Contents and introductory material

Florida Rules of General Practice

and Judicial Administration

Table of Contents

CITATIONS TO OPINIONS ADOPTING OR AMENDING RULES

ORIGINAL ADOPTION, effective 7-1-78: 360 So.2d 1076. ....... 5 PART I. GENERAL PROVISIONS ................................................... 10 RULE 2.110. SCOPE AND PURPOSE ....................................... 10 RULE 2.120. DEFINITIONS ...................................................... 10 RULE 2.130. PRIORITY OF FLORIDA RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE ....................................................................... 10 RULE 2.140. AMENDING RULES OF COURT ........................... 11 RULE 2.150. SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS ....................... 19 PART II. STATE COURT ADMINISTRATION .................................. 20 RULE 2.205. THE SUPREME COURT ....................................... 20 RULE 2.210. DISTRICT COURTS OF APPEAL .......................... 28 RULE 2.215. TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATION ........................ 33 RULE 2.220. CONFERENCES OF JUDGES .............................. 43 RULE 2.225. JUDICIAL MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ................... 47 RULE 2.230. TRIAL COURT BUDGET COMMISSION ............... 49 RULE 2.235. DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL BUDGET COMMISSION ...................................................................... 53 RULE 2.236. FLORIDA COURTS TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION ...................................................................... 57 RULE 2.240. DETERMINATION OF NEED FOR ADDITIONAL JUDGES ........................................................................... 65 RULE 2.241. DETERMINATION OF THE NECESSITY TO INCREASE, DECREASE, OR REDEFINE JUDICIAL CIRCUITS AND APPELLATE DISTRICTS ............................................... 73 RULE 2.244. JUDICIAL COMPENSATION ................................ 81 RULE 2.245. CASE REPORTING SYSTEM FOR TRIAL COURTS 83 RULE 2.250. TIME STANDARDS FOR TRIAL AND APPELLATE COURTS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ....................... 83

RULE 2.255. STATEWIDE GRAND JURY ................................. 87 RULE 2.256. JUROR TIME MANAGEMENT .............................. 88 RULE 2.260. CHANGE OF VENUE ........................................... 89 RULE 2.265. MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS ............... 92 RULE 2.270. SUPREME COURT COMMITTEES ON STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS .......................................................... 92 PART III. JUDICIAL OFFICERS ..................................................... 95 RULE 2.310. JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE, REMOVAL, RETIREMENT, AND SUSPENSION ............................................................... 95 RULE 2.320. CONTINUING JUDICIAL EDUCATION ................. 96 RULE 2.330. DISQUALIFICATION OF TRIAL JUDGES ............. 98 RULE 2.340. JUDICIAL ATTIRE ............................................. 101 RULE 2.345. ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OF COURT

OFFICIAL .................................................................... 101 PART IV. JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS AND RECORDS .................. 102 RULE 2.410. POSSESSION OF COURT RECORDS ................. 102 RULE 2.420. PUBLIC ACCESS TO AND PROTECTION OF JUDICIAL BRANCH RECORDS ........................................... 102 APPENDIX TO RULE 2.420 ......................................................... 130 RULE 2.423. “MARSY’S LAW” CRIME VICTIM INFORMATION WITHIN COURT FILING ...................................................... 132 RULE 2.425. MINIMIZATION OF THE FILING OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION ................................................................... 137 RULE 2.430. RETENTION OF COURT RECORDS ................... 141 RULE 2.440. RETENTION OF JUDICIAL BRANCH ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS ............................................. 145 RULE 2.450. TECHNOLOGICAL COVERAGE OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS .................................................................. 146 RULE 2.451. USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES ....................... 150 PART V. PRACTICE OF LAW ....................................................... 154 A. ATTORNEYS ........................................................................... 154 RULE 2.505. ATTORNEYS ...................................................... 154 RULE 2.510. FOREIGN ATTORNEYS...................................... 157 RULE 2.511. FLORIDA COURTS E-FILING PORTAL ............... 166

B. PRACTICE AND LITIGATION PROCEDURES .......................... 167 RULE 2.514. COMPUTING AND EXTENDING TIME ............... 167 RULE 2.515. SIGNATURE AND REPRESENTATIONS TO

