In Re: Amendments to Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration
Supreme Court of Florida
In Re: Amendments to Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration
Opinion
Supreme Court of Florida
____________
No. SC2023-1401
____________
IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULES OF GENERAL
PRACTICE AND JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION.
March 20, 2025
PER CURIAM.
The Florida Bar’s Rules of General Practice and Judicial
Administration Committee proposes the addition of new rules 2.345
(Electronic Signature of Court Official) and 2.511 (Florida Courts E-
filing Portal), as well as amendments to rules 2.514 (Computing and
Extending Time), 2.515 (Signature and Certificates of Attorneys and
Parties), 2.516 (Service of Pleadings and Documents), 2.520
(Documents), and 2.525 (Electronic Filing). 1
The Board of Governors of The Florida Bar unanimously
recommends acceptance of the proposed rules and amendments.
The Court published the proposed amendments for comment, and
1. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.; see
also Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.140(b)(1).
two comments were received. The Committee filed a response to the
comments, along with a revised proposal.
We amend the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial
Administration as modified by the Committee in response to the
comments, with additional changes to rules 2.345 and 2.516. We
discuss the more significant amendments below.
First, new rule 2.345 pertains to the authentication of
signatures of court officials. However, we revise the language
proposed by the Committee to provide that “[a] document in the
official court file that purports to be signed by a judge or other court
official is presumed to be authentic” and that “[t]he clerk shall place
such a document in the official court file only after authenticating it
according to the Florida Courts Technology Standards.”
Next, new rule 2.511 defines the Portal as the central
electronic court filing facility for all Florida courts, explains the
registration process for filers, sets the general guidelines for access
to Portal pages, establishes the governance structure for the Portal,
and specifically authorizes the authority to make operational
decisions regarding the Portal.
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Rule 2.514 is amended to replace “midnight” with “11:59:59
p.m., eastern time” to clarify electronic filing and service deadlines.
Further, the word “only” is added before mail so that the additional
five days’ mailing time applies only if service is made solely by mail.
Rule 2.515 and several of its subdivisions are retitled. In rule
2.515, we also add that every document “filed or served must be
signed” not only by the attorney but also by an “unrepresented
party, or other person authorized by law to file or serve the
document.” The rule now specifies that “the act of filing a
document constitutes the filer’s signature” unless an exception
under (b)(1)(B) applies. Subdivision (b)(1)(B) explains that “when an
attorney files a document on behalf of an unrepresented party as
permitted in subdivision (b)(1)(A)(iii) and when the filing attorney’s
signature is omitted from the document, the act of filing that
document does not constitute the filer’s signature.” Finally in rule
2.515, we revise the signature block requirements and add a new
subdivision detailing the representations a filer makes to the court
by filing a document.
Next, rule 2.516 is retitled and amended to require that
documents filed through the Portal also be served through the
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Portal’s e-service function. Additionally, the amended rule requires
documents that are served but not filed to be served by attaching
the document in PDF format to an e-mail message and transmitting
it to the recipient’s e-mail address. However, we amend the
Committee’s proposed subdivision (b)(3)(A) to state that “[a]n
unrepresented party who is in custody or who has signed the
declaration on Form 2.601 may serve paper documents.”
Rule 2.520(a) is retitled and rewritten to address formatting
requirements for documents that are filed under rule 2.525 or
served under rule 2.516. Subdivision (b) is retitled and amended to
require that electronic documents “comply with the Florida Courts
Technology Standards.” We retitle subdivision (d) and amend it to
require that “[d]ocuments that are not created by an attorney or
unrepresented party for filing or service must be appended as
exhibits to a document prepared under subdivision (a)” and provide
that these exhibits are not subject to the requirements set forth in
subdivision (a).
Last, rule 2.525 is retitled and revised to require Florida
licensed attorneys to file through the Portal. Unrepresented parties
who are not members of The Florida Bar or attorneys admitted pro
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hac vice may elect to file through the Portal or other designated
electronic court filing facility. Once such individual makes a filing
election, it may not be withdrawn without leave of court. Also,
under the amended rule, clerks are obligated to make a document
submitted for filing part of the official court file and index it in the
progress docket unless there is an issue with the document that is
included on the list under subdivision (f)(1)(A)-(G). In that case, the
document will be placed in a correction queue for 30 days, during
such time the party that filed the document can motion for review of
the clerk’s action, file a corrected document, or abandon the filing.
Accordingly, the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial
Administration are amended as set forth in the appendix to this
opinion. New language is indicated by underscoring; deletions are
indicated by struck-through type. The amendments will become
effective July 1, 2025, at 12:01 a.m.
It is so ordered.
MUÑIZ, C.J., and CANADY, LABARGA, COURIEL, GROSSHANS,
FRANCIS, and SASSO, JJ., concur.
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS.
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Original Proceeding – Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial
Administration
Hon. Santo DiGangi, Chair, Rules of General Practice and Judicial
Administration Committee, West Palm Beach, Florida, Kristin A.
Norse, Past Chair, Rules of General Practice and Judicial
Administration Committee, Tampa, Florida, Joshua E. Doyle,
Executive Director, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, and Kelly
Noel Smith, Staff Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida,
for Petitioner
Kristina Samuels, Clerk, First District Court of Appeal, Tallahassee,
Florida, Mary Elizabeth Kuenzel, Clerk, Second District Court of
Appeal, Tampa, Florida, Mercedes Maria Prieto, Clerk, Third District
Court of Appeal, Miami, Florida, Lonn Weissblum, Clerk, Fourth
District Court of Appeal, West Palm Beach, Florida, and Sandra
Boyd Williams, Clerk, Fifth District Court of Appeal, Daytona
Beach, Florida; and Lynn M. Hoshihara of Nabors, Giblin &
Nickerson, P.A., on behalf of the Florida Courts E-Filing Authority,
Tallahassee, Florida,
Responding with comments
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APPENDIX
RULE 2.345. ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OF COURT OFFICIAL
A document in the official court file that purports to be signed
by a judge or other court official is presumed to be authentic. The
clerk shall place such a document in the official court file only after
authenticating it according to the Florida Courts Technology
Standards.
