Florida Court Exhibit Requirements
A comprehensive guide to preparing exhibits for Florida courts under Rule 2.520, including the January 2025 disclosure amendments, myflcourtaccess requirements, and circuit-specific rules.
Quick Reference
Updated 2025-01-157 MB per document
Numbers (1, 2, 3...)
Letters (A, B, C...)
60 days (Jan 2025 rule)
January 2025 Rule Amendments - New Disclosure Requirements
Effective January 2025, Florida adopted 60-day initial disclosure requirements similar to federal practice. Parties must now identify documents and exhibits that support claims or defenses within 60 days of the case management conference. This represents a significant shift toward federal-style mandatory disclosure.
- Initial disclosures due within 60 days of case management conference
- Must identify documents/exhibits supporting claims and defenses
- Mirrors FRCP Rule 26(a) federal disclosure framework
Applicable Rules & Citations
Primary Rule
PDF format required, text-searchable. Removable paper clips only - no stapling. PDF/A-2a preferred.
Confidentiality
Rule 2.420
Redact SSN, financial accounts, dates of birth, and minors' names. File Notice of Confidential Information when applicable.
E-Filing System
7 MB max per document (smaller than most states). Text-searchable PDF required. No password protection.
Key Deadlines
January 2025 Rules
Initial disclosure: 60 days. Miami-Dade evidentiary hearings: 5 days before.
Overview
Florida's 20 circuit courts use the myflcourtaccess portal for mandatory e-filing. Exhibit requirements are governed by Rule 2.520 of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, supplemented by circuit-specific administrative orders. The January 2025 amendments brought significant changes to disclosure requirements.
Key limitation: Florida's 7 MB file size limit is among the smallest of state e-filing systems. Plan to split larger exhibits into multiple parts with clear labeling.
7 MB File Size Limit - Smallest Among Major States
Florida's myflcourtaccess portal limits files to 7 MB per document - significantly smaller than New York (100 MB), California (25 MB), or Texas (25 MB). Plan for document splitting on larger exhibits and use clear sequential labeling: "Exhibit 5, Part 1 of 3."
Florida Exhibit Numbering Conventions
Standard Florida Conventions
Plaintiff Exhibits
- Numbers: 1, 2, 3... (sequential)
- Or: P-1, P-2, P-3...
- Include case number on all exhibits
Defendant Exhibits
- Letters: A, B, C... (traditional)
- Or: D-1, D-2, D-3...
- Or: numbers starting at 100+
Rule 2.520: Removable Paper Clips Only - No Stapling
Florida Rule 2.520 specifically prohibits stapling documents. Use removable paper clips only for physical exhibit preparation. This applies to all court filings in Florida circuit and county courts.
Circuit-Specific Requirements
Miami-Dade (11th Circuit)
Exhibits uploaded at least 5 days before evidentiary hearings through e-filing portal. Marked "FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY" initially. Proposed Exhibit List filed 7 days before.
Hillsborough County (13th Circuit)
Exhibits listed numerically, not alphabetically. Use Avery #5963 adhesive labels placed on back of last page, bottom left corner.
Broward County (17th Circuit)
Color-coded labels provided by clerk. Exhibits labeled alphabetically. Labels include case number, description, party name, trial date.
Common E-Filing Rejection Reasons
File Size Exceeds 7 MB Limit
Solution: Split large exhibits into parts. Label clearly (e.g., "Exhibit 5, Part 1 of 3"). Florida's limit is among the smallest of major state courts.
Non-Searchable PDF (Rule 2.520)
Solution: Ensure scanned documents have OCR applied. ExhibitPrep preserves existing searchability when adding stamps. PDF/A-2a format is preferred.
Missing Confidentiality Redactions (Rule 2.420)
Solution: Redact SSN, financial account numbers, dates of birth, and minors' names before stamping and filing. File Notice of Confidential Information when required.
Stapled Documents
Solution: Rule 2.520 prohibits stapling. Use removable paper clips only for physical documents. This requirement applies to all Florida court filings.
How ExhibitPrep Helps with Florida Requirements
Time Savings
Stamp 50 exhibits in 5 minutes vs. 2+ hours manually preparing labels.
Cost Effective
$14.99 Day Pass vs. $100+/hr paralegal time. Stamp unlimited exhibits for one low price.
Rule 2.520 Compliant
Preserves PDF searchability. Export individual files to meet 7 MB limit.
ExhibitPrep Configuration for Florida Courts
Recommended Settings
Exhibit Format
Use "Exhibit [number]" for plaintiff or "Exhibit [letter]" for defendant (e.g., "Exhibit 1", "Exhibit A"). Include case number in stamp when possible.
Stamp Position
Bottom-right corner is standard. Ensure stamps are clearly visible and don't obscure document content.
Export Format
Individual files recommended given 7 MB limit. Split larger exhibits into parts. Combined PDF with bookmarks acceptable for summary judgment filings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Florida Rule 2.520 exhibit requirements?
Rule 2.520 requires PDF format for all e-filed documents, text-searchable PDFs, and removable paper clips only (no stapling). The January 2025 amendments added 60-day initial disclosure requirements similar to federal practice.
What is the Florida e-filing size limit?
The myflcourtaccess Portal limits files to 7 MB per document - one of the smallest among state e-filing systems. For larger exhibits, split into multiple parts and label clearly. PDF/A-2a format is preferred.
What are the January 2025 disclosure rule changes?
Effective January 2025, Florida adopted new disclosure requirements mirroring federal practice. Parties must make initial disclosures within 60 days, identifying documents and exhibits that support claims or defenses.
What are Miami-Dade exhibit requirements?
Miami-Dade (11th Circuit) requires exhibit exchange 5 days before evidentiary hearings. Summary judgment exhibits need consecutive page numbers. Check Administrative Orders for complex litigation requirements.
Why can't I staple documents in Florida courts?
Florida Rule 2.520 specifically prohibits stapling. Use removable paper clips only for physical documents. This requirement applies to all court filings in Florida circuit and county courts.
What label size does Hillsborough County require?
Hillsborough County recommends Avery #5963 size labels for physical exhibit preparation. Check current administrative orders for specific formatting requirements in the Tampa circuit.
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