Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Florida
lease
I am leasing a retail space in fla.-my residence is south carolina.If I break the lease can they come over state lines to enforce it?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: lease
Yes. You can be sued regardless where you move.
Re: lease
In short, yes they can by just suing you in South Carolina. You sue where the Defendant resides and where the cause of action arose for jurisdictional purposes. Normally, that is in the same state and county. In this case it is not. So, the can either sue in Florida for past due rent, possession, and damages; get a judgment against you in Florida; and then try to collect it in South Carolina. Or they could just sue you in South Carolina and claim the breach occurred there also because that is where you broke the lease by stopping to pay the rent. I would contact a Florida landlord tenant attorney immediately.