COURT ........................................................................ 169 RULE 2.516. SERVICE ........................................................... 173 RULE 2.520. DOCUMENTS .................................................... 176 RULE 2.525. FILING .............................................................. 178 RULE 2.526. ACCESSIBILITY OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY ................................................................... 183 RULE 2.530. COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY .................... 183 RULE 2.533. OATHS AND AFFIRMATIONS IN COURT ................ 186 RULE 2.535. COURT REPORTING ......................................... 187 RULE 2.540. REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES........................................... 193 RULE 2.545. CASE MANAGEMENT ....................................... 197 RULE 2.546. ACTIVE AND INACTIVE CASE STATUS ............. 200 RULE 2.550. CALENDAR CONFLICTS .................................... 201 RULE 2.555. INITIATION OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS ........ 204 RULE 2.560. APPOINTMENT OF SPOKEN LANGUAGE COURT INTERPRETERS FOR NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING AND LIMITED-ENGLISH-PROFICIENT PERSONS ....................... 205 RULE 2.565. RETENTION OF SPOKEN LANGUAGE COURT INTERPRETERS FOR NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING AND LIMITED-ENGLISH-PROFICIENT PERSONS BY ATTORNEYS OR SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS ................................ 208 RULE 2.570. PARENTAL-LEAVE CONTINUANCE ................... 210 RULE 2.580. STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS .................... 212 FORM 2.601. REQUEST TO BE EXCUSED FROM E-MAIL SERVICE BY A PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY ......................................................................... 213 FORM 2.602. DESIGNATION OF E-MAIL ADDRESS BY A PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY ............................. 215 FORM 2.603. CHANGE OF MAILING ADDRESS OR DESIGNATED E-MAIL ADDRESS .............................................................. 216

FORM 2.604. NOTICE OF PENDING MATTER ......................... 217 FORM 2.605. NOTICE OF INACTIVE STATUS ......................... 218 FORM 2.606. NOTICE OF ACTIVE STATUS ............................ 219 JUDICIAL BRANCH RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE FOR

ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS ............................................. 221

CITATIONS TO OPINIONS ADOPTING OR AMENDING RULES ORIGINAL ADOPTION, EFFECTIVE 7-1-78: 360 SO.2D 1076.

OTHER OPINIONS: Effective 1-1-79: 364 So.2d 466. Amended 2.070(f). Effective 7-1-79: 372 So.2d 449. Amended 2.010–2.130. Effective 2-21-80: 380 So.2d 1027. Amended 2.060(b). Effective 1-1-81: 389 So.2d 202. Four-year-cycle revision. Amended 2.050(e), 2.130. Effective 1-1-81: 391 So.2d 214. Amended 2.040(b)(3), 2.050(c). Effective 1-1-82: 403 So.2d 926. Added 2.075. Effective 12-1-83: 442 So.2d 198. Added 2.035. Effective 2-23-84: 446 So.2d 87. Amended 2.035. Effective 1-1-85: 458 So.2d 1110. Four-year-cycle revision. Amended 2.140(b)(2); added 2.130(b)(5); renumbered 2.130(b)(6). Effective 1-1-85: 462 So.2d 444. Added 2.071. Effective 3-1-85: 465 So.2d 1217. Added 2.125. Effective 7-1-86: 493 So.2d 423. Added 2.085. Effective 2-1-87: 500 So.2d 524. Amended 2.040(a)(2), 2.050(c). Effective 7-1-87: 507 So.2d 1390. Amended 2.050(d), 2.070(e). Effective 7-1-87: 509 So.2d 276. Amended 2.130(f). Effective 1-1-88: 518 So.2d 258. Added 2.150. Effective 1-1-89: 532 So.2d 667. See revised opinion at 536 So.2d 195. Effective 1-1-89: 536 So.2d 195. Four-year-cycle revision. Amended 2.050(c), 2.060(d), (h)–(j), 2.070(h), 2.085(a), (c). Effective 6-1-89: 543 So.2d 1244. Added 2.125(b)(1)(I), (b)(1)(J). Effective 11-9-89: 552 So.2d 194. Added 2.125(b)(1)(K). Effective 1-11-90: 555 So.2d 848. Added 2.125(b)(1)(L). Effective 1-18-90: 550 So.2d 457. Added 2.055. Effective 6-15-90: 560 So.2d 786. Added 2.030(a)(3)(D). Effective 10-22-92: 607 So.2d 396. Amended 2.130(b)(3). Effective 10-29-92: 608 So.2d 472. Added 2.051. Effective 1-1-93: 609 So.2d 465. Four-year-cycle revision. Substantively amended 2.040(b)(5), 2.055, 2.060, 2.071, 2.085, 2.130; added 2.160, 2.170. Effective 12-23-93: 634 So.2d 604. Amended 2.110(b). Effective 2-9-95: 650 So.2d 30. Amended 2.170. Effective 2-23-95: 650 So.2d 38. Amended 2.070. Effective 3-23-95: 651 So.2d 1185. Amended 2.051. Effective 3-30-95: 652 So.2d 811. Amended 2.125. Effective 5-9-95: 654 So.2d 917. Amended 2.070(d)(2). Effective 6-15-95: 656 So.2d 926. Amended 2.125. Effective 1-1-96: 661 So.2d 806. Amended 2.070(b). Effective 1-1-96: 665 So.2d 218. Amended 2.035. Effective 4-11-96: 672 So.2d 523. Amended 2.050(b)(4), 2.050(b)(7); added 2.050(h). Effective 6-27-96: 675 So.2d 1376. Added 2.072. Effective 8-29-96: 678 So.2d 1285. Added court commentary to 2.050.

