Please be aware of significant amendments made by the Florida Supreme Court to the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, ("RGPJA"),
particularly Rule 2.525(f)(1)—Docketing by Clerk; Unsuccessful Filing Attempt; Non-compliant Electronic Documents; Correction Queue. These
changes, effective on July 1, 2025, will impact how the Volusia County Clerk's Office ("Clerk") handles documents filed through the ePortal.
Prior to these amendments, the Clerk's office had the discretion to reject documents filed through the ePortal upon request from practitioners for reasons such as
incorrect case number, lack of signature, or erroneous filing. Also, as a courtesy, Clerk staff could place items in the correction queue when we caught obvious mistakes
to give filers a chance to correct the document before it became part of the official court record. However, under the new rule, the Clerk will ONLY be able
to reject and place a document in the correction queue for the following specific reasons. When a document:
- Is filed after a case number is assigned and lacks a correct case number, AND the correct case number cannot be reliably and easily established.
- Lacks a case style or has the wrong case style.
- Consists of multiple documents filed as one document.
- Consists of a multi-page document filed as separate documents.
- Is a proposed order, unless it is filed under a notice of filing for purposes of preserving the record.
- Is illegible, corrupt, or blank.
- Is barred by order of court or is otherwise incapable of being filed in the clerk's case maintenance system.
The Clerk will now be required to accept and docket any document that does not fall within one of the enumerated reasons, even if it contains
errors. Also, we will be required to put documents that do fall within one of the reasons into the correction queue. Consequently, documents such as motions to continue
that include proposed orders will be rejected, and notices of appearance filed together as one document with a notice of intent to participate in discovery will also be
rejected. Additionally, simple requests for document rejection due to mistakes that are not included in the limited reasons stated in the Rule, can no longer be
accommodated.
Documents placed in the correction queue will remain there for 30 days, during which time you may file a new document that cures the reasons
for rejection or take no action.
We urge all practitioners to review these amendments carefully and take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the new Rule changes. Please adapt your filing
practices to align with these amendments to avoid unnecessary rejections and delays in the processing of your documents.