RULE 2.511. FLORIDA COURTS E-FILING PORTAL
(a) Electronic Filing Portal. The Florida Courts E-Filing
Portal (portal), accessible on the Internet at
http://myflcourtaccess.com, is the central electronic court filing
facility that accepts documents for filing in Florida courts,
transmits them to the clerks, and can effect automated service via
e-mail on all registered attorneys and parties associated with a
case. All court documents must be filed through the portal unless:
(1) an order of the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme
Court designates a different facility for e-filing in a particular court,
in which case that facility must be used instead of the portal and
the published requirements of that facility control over the contents
of this rule; or
(2) the document is submitted in paper form for filing
when permitted by rule 2.525(c).
(b) Credentials for Access to Portal. To use the portal, a
person must become a “registered user” and obtain login credentials
by registering with the portal according to its instructions. The
following conditions apply.
(1) Information provided to obtain credentials must
accurately identify the registered user by name, address, telephone
number, e-mail address, and, when applicable, Florida Bar
Number, law firm, or institution. The registered user must keep this
information current. The registered user must designate at least 1,
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and no more than 3, e-mail addresses for service through the
portal.
(2) Access to nonpublic pages of the portal is permitted
only if:
(A) a registered user obtains entry with the login
credentials issued to that user;
(B) a person uses a registered user’s login
credentials to obtain entry at the direction of the registered user; or
(C) otherwise expressly permitted by the Florida
Courts E-Filing Authority.
(3) The registered user is responsible for protecting the
security of the user’s login credentials and for maintaining a
current e-mail address for service of documents. The registered user
is a filer, and, except for documents filed and signed under rule
2.515(b)(1)(B), a signer of any document submitted using the
registered user’s credentials. Any act done using the credentials is
the personal act of the registered user for all purposes.
(c) Portal Authority. The Florida Courts E-Filing Authority
(authority), created by an interlocal agreement between each of the
trial court clerks of court and the Florida Supreme Court clerk,
operates the portal. The authority may make operational decisions
that facilitate those functions, subject to applicable statutes, rules,
administrative orders of the Florida Supreme Court, and the
technical standards approved by the Florida Courts Technology
Commission or the Florida Supreme Court. The authority is
authorized to publish instructions and instructional materials
consistent with the portal’s functions. The authority is also
authorized to enter into contracts for additional services with
individuals and institutions, including without limitation exposure
of application program interfaces, web services, and batch filing.
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RULE 2.514. COMPUTING AND EXTENDING TIME
(a) Computing Time. The following rules apply in
computing time periods specified in any rule of procedure, local
rule, court order, or statute that does not specify a method of
computing time.
(1) Period Stated in 7 Days or a Longer Unit. When the
period is stated in days or a longer unit of time:
(A) [No Change]
(B) count every day, including intermediatethe
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays that fall in between the first
day counted and the last day counted; and
(C) include the last day of the period, but if the
last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, or falls within any
period of time extended through an order of the chief justice under
Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration
2.205(a)(2)(B)(iv), the period continues to run until the end of the
next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday and does
not fall within any period of time extended through an order of the
chief justice except if the last day is Saturday, Sunday, a legal
holiday, or falls within a time extended by order of the chief justice,
then the last day will fall on the next day that is not Saturday,
Sunday, a legal holiday, or any period of time extended through an
order of the chief justice.
(2) Period Stated in Hours. When the period is stated in
hours
(A) begin counting immediately on the occurrence
of the event that triggers the period;
(B) count every hour, including hours during
intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and
(C) if the period would end on a Saturday,
Sunday, or legal holiday, or during any period of time extended
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through an order of the chief justice under Florida Rule of General
Practice and Judicial Administration 2.205(a)(2)(B)(iv), the period
continues to run until the same time on the next day that is not a
Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday and does not fall within any
period of time extended through an order of the chief justice.
(3) Period Stated in Days Less Than Seven7 Days. When
the period stated in days is less than 7 days, intermediate
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays shall be excluded in the
computationare not counted.
(3) Period Stated in Hours. When the period is stated in
hours:
(A) begin counting immediately on the occurrence
of the event that triggers the period;
(B) count every hour, including hours during
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and
(C) if the period would end on a Saturday,
Sunday, or legal holiday, or during any period of time extended
through an order of the chief justice, the period continues to run
until the same time on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday,
or legal holiday and does not fall within any period of time extended
through an order of the chief justice.
(4) “Last Day” Defined. Unless a different time is set by
a statute, local rule, or court order, the last day ends:
(A) for electronic filing or for service by any
means, at midnight11:59:59 p.m., eastern time for electronic filing
or for service by any means; andor
(B) for filing by other means, when the clerk’s
office is scheduled to close for filings other than electronic.
(5) [No Change]
(6) “Legal Holiday” Defined. “Legal holiday” means:
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(A) [No Change]
(B) any day observed as a holiday by the clerk’s
office or as designated by the chief justice or chief judge.
(b) Additional Time after Service by Mail. When a party
may or must act within a specified time after service and service is
made by only mail, 5 days are added after the period that would
otherwise expire under subdivision (a).