Effective 1-1-97: 681 So.2d 698. Added 2.060(f), renumbered 2.060(f)–(l); amended 2.075, 2.090. Effective 1-1-97: 682 So.2d 89. Four-year-cycle revision. Added 2.030(a)(2)(B)(iv), 2.052, 2.065, 2.135, 2.180; amended 2.050(c), (e)(1)(F), (e)(3), (h), 2.055(c), 2.125 (for style); deleted 2.055(e). Effective 2-7-97: 688 So.2d 320. Added 2.050(b)(10). Effective 7-17-97: 697 So.2d 144. Partially suspended application of 2.055(c) until January 1, 1999. Effective 1-1-98: 701 So.2d 1164. Amended 2.060(f), 2.090(c). Effective 11-20-97: 701 So.2d 864. Amended 2.050(b)(10). Effective 1-1-99: 711 So.2d 29. Amended 2.055(c), added a new (d), and redesignated former (d) as (e). Effective 2-1-99: 746 So.2d 1073. Amended 2.051(c)(7). Effective 5-25-00: 766 So.2d 999. Added 2.071(f). Effective 7-14-00: 772 So.2d 532. Added 2.070(i). Effective 12-1-00: 774 So.2d 625. Added 2.053. Effective 1-1-01: 780 So.2d 819. Four-year-cycle revision. Amended 2.020, 2.053(b)(1)(A), 2.060, 2.070, 2.071(d), 2.130(a), (c), (e)–(g); added 2.061, 2.140(c). Effective 7-1-01: 796 So.2d 477. Added 2.054. Effective 10-1-01: 797 So.2d 1213. Amended 2.050(b). Effective 1-1-02: 812 So.2d 401. Amended 2.054(e). Effective 3-7-02: 825 So.2d 889. Amended 2.030, 2.040, 2.051, 2.075; added 2.076 and Judicial Branch Retention Schedule for Administrative Records. Effective 10-1-02: 826 So.2d 233. Amended 2.050, 2.052, 2.085. Effective 9-19-02: 828 So.2d 994. Amended 2.130. Effective 7-10-03: 851 So.2d 698. Amended 2.050, 2.053, 2.130. Effective 1-1-04: 851 So.2d 698. Two-year-cycle revision. Amended 2.060, 2.070, 2.085, 2.160, 2.170. Effective 1-1-04: 860 So.2d 394. Amended 2.060. Effective 10-14-04: 888 So.2d 614. Amended 2.035. Effective 1-1-05: 885 So.2d 870. Amended 2.160. Effective 1-1-05: 889 So.2d 68. Amended 2.085. Effective 5-12-05: 907 So.2d 1138. Amended 2.061. Effective 11-3-05: 915 So.2d 157. Two-year-cycle revision. Amended 2.130. Effective 1-1-06: 915 So.2d 157. Two-year-cycle revision. Amended 2.050, 2.051, 2.060, 2.071, 2.085. Effective 1-1-06: 915 So.2d 145. Amended 2.030. Effective 2-16-06: 921 So.2d 615. Adopted 2.036. Effective 3-2-06: 923 So.2d 1160. Amended 2.050. Effective 7-1-06: 933 So.2d 504. Adopted 2.073(a)–(d), (f). Effective 7-6-06: 933 So.2d 1136. Amended 2.035. Effective 9-21-06: 939 So.2d 966. Reorganization of rules. Adopted 2.140(g). Effective 9-28-06: 939 So.2d 1051. Amended 2.235. Effective 4-5-07: 954 So.2d 16. Amended 2.420. Effective 5-17-07: 957 So.2d 1168. Adopted 2.244. Effective 11-3-07: 915 So.2d 145. Amended 2.150(b)(3) [2.320(b)(3)]. Effective 1-1-08: 967 So.2d 178. Adopted 2.256, 2.430(l)

