{"id":5597,"date":"2026-10-30T00:42:49","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T00:42:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawayala.com\/resources\/florida-contract-disputes-guide-tampa-area-businesses\/prejudgment-interest-florida-contract-judgment\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T06:10:24","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T06:10:24","slug":"prejudgment-interest-florida-contract-judgment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lawayala.com\/resources\/florida-contract-disputes-guide-tampa-area-businesses\/prejudgment-interest-florida-contract-judgment\/","title":{"rendered":"Prejudgment Interest on a Florida Contract Judgment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Contract Disputes | Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County<\/p>

Prejudgment Interest on a Florida Contract Judgment: What Businesses Should Know<\/h1>

Ayala Law PA focuses on business and commercial litigation for companies in Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, Temple Terrace and across the Tampa Bay area. Call (305) 570-2208 or book a case evaluation to talk through how interest may affect your dispute.<\/p>

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By Eduardo A. Maura \u00b7 Published October 29, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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The Short Answer: Interest Can Run Before and After Judgment<\/h2>\n

Yes. Postjudgment interest covers the time after entry, until the judgment is paid.<\/p>\n

Each period has its own start point and its own rate rules. The judgment amount alone doesn’t show the full interest picture.<\/p>\n

Whether a court awards prejudgment interest in a given case depends on the facts. This guide explains the rules in plain terms. It doesn’t predict how a judge will rule on any claim.<\/p>\n

Business owners often see one number on a judgment and assume it’s the final total. Check what the judgment says about interest before you plan around any figure.<\/p>\n\n

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If your company holds or owes an unpaid contract judgment, you don't have to sort out the interest alone. Call (305) 570-2208 to talk with Ayala Law PA about your situation. Talk it through with our team — we can walk you through how a situation like yours is usually handled and what your options are.<\/p>

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Postjudgment Interest Under Florida Statute 55.03<\/h2>\n

Postjudgment interest follows Fla. Stat. \u00a7 55.03<\/a>. The Chief Financial Officer sets the rate each quarter. The rate comes from a 12-month average of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York discount rate, plus 400 basis points.<\/p>\n

The rate is set when the judgment is obtained. It adjusts each January 1 under the rate in effect that day, except for clerk-entered judgments under sections 55.141, 61.14, 938.29, and 938.30, which are not adjusted annually. Interest keeps accruing until the judgment is paid, so the balance can grow while the debt sits unpaid.<\/p>\n

Every money judgment must show the interest rate on its face. Judgments entered by the clerk under sections 55.141, 61.14, 938.29, and 938.30 are not adjusted annually.<\/p>\n

Where interest runs without a special contract rate, the statutory rate applies. Fla. Stat. \u00a7 687.01<\/a> says that rate is the one in \u00a7 55.03<\/a>. Don’t assume a single number applies from start to finish.<\/p>\n

Prejudgment Interest on Liquidated Contract Sums<\/h2>\n

A liquidated sum is a fixed, agreed amount, such as an unpaid invoice with a set price. These claims are often easier to pin down than claims where a judge must work out the amount.<\/p>\n

Florida recognizes the account stated claim. It requires proof of an agreement between parties who have had earlier transactions, fixing the amount due, and a promise to pay it. The Second District’s account stated ruling<\/a> sets out that test.<\/p>\n

Contract interest terms matter. Section 55.03 says nothing in it affects a rate set by written contract. A signed agreement with an interest rate can therefore shape the period before judgment.<\/p>\n

Florida law still sets limits. Fla. Stat. \u00a7 687.02<\/a> declares contracts usurious when interest runs above the equivalent of 18 percent per year simple interest. Larger loans over $500,000 follow a different rule.<\/p>\n

Damages a judge or jury must still figure out are handled differently. The start date often becomes a point of dispute.<\/p>\n

Prejudgment Versus Postjudgment Interest Side by Side<\/h2>\n

Here is how the two periods compare:<\/p>\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nPrejudgment interest<\/th>\nPostjudgment interest<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Period covered<\/td>\nTime before the judgment is entered<\/td>\nTime after entry, until paid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rate source<\/td>\nWritten contract terms or the court’s ruling<\/td>\nRate under \u00a7 55.03<\/a>, set when judgment is obtained<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Where the rate appears<\/td>\nIn the judgment or the ruling<\/td>\nOn the face of the judgment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/figure>\n\n

The total interest is the sum of the two periods. One rate doesn’t cover the whole timeline.<\/p>\n

How to Calculate Judgment Interest by Period<\/h2>\n

Start with the entered judgment. Note the judgment date, the principal, any prejudgment amount, and the rate printed on the judgment.<\/p>\n

Next, split the timeline into periods. Start a new period whenever the rate changes. For a judgment governed by \u00a7 55.03<\/a>, that includes each January 1.<\/p>\n

For each period, multiply the balance by the annual rate. Then multiply by the number of days and divide by 365. Add the periods together. This is a common way to estimate, so check your result against the judgment.<\/p>\n

Track payments by date. A payment lowers the balance, so interest after that date runs on the smaller amount. Apply payments the way the judgment or the parties require.<\/p>\n

An online calculator can run these segments quickly. Check its output against the entered judgment and the published rates before you rely on it.<\/p>\n

Common Mistakes That Change the Amount Owed<\/h2>\n