RULE 2.515. SIGNATURE AND CERTIFICATES OF ATTORNEYS
AND PARTIESREPRESENTATIONS TO COURT
(a) Attorney’s Signature and CertificatesRequired. Every
document of a party representedfiled or served must be signed by
anthe attorney, unrepresented party, or other person authorized by
law to file or serve the documentmust be signed by at least 1
attorney of record in that attorney’s individual name whose current
record Florida Bar address, telephone number, including area code,
primary e-mail address and secondary e-mail addresses, if any, and
Florida Bar number must be stated, and who must be duly licensed
to practice law in Florida or who must have received permission to
appear in the particular case as provided in this rule 2.510. If a
document is not signed or is signed with intent to defeat the
purpose of this rule, it may be stricken by the court and the action
may proceed as though the document had not been filed or
served.The attorney may be required by the court to give the
address and primary e-mail address and secondary e-mail
addresses, if any, of, and to vouch for the attorney’s authority to
represent, the party. Except when otherwise specifically provided by
an applicable rule or statute, documents need not be verified or
accompanied by affidavit. The signature of an attorney shall
constitute a certificate by the attorney that:
(1) the attorney has read the document;
(2) to the best of the attorney’s knowledge, information,
and belief there is good ground to support the document;
(3) the document is not interposed for delay; and
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(4) the document contains no confidential or sensitive
information, or that any such confidential or sensitive information
has been properly protected by complying with the provisions of
rules 2.420 and 2.425. If a document is not signed or is signed with
intent to defeat the purpose of this rule, it may be stricken and the
action may proceed as though the document had not been served.
(b) Pro Se LitigantActs Constituting Signature. A party
who is not represented by an attorney must sign any document and
state the party’s address; primary e-mail address and secondary e-
mail addresses, if any; and telephone number, including area code.
(1) Electronically Filed Documents.
(A) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(1)(B)
below, the act of filing a document constitutes the filer’s signature.
The signature of each person who is not the filer must be identified
as a signer within the document in one of the following ways:
(i) by an electronic signature indicator in the
signature block;
(ii) by an electronic signature permitted by
law and in accordance with the Florida Courts Technology
Standards; or
(iii) when an attorney is filing a document on
behalf of an unrepresented party, by the:
a. placement of an electronic signature
indicator above the printed name of the unrepresented party on
whose behalf the filing is being made and who has requested that
the attorney affix the unrepresented party’s electronic signature
indicator and file the document; or
b. signature of the unrepresented party
in any form recognized by law on the paper document and the
inclusion of that document as part of an electronically filed
document or with a notice of filing containing the style of the case,
the name of the document, and certificate of service.
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The electronic signature indicator may be an “/s/”
in front of the signer’s printed name or may be in any other form
that meets with the Florida Courts Technology Standards.
(B) Notwithstanding (A) above, when an attorney
files a document on behalf of an unrepresented party as permitted
in subdivision (b)(1)(A)(iii) and when the filing attorney’s signature is
omitted from the document, the act of filing that document does not
constitute the filer’s signature.
(2) Paper Documents. A person submitting a paper
document for filing under rule 2.525(c) must sign the document
before submitting it, using any form of signature recognized by law.
The person submitting the document becomes its filer for purposes
of this rule.
(3) Served Documents. For documents served, but not
contemporaneously filed, the act of serving constitutes the server’s
signature and the signature of each person identified as a signer.
(c) Form of Signature Block. A document signed under this
rule must include a signature block containing the filer and each
signer’s name, electronic signature indicator, mailing address,
telephone number, and e-mail address for service of court
documents (if the document is filed or served electronically). If the
signer is an attorney, the signature block must also include the
signer’s Florida Bar number and the party the signer represents. If
a signer is represented by an attorney who is also a signer, then
only the attorney’s information is required.
(1) The signatures required on documents by
subdivisions (a) and (b) of this rule may be:
(A) original signatures;
(B) original signatures that have been reproduced
by electronic means, such as on electronically transmitted
documents or photocopied documents;
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(C) an electronic signature indicator using the
“/s/,” “s/,” or “/s” [name] formats authorized by the person signing
a document electronically served or filed; or
(D) any other signature format authorized by
general law, so long as the clerk where the proceeding is pending
has the capability of receiving and has obtained approval from the
Supreme Court of Florida to accept pleadings and documents with
that signature format.
(2) By serving a document, or by filing a document by
electronic transmission using an attorney’s assigned electronic
filing credentials:
(A) that attorney certifies compliance with
subdivision (a)(1) through (a)(4) and accepts responsibility for the
document for all purposes under this rule;
(B) that attorney certifies compliance with all rules
of procedure regarding service of the document on attorneys and
parties;
(C) that attorney certifies that every person
identified as a signer in the document as described in subdivision
(c)(1)(C) has authorized such signature; and
(D) every signing attorney is as responsible for the
document as if that document had been served by such signing
attorney or filed using the assigned electronic filing credentials of
such signing attorney.
(d) Representation to Court.
(1) Representation by Filer. By filing a document under
rule 2.525, the filer represents that:
(A) the filer has complied with all rules of
procedure regarding filing and service of the document;
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(B) every person identified as a signer has
authorized that person’s signature and the filer accepts
responsibility for proving that authority if it is later disputed; and
(C) the document contains no confidential or
sensitive information, or that any confidential or sensitive
information has been properly protected by complying with rules
2.420 and 2.425.
(2) Representation by Signer. On filing, each signer
represents that:
(A) the signer has read the document;
(B) to the best of the signer’s knowledge,
information, and belief, there are good grounds to support the
document; and
(C) the document is not interposed for delay.
(3) Representation by Person Serving. A person serving
a document under rule 2.516 makes the same representations
contained in subdivisions (d)(1) and (d)(2).