Effective 1-17-08: 973 So.2d 437. Amended 2.430. Effective 1-31-08: 974 So.2d 1066. Amended 2.240. Effective 4-1-08: 978 So.2d 805. Amended 2.215. Effective 7-1-08: 933 So.2d 504. Adopted 2.073(e) [2.560(e)]. Effective 10-1-08: 992 So.2d 237. Amended 2.215. Effective 1-1-09: 986 So.2d 560. Three-year-cycle revision. Amended 2.130, 2.140, 2.215, 2.330. Effective 1-1-09: 991 So.2d 842. Amended 2.510. Effective 7-16-09: 13 So.3d 1044. Amended 2.535. Effective 11-12-09: 24 So.3d 47. Amended 2.250, 2.535. Effective 3-18-10: 31 So.3d 756. Amended 2.420. Effective 5-20-10: 41 So.3d 881. Amended 2.540. Effective 7-1-10: 41 So.3d 128. Adopted 2.236. Effective 10-1-10: 31 So.3d 756. Amended 2.420(d). Effective 12-9-10: 51 So.3d 1151. Amended 2.320(a)(2). Effective 2-24-11: 75 So.3d 1241. Amended 2.215(b)(10)(C). Effective 7-7-11 68 So.3d 228. Amended 2.420(d)(1)(B)(xx). Effective 10-1-11: 80 So.3d 317. Adopted 2.425. Effective 1-1-12: 73 So.3d 210. Amended 2.505, 2.510, 2.525, 2.530. Adopted 2.526. Effective 2-9-12: 121 So.3d 1. Amended 2.205, 2.210, 2.215, 2.220, 2.225, 2.230, 2.235, 2.244. Effective 7-12-12: 95 So.3d 115. Amended 2.425. Effective 9-1-12: 102 So.3d 505. Amended 2.515, Adopted 2.516. Effective 10-01-12: 95 So.3d 96. Adopted 2.514. Effective 6-21-12: 102 So.3d 451. Amended 2.430, 2.510, 2.516, 2.520, 2.525, 2.535. Effective 12-20-12: 119 So.3d 1211. Amended 2.205, 2.220. Effective 2-7-13: 124 So.3d 807. Amended 2.140. Effective 4-4-13: 112 So.3d 1173. Amended 2.516. Effective 5-1-13: 124 So.3d 819. Amended 2.420. Effective 10-1-13: 118 So.3d 193. Adopted 2.451. Effective 10-31-13: 125 So.3d 754. Amended 2.220. Effective 1-1-14: 125 So.3d 743. Amended 2.205, 2.210. Effective 11-14-13: 129 So.3d 358. Amended 2.240 and 2.241. Effective 11-14-13: 126 So.3d 222. Amended 2.515, 2.516, 2.525. Effective 4-1-14: 132 So.3d 1114. Amended 2.545. Effective 12-18-14: 153 So.3d 896. Amended 2.420. Effective 1-1-15: 148 So.3d 1171. Amended 2.215, 2.535. Effective 1-1-15: 150 So.3d 787. Amended 2.430, 2.510. Effective 1-1-15: 39 FLW S718. Amended 2.520. (Opinion withdrawn; see 4-2- 15.) Effective 1-22-15: 156 So.3d 499. Amended 2.420. Effective 4-2-15: 161 So.3d 1254. Amended 2.520. Effective 9-10-15: 174 So.3d 991. Adopted 2.340. Effective 10-1-15: 176 So.3d 267. Amended 2.560, Adopted 2.565. Effective 2-4-16: 198 So.3d 592. Amended 2.425. Effective 3-24-16: 190 So.3d 1053. Amended 2.535. Effective 4-16-16: 189 So.3d 141. Amended 2.516 and 2.525. Effective 4-21-16: 190 So.3d 1080. Amended 2.240.

