Legal Tech Series: How do you "e-file" in Florida?
- tnoonan002
- Jul 28, 2021
- 2 min read
"E-filing" is the process of electronically sending legal documents to a court. It has essentially replaced the paper filing system of years past and, thus, it is vital for every attorney to understand how to do it.
Since I am operating out of Florida, I will walk through the steps to e-file there. If you practice elsewhere, visit your county clerk's website for information on how to e-file.
Step 1: Go to the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. This is the central location for all Florida courts.
Step 2: Login or register for the Portal. All you need to register is your Florida Bar Number, an email address, and a home (or work) address.
Step 3: Find your case, using the case number or party names in the search engine.
Step 4: Select which party you are filing for and the type of document.
Step 5: Attach the document and submit.
That's it! The process is pretty straightforward, but there is one additional consideration: the format. In general, all documents must be formatted according to the Portal Standards.
In short, the guidelines provide specific rules for:
The size of filings--saying they cannot exceed 50 megabytes;
Document formatting--saying it must be one-sided, be numbered, be on letter-sized paper, have one-inch margins, have all hyperlinks removed, include cover pages for exhibits, and include a completed Notice of Confidential Information;
Names of filings--saying it cannot include certain characters and the name cannot exceed 150 bytes.
But don't just take my word for it! Check out my references below:
https://www.flcourts.org/content/download/643394/file/portal-document-filing standards-v19-(082120)-Final.pdf
Disclaimer:
The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only, and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice from The Legal Worker or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this Post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s jurisdiction.
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