Rule 2.520. Documents

(a) Documents Created for Filing. 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.

(b) Electronic Documents. Electronic documents must comply with the Florida Courts Technology Standards.

(c) Paper Documents. Paper 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) Exhibits. 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) Exhibits to Electronic Document. Exhibits that are attached to an electronic document must comply with the Florida Courts Technology Standards.

(2) Exhibits Submitted for Filing with a Paper Document. Any exhibit or attachment to any paper document may be attached in its original size.

(e) Verification Not Required. Unless otherwise specially provided by a court, order, rule, or statute, documents need not be sworn, notarized, or verified.

Committee Notes

1989 Adoption. Rule 2.055 [renumbered as 2.520 in 2006] is new. This rule aligns Florida's court system with the federal court system and the court systems of the majority of our sister states by requiring in subdivision (a) that all pleadings, motions, petitions, briefs, notices, orders, judgments, decrees, opinions, or other papers filed with any Florida court be submitted on paper measuring 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Subdivision (e) provides a 1-year transition period from the effective date of January 1, 1990, to been accepted on legal-size paper will be accepted on either legal- or letter-size paper. The 1-year transition period was provided to allow for the depletion of inventories of legal-size paper and forms. The 1- year transition period was not intended to affect compliance with Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.210(a)(1), which requires that typewritten appellate briefs be filed on paper measuring 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Nor was it intended that the requirement of Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.210(a)(1) that printed briefs measure 6 by 9 inches be affected by the requirements of subdivision (a). Subdivision (b), which recognizes an exception for exhibits or attachments, is intended to apply to documents such as wills and traffic citations which traditionally have not been generated on letter-size paper. Subdivision (c) was adopted to ensure that a 1 1/2 inch square at the top right-hand corner of all filings is reserved for use by the clerk of court. Subdivision (d) was adopted to ensure that all papers and documents submitted for filing will be considered filed on the date of submission regardless of paper size. Subdivision (d) also ensures that after the 1-year transition period of subdivision (e), filings that are not in compliance with the rule are resubmitted on paper measuring 8 1/2 by 11 inches. This rule is not intended to apply to those instruments and documents presented to the clerk of the circuit court for recording in the Official Records under section 28.222, Florida Statutes (1987). It is also not intended to apply to matters submitted to the clerk of the circuit court in the capacity as ex officio clerk of the board of county commissioners pursuant to article VIII, section (1)(d), Florida Constitution. 1996 Amendment. Subdivision (c) was amended to make the blank space requirements for use by the clerk of the court consistent with section 695.26, Florida Statutes (1995). Subdivision (e) was eliminated because the transition period for letter-size and recycled paper was no longer necessary.