Effective 12-8-16: 206 So.3d 1. Amended 2.560 and 2.565. Effective 4-6-17: 214 So.3d 623. Amended 2.305. Effective 1-1-18: 226. So.3d 223. Amended 2.140, 2.510, and 2.516. Effective 1-19-18: 233 So.3d 1022. Amended 2.420. Effective 7-1-18: 244 So.3d 1005. Amended 2.560 and 2.565. Effective 7-6-18: 248 So.3d 1083. Amended 2.205. Effective 1-1-19: 257 So.3d 66. Amended 2.514 and 2.516. Effective 7-1-19: 285 So.3d 870. Amended 2.420. (Opinion adjustment; see 11- 7-19.) Effective 7-11-19: 276 So.3d 257. Amended 2.230. Effective 10-3-19: 280 So.3d 452. Amended 2.420. Effective 11-7-19: 284 So.3d 964. Amended 2.420. Effective 1-1-20: 285 So.3d 931. Amended 2.240. Effective 1-1-20: 288 So.3d 512. Adopted 2.570. Effective 3-13-20: 291 So.3d 899. Amended 2.205. Effective 4-1-20: 407 So.3d 1201. Adopted 2.270 and 2.580.(Opinion adjustment; see 1-28-21.) Effective 6-1-20: 289 So.3d 1264. Amended 2.140. Effective 7-2-20: 302 So.3d 873. Amended 2.420. Effective 9-10-20: 302 So.3d 315. Amended 2.220. Effective 1-28-21: 312 So.3d 445. Amended 2.270 and 2.580. Effective 1-28-21: 317 So.3d 1050. Amended 2.140. Effective 3-1-21: 310 So.3d 374. Amended 2.110, 2.265, 2.330, 2.505, and 2.510. Effective 7-1-21: 320 So.3d 626. Amended 2.420. Effective 10-28-21: 344 So.3d 940 Amended 2.140, 2.241, 2.420, 2.451, Judicial Branch Records Retention Schedule. Effective 11-18-21: 334 So.3d 292. Adopted 2.423. Effective 2-7-22: 344 So.3d 1236. Amended 2.510. Effective 5-12-22: 346 So.3d 1097. Amended 2.215. Effective 9-1-22: 347. So.3d 310. Amended 2.240. Effective 10-1-22: 346 So.3d 1105. Amended 2.256, 2.451, 2.515, 2.516, and 2.530; added 2.601, 2.602, and 2.603. Effective 10-24-22: AOSC22-78. Amendments to conform with the updated style guide. Effective 11-17-22: 351 So.3d 1085. Amended 2.420. Effective 1-23-23: 356 So.3d 214. Amended 2.235. Effective 2-1-23: 356 So.3d 766. Amended 2.320. Effective 7-1-23: 361 So.3d 272. Amended 2.540. Effective 7-1-23: 361 So.3d 819. Amended 2.420 and added 2.533. Effective 10-19-23: 373 So.3d 845. Amended 2.420. Effective 12-14-23: 376 So.3d 1. Amended 2.320. Effective 1-1-24: 382 So.3d 592. Amended 2.215. Effective 2-8-24: 379 So.3d 1105. Amended 2.420. Effective 7-1-24: 386 So.3d 79. Amended 2.215, 2.250, 2.546, 2.550; added 2.604, 2.605, 2.606. Effective 10-31-24: 407 So.3d 1213. Amended Rule 2.240. Effective 1-1-25: 393 So.3d 161. Amended 2.150, 2.270, 2.425, 2.430, 2.505, 2.560, 2.565. Effective 1-1-25: 396 So.3d 211. Amended Rule 2.535.

Effective 4-1-25: 399 So.3d 1094. Amended Rule 2.140. Effective 7-1-25: 416 So.3d 242. Added Rule 2.345 and 2.511; amended Rules 2.514, 2.515, 2.516, 2.520, and 2.525. Effective 12-1-25: 422 So.3d 103. Amended 2.215; 2.265; 2.430. Effective 1-1-26: SC2025-1750 (2025 WL 3673575). Amended 2.140. Effective 1-1-26: SC2024-1403 (2025 WL 3674289). Amended 2.120, 2.140, and

2.215. Effective 6-15-26: SC2026-0673 Amended 2.515 Effective 7-1-26: SC2025-0725 Amended Rule 2.540