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Florida statute

Fla. Stat. § 837.02 — Perjury in official proceedings

Current through 2025 Florida Statutes

Part of Chapter 837: Perjury, Florida Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Fla. Stat. § 837.02

Statutory text current through the 2025 Florida Statutes. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Florida.

Fla. Stat. § 837.02Primary source, current through the 2025 Florida Statutes
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), whoever makes a false statement, which he or she does not believe to be true, under oath in an official proceeding in regard to any material matter, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (2) Whoever makes a false statement, which he or she does not believe to be true, under oath in an official proceeding that relates to the prosecution of a capital felony, commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (3) Knowledge of the materiality of the statement is not an element of the crime of perjury under subsection (1) or subsection (2), and the defendant’s mistaken belief that the statement was not material is not a defense.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is perjury in official proceedings a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?

It depends on the circumstances: perjury in official proceedings ranges from a Felony of the Third Degree to a Felony of the Second Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 837.02.

Perjury in official proceedings — general: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 837.02(1)) · Perjury in official proceedings — capital felony prosecution: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 837.02(2))

Which Florida statute covers perjury in official proceedings?

Perjury in official proceedings is governed by Fla. Stat. § 837.02 (Perjury in official proceedings).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.