RULE 2.516. SERVICE OF PLEADINGS AND DOCUMENTS
(a) Service of Filed Documents; When Required. Unless
the court otherwise orders, or a statute or supreme court
administrative order specifies a different means of service, every
pleading subsequent to the initial pleading and every other
document filed in any court proceeding, except applications for
witness subpoenas and documents served by formal notice or
required to be served in the manner provided for service of formal
notice, must be served in accordance with this rule on each party.
No service need be made on parties against whom a default has
been entered, except that pleadings asserting new or additional
claims against them must be served in the manner provided for
service of summons. The filer of a document must serve it on all
other parties as provided in this rule unless:
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(1) the document is the first pleading filed in the action
and is being served under the statutes and rules applicable to
service of process;
(2) a statute, rule, or administrative court order of the
Florida Supreme Court provides for a different method of service,
and the document is served under that method;
(3) a statute, rule, or court order requires or permits
the document to be filed without being served;
(4) the document is an application for a witness
subpoena; or
(5) a default has been entered against the party and
service is not required by law or another court rule.
(b) Service; How Made. When service is required or
permitted to be made upon a party represented by an attorney,
service must be made upon the attorney unless service upon the
party is ordered by the court.Service must be made as follows
unless the parties agree otherwise.
(1) Portal Service by Electronic Mail (“e- mail”). All
documents required or permitted to be served on another party
must be served by e-mail, unless the parties otherwise stipulate or
this rule otherwise provides. A filer of an electronic document has
complied with this subdivision if the Florida Courts e-filing Portal
(“Portal”) or other authorized electronic filing system with a
supreme court approved electronic service system (“e-Service
system”) served the document by e-mail or provided a link by e-mail
to the document on a website maintained by a clerk (“e-Service”).
The filer of an electronic document must verify that the Portal or
other e-Service system uses the names and e-mail addresses
provided by the parties pursuant to subdivision (b)(1)(A).Documents
filed through the portal must be served using the portal’s e-service
function. The portal will transmit a copy of the document
electronically to each address on the service list, including the filer.
Service on each listed recipient is complete on filing, but the filer
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must immediately serve by any permitted means any intended
recipient that the filer learns did not receive a filed document.
(A) Service on Attorneys. Unless excused pursuant
to subdivision (b)(1)(B), upon appearing in a proceeding an attorney
must designate a primary e-mail address and may designate no
more than two secondary e-mail addresses and is responsible for
the accuracy of and changes to that attorney’s own e-mail
addresses maintained by the Portal or other e-Service system.
Thereafter, service must be directed to all designated e-mail
addresses in that proceeding. Every document filed or served by an
attorney thereafter must include the primary e-mail address of that
attorney and any secondary e-mail addresses. If an attorney does
not designate any e-mail address for service, documents may be
served on that attorney at the e-mail address on record with The
Florida Bar.
(B) Exception to E-mail Service on Attorneys. Upon
motion by an attorney demonstrating that the attorney has no e-
mail account and lacks access to the Internet at the attorney’s
office, the court may excuse the attorney from the requirements of
e-mail service. Service on and by an attorney excused by the court
from e-mail service must be by the means provided in subdivision
(b)(2).
(C) Service on and by Parties Not Represented by
an Attorney. Unless excused pursuant to subdivision (b)(1)(D), any
party not represented by an attorney must serve a designation of a
primary e-mail address and also may designate no more than two
secondary e-mail addresses to which service must be directed in
that proceeding by the means provided in subdivision (b)(1) of this
rule.
(D) Exceptions to E-mail Service on and by Parties
Not Represented by an Attorney.
(i) A party who is in custody and who is not
represented by an attorney is excused from the requirements of e-
mail service.
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(ii) The clerk of court must excuse a party
who is not represented by an attorney from the requirements of e-
mail service if the party declares on Florida Rule of General Practice
and Judicial Administration Form 2.601, under penalties of perjury,
that the party does not have an e-mail account or does not have
regular access to the Internet. The clerks of court shall make this
form available to the public at their offices and on their websites.
If a party not represented by an attorney is
excused from e-mail service, service on and by that party must be
by the means provided in subdivision (b)(2).
(E) Time of Service. Service by e-mail is complete
on the date it is sent.
(i) If, however, the e-mail is sent by the
Portal or other e-Service system, service is complete on the date the
served document is electronically filed.
(ii) If the person required to serve a
document learns that the e-mail was not received by an intended
recipient, the person must immediately resend the document to
that intended recipient by e-mail, or by a means authorized by
subdivision (b)(2) of this rule.
(F) Format of E-mail for Service. Service of a
document by e-mail is made by an e-mail sent to all addresses
designated by the attorney or party not represented by an attorney
with either (a) a copy of the document in PDF format attached or (b)
a link to the document on a website maintained by a clerk.
(i) All documents served by e-mail must be
sent by an e-mail message containing a subject line beginning with
the words “SERVICE OF COURT DOCUMENT” in all capital letters,
followed by the case number and case style of the proceeding in
which the documents are being served.
(ii) The body of the e-mail must identify the
court in which the proceeding is pending, the case number, the
name of the initial party on each side, the title of each document
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served with that e-mail, and the name and telephone number of the
person required to serve the document.
(iii) Any document served by e-mail may be
signed by any of the “/s/,” “/s,” or “s/” formats.
(iv) Any e-mail which, together with its
attached documents, exceeds the appropriate size limitations
specified in the Florida Supreme Court Standards for Electronic
Access to the Court, must be divided and sent as separate e-mails,
no one of which may exceed the appropriate size limitations
specified in the Florida Supreme Court Standards for Electronic
Access to the Court and each of which must be sequentially
numbered in the subject line.
