RULE 2.525. ELECTRONIC FILING

(a) Definition. “Electronic transmission of documents” means the transmission by electronic signals, to or from a court or clerk of the court, of information  which when received can be transformed and stored or reproduced on paper, microfilm, magnetic storage device, optical imaging system, or other electronic record keeping system authorized by the Supreme Court of Florida in a format sufficient to communicate the information on the original document in a readable format.

(b) Application. Any court or clerk of the court may accept the electronic transmission of documents for filing after the clerk, together with input from the chief judge of the circuit, has obtained approval of the procedures and program for doing so from the Supreme Court of Florida. (c) Documents Affected.
 * (1) All documents that are court records, as defined in rule 2.430(a)(1), may be filed by electronic transmission provided that:
 * (A) the clerk of court has the ability to accept and retain such documents;
 * (B) the clerk of court or the chief judge of the circuit has requested permission to accept documents filed by electronic transmission; and
 * (C) the Supreme Court of Florida has entered an order granting permission to the clerk of court to accept documents filed by electronic transmission.


 * Any attorney, party, or other person who files a document by electronic transmission shall, immediately thereafter, file the identical document, in paper form, with an original signature of the attorney, party, or other person if a signature is otherwise required by these rules (hereinafter called the follow-up filing).


 * (2) The follow-up filing of any document that has previously been filed by electronic transmission may be discontinued if:
 * (A) after a 90-day period of accepting electronically filed documents, the clerk of court or the chief judge of the circuit certifies to the Supreme Court of Florida that the electronic filing system is efficient, reliable, and meets the demands of all parties;
 * (B) the clerk of court or the chief judge of the circuit requests permission to discontinue that portion of the rule requiring a follow-up filing of documents in paper form, except as otherwise required by general law, statute, or court rule; and
 * (C) the Supreme Court of Florida enters an order directing the clerk of court to discontinue accepting the follow-up filing.

(d) Service.
 * (1) Electronic transmission may be used by a court for the service of all orders of whatever nature provided the clerk, together with input from the chief judge of the circuit, has obtained approval from the Supreme Court of Florida of the specific procedures and program to be used in transmitting the orders. All other requirements for the service of such an order shall be met.
 * (2) Any document electronically transmitted to a court or clerk of the court shall also be served on all parties and interested persons in accordance with the applicable rules of court.

(e) Transmission Difficulties. Any attorney, party, or other person who elects to  file any document by electronic transmission shall be responsible for any delay, disruption, interruption of the electronic signals, and readability of the document, and accepts the full risk that the document may not be properly filed with the clerk as a result.

(f) Administration.
 * (1) Any clerk of the court who, after obtaining Supreme Court of Florida approval, accepts for filing documents that have been electronically transmitted shall:
 * (A) provide electronic or telephonic access to its equipment during regular business hours; and
 * (B) accept electronic transmission of documents up to 10 pages in length.
 * (2) All attorneys, parties, or other persons using this rule to file documents are required to make arrangements with the court or clerk of the court for the payment of any charges authorized by general law or the Supreme Court of Florida before filing any document by electronic transmission.
 * (3) The filing date for an electronically transmitted document shall be the date the last page thereof is received by the court or clerk of the court.
 * (4) Any court or clerk of the court may extend the hours of access or increase the page limitations set forth in this subdivision.

Court Commentary
1997 Amendment. Originally, the rule provided that the follow-up filing had to occur within ten days. In the 1997 amendment to the rule, that requirement was modified to provide that the follow-up filing must occur “immediately” after a document is electronically filed. The “immediately thereafter” language is consistent with language used in the rules of procedure where, in a somewhat analogous situation, the filing of a document may occur after service. See, e.g., Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.080(d) (“All original papers shall be filed with the court either before service or immediately thereafter.”) (emphasis added). “Immediately thereafter” has been interpreted to mean “filed with reasonable promptness.” Miami Transit Co. v. Ford, 155 So.2d 360 (Fla.1963). The use of the words “other person” in this rule is not meant to allow a nonlawyer to sign and file pleadings or other papers on behalf of another. Such conduct would constitute the unauthorized practice of law.