.

Find out about state laws in Florida regarding state taxes

The Florida Department of Revenue enforces Florida laws regarding taxes.

I recommend: At the State of Florida website, the American Safety Council for Florida Residents & Visitors provides extensive information on the tax laws of Florida, including sales and use tax, and corporate income taxes. The State of Florida Department of Revenue offers primary Florida state tax law information.

Learn about specific Florida state laws and ordinances enforced by municipalities

Florida law, municipal codes and ordinances may greatly differ from city to city.

I recommend: Florida lawyers may consult Municode.com, a privately maintained online information resource that provides an extensive city-by-city list of Florida law municipal codes and ordinances. Florida attorneys may also consult American Legal Publishing's searchable database of Florida municipal codes and ordinances.

Learn about Florida law from legal self-help resources

Visit self-help resource websites sponsored by the state of Florida and Florida law nonprofit professional organizations.

I recommend: The Florida State Courts website offers a county-by-county list of court-sponsored self-help centers. Sponsored by a group of Florida legal aid societies, FloridaLawHelp.org has an extensive list of topic-specific legal self-help resources. The Florida Bar Appellate Handbook (PDF) provides an easy to understand guide to self-representation in the Florida court system. For self-litigators, American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) also provides a list of locations for law library members throughout the state of Florida.

To learn more about Florida law, find a reputable Florida attorney

Websites of nonprofit legal organizations should be at least a starting point for Florida law information and recommendations of Florida law firms.

I recommend: To find a reputable attorney practicing Florida law, The Florida Bar offers free and low-cost phone consultations with one of its members. The association also operates an online referral service. FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters' online legal information service, offers a city-by-city Florida list of recommended lawyers and Florida law firms.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Note that there is no personal state income tax Florida law because Florida residents pay no state income tax.