(2) E-mail Service by Other Means. In addition to, and
not in lieu of, service by e-mail, service may also be made upon
attorneys and parties not represented by an attorney by any of the
means specified in this subdivision. If a document is served by more
than one method of service, the computation of time for any
response to the served document must be based on the method of
service that provides the shortest response time. Service on and by
all parties who are not represented by an attorney and who are
excused from e-mail service, and on and by all attorneys excused
from e-mail service, must be made by delivering a copy of the
document or by mailing it to the party or attorney at their last
known address or, if no address is known, by noting the non-
service in the certificate of service, and stating in the certificate of
service that a copy of the served document may be obtained, on
request, from the clerk of the court or from the party serving the
document. Service by mail is complete upon mailing. Delivery of a
copy within this rule is complete upon:
(A) handing it to the attorney or to the party,On
Unrepresented Parties. A party not represented by an attorney must
file and serve a designation of a primary e-mail address and up to 2
additional e-mail addresses for service using Florida Rule of General
Practice and Judicial Administration Form 2.602 unless the
unrepresented party:
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(i) is in custody; or
(ii) declares on Florida Rule of General
Practice and Judicial Administration Form 2.601, under penalty of
perjury, that the party does not have an e-mail account or does not
have regular access to the Internet. The clerks of court must make
this form available to the public at their offices and on their
websites.
(B) leaving it at the attorney’s or party’s office with
a clerk or other person in charge thereof,Other Electronic Service.
(i) If a document is filed using an electronic
court filing facility other than the portal, or if the document will be
electronically served but not filed, service must be made by
attaching the document in PDF format to an e-mail message and
transmitting it to the recipient’s e-mail address(es).
(ii) If an attorney cannot be served at the e-
mail address in the signature block or if there is no e-mail address
in the signature block, the attorney may be served at the attorney’s
official Florida Bar e-mail address.
(C) if there is no one in charge, leaving it in a
conspicuous place therein,Format of E-mail Service. The title of the
e-mail message serving a document must begin with “SERVICE OF
COURT DOCUMENT” and be followed by the case number and a
reasonable abbreviation of the style of the case. The body of the e-
mail message must contain the style of the case, the title of the
document, and the name and telephone number of the person
serving the document. Service by e-mail is complete when sent.
(D) if the office is closed or the person to be served
has no office, leaving it at the person’s usual place of abode with
some person of his or her family above 15 years of age and
informing such person of the contents, or
(E) transmitting it by facsimile to the attorney’s or
party’s office with a cover sheet containing the sender’s name, firm,
address, telephone number, and facsimile number, and the number
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of pages transmitted. When service is made by facsimile, a copy
must also be served by any other method permitted by this rule.
Facsimile service occurs when transmission is complete.
(F) Service by delivery is deemed complete on the
date of delivery.
(3) Service of Paper Documents.
(A) An unrepresented party who is in custody or
who has signed the declaration on Form 2.601 may serve paper
documents.
(B) A paper copy must be served on an
unrepresented party if that party is not a Florida Bar member or an
attorney who has been admitted pro hac vice and the party:
(i) is in custody;
(ii) signed the declaration on Form 2.601; or
(iii) has failed to register for the portal or
designate an e-mail address for service.
The failure of a judge, magistrate, clerk, or other
court official to serve a paper copy of a judgment or order in
compliance with this subdivision does not affect the validity of the
judgment or order, its finality, or any proceedings arising in the
action.
(C) When service of paper is permitted or required,
the paper must be served by hand delivery, United States mail, or
other commercial delivery service at the address where process was
served unless a court or the party designated a different address.
Service by mail is complete on mailing. Service by delivery is
complete on the day of delivery.
(c) Service; Numerous Defendants. In actions when the
parties are unusually numerous, the court may regulate the service
- 21 -
contemplated by these rules on motion or on its own initiative in
such manner as may be found to be just and reasonable.
(d) Filing Service on Judge or Other Court Official. All
documents must be filed with the court either before service or
immediately thereafter, unless otherwise provided for by general law
or other rules. If the original of any bond or other document
required to be an original is not placed in the court file or deposited
with the clerk, a certified copy must be so placed by the
clerkDocuments filed under rule 2.525 must not be served on the
judge or other court official under this rule unless service is
required by a statute, rule, administrative order, or court order. If
permitted, service on a judge or other court official must be made
electronically under subdivision (b) and the Florida Courts
Technology Standards.
(ed) Filing Defined. The filing of documents with the court as
required by these rules must be made by filing them with the clerk
in accordance with rule 2.525, except that the judge may permit
documents to be filed with the judge, in which event the judge must
note the filing date before him or her on the documents and
transmit them to the clerk. The date of filing is that shown on the
face of the document by the judge’s notation or the clerk’s time
stamp, whichever is earlierOversized Documents. For any
document that must be served but is too large for portal or e-mail
service, the party must serve the document in compliance with the
Florida Courts Technology Standards.
(fe) Technical Standards. Service must comply with the
Florida Courts Technology Standards but noncompliance with
technical requirements does not invalidate service unless the court
so orders.
(f) Certificate of Service. When any attorney certifies in
substanceA person establishes prima facie proof of service by
including the following:
(1) certification;
(2) date of service;
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(3) name(s) of person(s) served
(4) service address(es); and
(5) method of service.
The following sample certificate complies with this rule:
“I certify that on ….(date)….this the foregoing document has
been furnished to (here insert name(s) or names,and service
address(es) used for service, and mailing addresses) by (here insert
method of service such as portal, e-mail), (delivery), or (mail). (fax)
on ..... (date) …..
Attorney at Law”
the certificate is taken as prima facie proof of such service in
compliance with this rule.
(g) Service by Clerk. When the clerk is required to serve
notices and other documents, the clerk may do so by e-mail as
provided in subdivision (b)(1) or by any other method permitted
under subdivision (b)(2). Service by a clerk is not required to be by
e-mail.
(h) Service of Orders.
