Florida Fraud and Theft Recovery Estimator
Someone took a large sum from you or your business. Enter what happened and see what Florida's civil remedies can put on the table, what will decide whether money actually comes back, and what to do in the next 30 days.
Quick answer: Florida's civil theft law lets a victim claim three times the actual loss plus attorney's fees and court costs, if the theft is proven by clear and convincing evidence and a written demand for the triple amount is served first; the other side then has 30 days to pay and be released. Whether money actually comes back depends on knowing who has it, whether they own anything, and how fast the case moves.
This estimator shows how Florida's civil remedies generally apply to the numbers you enter. It is not legal advice and not a prediction of what you will recover. Whether a civil theft claim exists depends on facts and proof, and the written demand has to be prepared correctly. Nothing you enter is sent to us or saved.
How the numbers work
Florida's civil theft law gives a victim a claim for three times the actual loss, plus attorney's fees and court costs, when the theft is proven by clear and convincing evidence. It comes with a procedure that has to be followed exactly: before filing the triple-damages claim, the victim serves a written demand for the triple amount, and the person who took the money has 30 days after receiving it to pay and be released. Skip the demand or get it wrong and the triple-damages claim can fail, which is the most common mistake we see in cases that come to us after someone tried to handle them alone.
The same law protects defendants from weak claims. If the court finds a civil theft claim was brought without substantial factual or legal support, the defendant can recover its attorney's fees. That is why we build the file before the demand goes out, and why the estimator above shows the triple figure as what the law can put on the table, not a promise.
Recovery is about collection, not just liability
Winning a judgment and getting paid are different jobs. The questions that matter most are whether you know who has the money, whether they own anything, and whether the money is still moving. Where it is, a court can be asked on an emergency basis to freeze accounts, stop transfers, or appoint a receiver. Where the person has nothing, a judgment can still follow future assets for years, but criminal restitution and insurance may be the more realistic sources of recovery in the near term.
The criminal case and the civil case run side by side
The criminal case belongs to the state. You are the victim and a witness, and you do not control whether charges are filed or how the case is resolved. The civil case belongs to you. Running both, with a lawyer who coordinates the evidence and stays in contact with the detective and prosecutor, is how victims actually recover money rather than only seeing someone punished. For the full picture, read our page on business fraud and theft claims and the article on Florida's civil remedies for fraud and theft, which links to the statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really get three times what was stolen?
Florida's civil theft law allows a claim for three times the actual damages, plus attorney's fees and court costs, if the theft is proven by clear and convincing evidence and a written demand for the triple amount is made first. Whether you collect it depends on what the person owns.
What happens after the written demand?
The person who receives it has 30 days to pay. If they pay the demanded amount within that time, they are released from further civil liability for the claim. If they do not, the triple-damages claim can be filed.
Is there a risk in making a civil theft claim?
Yes. If a court finds the claim was brought without substantial factual or legal support, the defendant can recover its attorney's fees. A documented claim with a correctly prepared demand is the protection against that risk.
Should I go to the police or a lawyer first?
Both, in that order if the theft is recent, and the same week. The police report matters for the criminal case and for insurance. The civil case is what lets you trace and freeze the money while the criminal case moves at its own pace.
Does Scheer Legal take these cases on a contingency fee?
It depends on the facts and the collectability. Fraud and theft recovery is litigation, which we generally handle hourly with a written budget; a contingency or hybrid arrangement is possible where the structure fits. You will know the arrangement in writing before anything is filed.
Bring the numbers to a first conversation.
Fraud and theft recovery is handled on full representation, with the fee arrangement confirmed in writing before anything is filed. English or Spanish.
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