Yesterday, the Florida Supreme Court amended our Rules of Judicial Administration regarding electronic service and filing. The opinion and amendments can be accessed here. The changes can be summarized as follows:
- Using the e-portal system for service is an acceptable means of service. (Recall that the e-portal had been previously authorized only by administrative order.)
- If a document is served using the e-portal, service is complete on the date the document is filed.Service via the e-portal is still considered service by mail for the computation of time.
- An attorney’s signature on a pleading constitutes a certificate that the document contains no confidential or sensitive information, or that such information has been properly protected.
- Only the electronic filing credentials of an attorney who has signed a document may be used to file that document electronically.
- Even though electronically served, the certificate of service must also include the mailing address of recipients.
- Every signing attorney is as responsible for the document as if that document had been served or filed by such signing attorney.