(1) A copy of all orders or judgments must be
transmitted by the court or under its direction to all parties at the
time of entry of the order or judgment. No service need be made on
parties against whom a default has been entered except orders
setting an action for trial and final judgments that must be
prepared and served as provided in subdivision (h)(2). The court
may require that orders or judgments be prepared by a party, may
require the party to furnish the court with stamped, addressed
envelopes for service of the order or judgment, and may require that
proposed orders and judgments be furnished to all parties before
entry by the court of the order or judgment. The court may serve
- 23 -
any order or judgment by e-mail to all attorneys and parties not
represented by an attorney who have not been excused from e-mail
service.
(2) When a final judgment is entered against a party in
default, the court must mail a conformed copy of it to the party. The
party in whose favor the judgment is entered must furnish the court
with a copy of the judgment, unless it is prepared by the court, with
the address of the party to be served. If the address is unknown,
the copy need not be furnished.
(3) This subdivision is directory and a failure to comply
with it does not affect the order or judgment, its finality, or any
proceedings arising in the action.
RULE 2.520. DOCUMENTS
(a) ElectronicDocuments Created for Filing Mandatory.
All documents filed in any court shall be filed by electronic
transmission in accordance with rule 2.525. “Documents” means
pleadings, motions, petitions, memoranda, briefs, notices, exhibits,
declarations, affidavits, orders, judgments, decrees, writs, opinions,
and any paper or writing submitted to a court.Documents that are
created for filing under rule 2.525 or service under rule 2.516 must
comply with the formatting requirements of this subdivision.
Documents must be prepared as follows:
(1) page size must be 8 1/2 by 11 inches (letter size);
(2) pages must be consecutively numbered;
(3) pages must have at least a 1-inch margin on all
sides;
(4) for documents that will be recorded in the official
records, pages must also have a 3-inch by 3-inch blank space at
the top right hand corner on the first page;
(5) font size must be no less than 12-point.
- 24 -
(b) Type and SizeElectronic Documents. Documents
subject to the exceptions set forth in rule 2.525(d) shall be legibly
typewritten or printed, on only one side of letter sized (8 1/2 by 11
inch) white recycled paper with one inch margins and consecutively
numbered pages. For purposes of this rule, paper is recycled if it
contains a minimum content of 50 percent waste paper. Reduction
of legal-size (8 1/2 by 14 inches) documents to letter size (8 1/2 by
11 inches) is prohibited. All documents filed by electronic
transmission shall comply with rule 2.526 and be filed in a format
capable of being electronically searched and printed in a format
consistent with the provisions of this ruleElectronic documents
must comply with the Florida Courts Technology Standards.
(c) ExhibitsPaper Documents. Any exhibit or attachment to
any document may be filed in its original sizePaper documents
must be legibly typewritten or printed on only one side on opaque,
white, unglossed paper. Documents consisting of multiple pages
should be held together by removable paper clips and must not be
stapled or bound.
(d) Recording Space and Space for Date and Time
StampsExhibits. Documents that are not created by an attorney or
unrepresented party for filing or service must be appended as
exhibits to a document prepared under subdivision (a), unless
another rule of court permits the document to be filed without a
notice of filing, and are not subject to the requirements of
subdivision (a). Instead, the following requirements apply:
(1) On all documents prepared and filed by the court or
by any party to a proceeding which are to be recorded in the public
records of any county, including but not limited to final money
judgments and notices of lis pendens, a 3-inch by 3-inch space at
the top right-hand corner on the first page and a 1-inch by 3-inch
space at the top right-hand corner on each subsequent page shall
be left blank and reserved for use by the clerk of court.Exhibits to
Electronic Document. Exhibits that are attached to an electronic
document must comply with the Florida Courts Technology
Standards.
- 25 -
(2) On all documents filed with the court, a 1-inch
margin on all sides must be left blank for date and time
stamps.Exhibits Submitted for Filing with a Paper Document. Any
exhibit or attachment to any paper document may be attached in
its original size.
(A) Format. Date and time stamp formats must
include a single line detailing the name of the court or Portal and
shall not include clerk seals. Date stamps must be 8 numerical
digits separated by slashes with 2 digits for the month, 2 digits for
the day, and 4 digits for the year. Time stamps must be formatted
in 12 hour time frames with a.m. or p.m. included. The font size
and type must meet the Americans with Disabilities Act
requirements.
(B) Location. The Portal stamp shall be on the top
left of the document. The Florida Supreme Court and district courts
of appeal stamps shall be on the left margin horizontally. Any
administrative agency stamp shall be on the right margin
horizontally. The clerk’s stamp for circuit and county courts shall
be on the bottom of the document.
(C) Paper Filings. When a document is filed in
paper as authorized by rule, the clerk may stamp the paper
document in ink with the date and time of filing instead of, or in
addition to, placing the electronic stamp as described in subdivision
(B). The ink stamp on a paper document must be legible on the
electronic version of the document, and must neither obscure the
content or other date stamp, nor occupy space otherwise reserved
by subdivision (B).
(e) Exceptions to Recording SpaceVerification Not
Required. Any documents created by persons or entities over which
the filing party has no control, including but not limited to wills,
codicils, trusts, or other testamentary documents; documents
prepared or executed by any public officer; documents prepared,
executed, acknowledged, or proved outside of the State of Florida;
or documents created by State or Federal government agencies,
may be filed without the space required by this ruleUnless
- 26 -
otherwise specially provided by a court, order, rule, or statute,
documents need not be sworn, notarized, or verified.
(f) Noncompliance. No clerk of court shall refuse to file any
document because of noncompliance with this rule. However, upon
request of the clerk of court, noncomplying documents shall be
resubmitted in accordance with this rule.
Court Commentary
[No Change]
RULE 2.525. ELECTRONIC FILING
(a) DefinitionOfficial Court File. “Electronic transmission
of documents” means the sending of information by electronic
signals to, by or from a court or clerk, which when received can be
transformed and stored or transmitted on paper, microfilm,
magnetic storage device, optical imaging system, CD-ROM, flash
drive, other electronic data storage system, server, case
maintenance system (“CM”), electronic court filing (“ECF”) system,
statewide or local electronic portal (“e-portal”), or other electronic
record keeping system authorized by the supreme court in a format
sufficient to communicate the information on the original document
in a readable format. Electronic transmission of documents
includes electronic mail (“e-mail”) and any internet-based
transmission procedure, and may include procedures allowing for
documents to be signed or verified by electronic meansThe official
court file is a set of electronic documents docketed and stored in a
computer system maintained by the clerk under this rule.
Documents in the official court file are originals for all purposes
except as otherwise provided by statute or rule.
(b) ApplicationPortal Filing. Only the electronic filing
credentials of an attorney who has signed a document may be used
to file that document by electronic transmission. Any court or clerk
may accept the electronic transmission of documents for filing and
may send documents by electronic transmission after the clerk,
together with input from the chief judge of the circuit, has obtained
approval of procedures, programs, and standards for electronic
- 27 -
filing from the supreme court (“ECF Procedures”). All ECF
Procedures must comply with the then-current e-filing standards,
as promulgated by the supreme court in Administrative Order No.
AOSC09-30, or subsequent administrative order.
(1) Attorneys must file through the portal or other
designated electronic court filing facility according to its
instructions.
(2) An unrepresented party who is not a member of The
Florida Bar or an attorney admitted pro hac vice may elect to file
through the portal or other designated electronic court filing facility
by registering with the portal or designated electronic court filing
facility according to its instructions. Once the election is made, it
may not be withdrawn without leave of court.
(3) No other method of filing is permitted except as
provided in subdivision (c) of this rule or otherwise authorized by
the Florida Courts Technology Standards.
(c) Documents AffectedSubmitted to Clerk for Filing.
(1) All documents that are court records, as defined in
rule 2.430(a)(1), must be filed by electronic transmission provided
thatA paper document may be submitted to the clerk for filing,
which the clerk will convert to electronic format, if the:
(A) the clerk has the ability to accept and retain
such documentsdocument is submitted for filing by an
unrepresented party who has not elected to participate
electronically in accordance with subdivision (b)(2) or who has
obtained leave of court to withdraw the election;
(B) the clerk or the chief judge of the circuit has
requested permission to accept documents filed by electronic
transmissiondocument is submitted for filing by a judge,
magistrate, clerk, or other court official; and
(C) the supreme court has entered an order
granting permission to the clerk to accept documents filed by
- 28 -
electronic transmissiondocument is accepted for filing by a judicial
officer in open court or in chambers, in which case the judicial
officer must note the date of receipt on the document and submit it
to the clerk for filing;
(D) filing of the original paper document is
required by order, rule, or statute; or
(E) court so orders.
(2) The official court file is a set of electronic
documents stored in a computer system maintained by the clerk,
together with any supplemental non-electronic documents and
materials authorized by this rule. It consists of:Unless prohibited by
order, rule, or statute, after conversion to an electronic form, the
clerk will dispose of paper documents submitted for filing or return
them to the filer if the filer provides a self-addressed postage-
prepaid envelope to the clerk at the time of submission.
(A) documents filed by electronic transmission
under this rule;
(B) documents filed in paper form under
subdivision (d) that have been converted to electronic form by the
clerk;
(C) documents filed in paper form before the
effective date of this rule that have been converted to electronic
form by the clerk;
(D) documents filed in paper form before the
effective date of this rule or under subdivision (d), unless such
documents are converted into electronic form by the clerk;
(E) electronic documents filed pursuant to
subdivision (d)(5); and
(F) materials and documents filed pursuant to any
rule, statute or court order that either cannot be converted into
electronic form or are required to be maintained in paper form.
- 29 -
(3) The documents in the official court file are deemed
originals for all purposes except as otherwise provided by statute or
rule.
(4) Any document in paper form submitted under
subdivision (d) is filed when it is received by the clerk or court and
the clerk shall immediately thereafter convert any filed paper
document to an electronic document. “Convert to an electronic
document” means optically capturing an image of a paper
document and using character recognition software to recover as
much of the document’s text as practicable and then indexing and
storing the document in the official court file.
(5) Any storage medium submitted under subdivision
(d)(5) is filed when received by the clerk or court and the clerk shall
immediately thereafter transfer the electronic documents from the
storage device to the official court file.
(6) If the filer of any paper document authorized under
subdivision (d) provides a self-addressed, postage-paid envelope for
return of the paper document after it is converted to electronic form
by the clerk, the clerk shall place the paper document in the
envelope and deposit it in the mail. Except when a paper document
is required to be maintained, the clerk may recycle any filed paper
document that is not to be returned to the filer.
(7) The clerk may convert any paper document filed
before the effective date of this rule to an electronic document.
Unless the clerk is required to maintain the paper document, if the
paper document has been converted to an electronic document by
the clerk, the paper document is no longer part of the official court
file and may be removed and recycled.
(d) ExceptionsNotarized and Verified Documents. Paper
documents and other submissions may be manually submitted to
the clerk or court:If a document is sworn, notarized, or verified, the
jurat or other act of verification may either be electronically created
as permitted by law and in accordance with the Florida Courts
Technology Standards, or may initially be committed to paper,
scanned, and filed, either as part of an electronically filed document
- 30 -
or with a cover page containing the style of the case, name of the
document, and certificate of service.
(1) when the clerk does not have the ability to accept
and retain documents by electronic filing or has not had ECF
Procedures approved by the supreme court;
(2) for filing by any self-represented party or any self-
represented nonparty unless specific ECF Procedures provide a
means to file documents electronically. However, any self-
represented nonparty that is a governmental or public agency and
any other agency, partnership, corporation, or business entity
acting on behalf of any governmental or public agency may file
documents by electronic transmission if such entity has the
capability of filing document electronically;
(3) for filing by attorneys excused from e-mail service in
accordance with rule 2.516(b);
(4) when submitting evidentiary exhibits or filing non-
documentary materials;
(5) when the filing involves documents in excess of the
appropriate size limitations specified in the Florida Supreme Court
Standards for Electronic Access to the Court. For such filings,
documents may be transmitted using an electronic storage medium
that the clerk has the ability to accept, which may include a CD-
ROM, flash drive, or similar storage medium;
(6) when filed in open court, as permitted by the court;
(7) when paper filing is permitted by any approved
statewide or local ECF procedures; and
(8) if any court determines that justice so requires.
(e) ServiceFiled Date and Time. A successfully filed
document’s file date and time is the earlier of the date and time:
- 31 -
(1) Electronic transmission may be used by a court or
clerk for the service of all orders of whatever nature, pursuant to
rule 2.516(h), and for the service of any documents pursuant to any
ECF Procedures, provided the clerk, together with input from the
chief judge of the circuit, has obtained approval from the supreme
court of ECF Procedures containing the specific procedures and
program to be used in transmitting the orders and documents. All
other requirements for the service of such orders must be met.
stamp applied to the document by the portal or other designated
electronic court filing facility;
(2) Any document electronically transmitted to a court
or clerk must also be served on all parties and interested persons in
accordance with the applicable rules of courtapplied to the
document by the clerk’s manual stamp for documents filed under
subdivision (c)(1)(A) or (c)(1)(B); or
(3) applied to the document pursuant to subdivision
(c)(1)(C).
(f) AdministrationDocketing by Clerk; Unsuccessful
Filing Attempt; Noncompliant Electronic Documents;
Corrections Queue. When a document is submitted for filing under
subdivision (b) or (c), the clerk is obligated to make it part of the
official court file and index it in the progress docket of the case
unless subdivision (f)(1) applies.
(1) Any clerk who, after obtaining supreme court
approval, accepts for filing documents that have been electronically
transmitted mustA submitted document will be placed into a
correction queue and will not be docketed only if it:
(A) provide electronic or telephonic access to its
equipment, whether through an e-portal or otherwise, during
regular business hours, and all other times as practically feasibleis
filed after a case number is assigned and lacks a correct case
number and the correct case number cannot be reliably and easily
identified;
- 32 -
(B) accept electronic transmission of the
appropriate size limitations specified in the Florida Supreme Court
Standards for Electronic Access to the Courtlacks a case style or
has the wrong case style; and
(C) accept filings in excess of the appropriate size
limitations specified in the Florida Supreme Court Standards for
Electronic Access to the Court by electronic storage device or
system, which may include a CD-ROM, flash drive, or similar
storage system.consists of multiple documents filed as 1 document;
(D) consists of a multi-page document filed as
separate documents;
(E) is a proposed order, unless it is filed under a
notice of filing for purposes of preserving a record;
(F) is illegible, corrupt, or blank; or
(G) is barred by order of court or is otherwise
incapable of being filed in the clerk’s case maintenance system.
(2) All attorneys, parties, or other persons using this
rule to file documents are required to make arrangements with the
court or clerk for the payment of any charges authorized by general
law or the supreme court before filing any document by electronic
transmission.If subdivision (f)(1) applies and the relevant case can
be identified, the clerk, portal, or other designated electronic court
filing facility will immediately notify the filer and all persons initially
served with that document specifying the reason the filing was
unsuccessful and has been placed in the correction queue. The filer
will be responsible for notifying a party participating in paper form
under subdivision (c) of this rule. If the relevant case cannot be
determined, the clerk will notify the person who submitted the
document. The clerk, portal, or other designated electronic court
filing facility will hold the document in the correction queue for an
additional 30 days from the date the filer was notified of the
unsuccessful filing. During those 30 days, the person who
submitted it may:
- 33 -
(A) file a new document that remedies the reasons
stated in the notice but is otherwise substantially identical, which if
successfully filed, relates back to the date of the unsuccessful filing
attempt and permits disposal of the document in the correction
queue;
(B) file a motion for review of the clerk’s action,
attaching a copy of the document, in which case the clerk, portal, or
other designated electronic court filing facility must hold the
document until the motion is decided by the court; or
(C) take no action under subdivisions (f)(2)(A) or
(f)(2)(B), thereby abandoning the document.
(3) The filing date for an electronically transmitted
document is the date and time that such filing is acknowledged by
an electronic stamp or otherwise, pursuant to any procedure set
forth in any ECF Procedures approved by the supreme court, or the
date the last page of such filing is received by the court or
clerkExcept for the reasons set forth in subdivision (f)(1) of this rule,
the clerk will docket all documents submitted for filing. The clerk
may note if it appears a document was not submitted in compliance
with rules of procedure in its associated docket entry, at which
point the court may strike the noncompliant document.
(4) Any court or clerk may extend the hours of access
or increase the page or size limitations set forth in this subdivision.
(g) Accessibility. All documents transmitted in any
electronic form under this rule must comply with the accessibility
requirements of Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.526.
Court Commentary
2025 Amendment. This rule prohibits docketing of proposed
orders unless they are submitted under a notice of filing for the
purpose of preserving a record. This prohibition is required because
a proposed order submitted for a judge’s signature is not intended
to be filed and docketed until signed by the judge.
- 34 -
1997 Amendment. [No Change]
- 35 -
Reference
- Status
- Published