Notice of Appearance - Florida

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE

Florida Circuit Court -- Civil Division

COURT IDENTIFICATION

Judicial Circuit: [________________________________]

Florida has 20 judicial circuits. Select the applicable circuit:

☐ First Judicial Circuit (Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton)
☐ Second Judicial Circuit (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla)
☐ Third Judicial Circuit (Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor)
☐ Fourth Judicial Circuit (Clay, Duval, Nassau)
☐ Fifth Judicial Circuit (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Sumter)
☐ Sixth Judicial Circuit (Pasco, Pinellas)
☐ Seventh Judicial Circuit (Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, Volusia)
☐ Eighth Judicial Circuit (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, Union)
☐ Ninth Judicial Circuit (Orange, Osceola)
☐ Tenth Judicial Circuit (Hardee, Highlands, Polk)
☐ Eleventh Judicial Circuit (Miami-Dade)
☐ Twelfth Judicial Circuit (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota)
☐ Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (Hillsborough)
☐ Fourteenth Judicial Circuit (Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Washington)
☐ Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Palm Beach)
☐ Sixteenth Judicial Circuit (Monroe)
☐ Seventeenth Judicial Circuit (Broward)
☐ Eighteenth Judicial Circuit (Brevard, Seminole)
☐ Nineteenth Judicial Circuit (Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie)
☐ Twentieth Judicial Circuit (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee)

Division:

☐ Civil Division
☐ Complex Business Litigation Division
☐ Family Division
☐ Probate Division
☐ Other: [________________________________]

SECTION 1: COURT CAPTION

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE [________________________________] JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR [________________________________] COUNTY, FLORIDA

[________________________________] DIVISION

[________________________________],
          Plaintiff,

     v.                                        Case No.: [________________________________]
                                               Division:  [________________________________]
                                               Judge:     [________________________________]
[________________________________],
          Defendant.
_______________________________________________/

SECTION 2: TITLE

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE OF COUNSEL FOR [________________________________]

SECTION 3: TYPE OF APPEARANCE

Select the type of appearance being entered:

☐ General Appearance -- Full representation in all aspects of this matter
☐ Limited Appearance -- Appearance for specified proceedings or issues only (see Section 9)
☐ Substitution of Counsel -- Replacement of prior counsel of record (see Section 10)
☐ Additional Counsel -- Entering as co-counsel alongside existing counsel of record

SECTION 4: ENTRY OF APPEARANCE STATEMENT

For General Appearance:

COMES NOW the undersigned, [________________________________], Florida Bar No. [________________________________], of the firm [________________________________], and hereby enters an appearance on behalf of [________________________________] ("Client"), the [________________________________] [Plaintiff/Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff/Third-Party Defendant/Cross-Claimant/Counter-Claimant/Intervenor] in the above-styled cause, pursuant to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.505 and Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.080.

The undersigned requests that all pleadings, motions, notices, orders, and other papers in this matter be served upon the undersigned at the addresses designated below.

For Additional Counsel:

COMES NOW the undersigned, [________________________________], Florida Bar No. [________________________________], of the firm [________________________________], and hereby enters an appearance as additional counsel of record on behalf of [________________________________] ("Client"), the [________________________________] in the above-styled cause, in addition to existing counsel of record [________________________________], Florida Bar No. [________________________________].

SECTION 5: ATTORNEY INFORMATION

Attorney Name:       [________________________________]
Florida Bar Number:  [________________________________]
Firm Name:           [________________________________]
Street Address:      [________________________________]
                     [________________________________]
City, State, ZIP:    [________________________________], Florida [____]
Telephone:           [________________________________]
Facsimile:           [________________________________]

SECTION 6: DESIGNATION OF EMAIL FOR SERVICE

Pursuant to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516(b)(1), the undersigned designates the following email address(es) for service of all pleadings, documents, and papers required to be served:

Primary Email Address (REQUIRED):
[________________________________]

Secondary Email Address(es):
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Important: Under Rule 2.516(b)(1), an attorney's email address is the attorney's primary email address as registered with The Florida Bar, unless the attorney designates a different email address for receiving service. All attorneys must designate at least one email address for service. Service through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at the designated email address constitutes valid service.

☐ The undersigned confirms that the above email address(es) are active and monitored for receipt of service

SECTION 7: ELECTRONIC FILING AND E-SERVICE CONSENT

A. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal

The undersigned acknowledges and consents to the following:

☐ Mandatory e-filing through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (www.myflcourtaccess.com) is required for all attorneys in Florida state courts pursuant to Rule 2.525
☐ Documents filed through the Portal will be served through the Portal's e-service function on all registered counsel of record
☐ The Portal will transmit a copy of each filed document electronically to each address on the service list, including the filer
☐ The undersigned has registered or will register with the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal

B. Service on Non-Registered Parties

For any party not registered for e-service through the Portal, service will be made by:

☐ U.S. Mail to the party's last known address
☐ Hand delivery
☐ Other method as permitted by Rule 2.516(b)(2)

SECTION 8: PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION

Complete this section only if counsel is not a member of The Florida Bar.

A. Pro Hac Vice Application Status

☐ A Verified Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice pursuant to Florida Bar Rule 1-3.10 is being filed simultaneously
☐ An Order granting admission pro hac vice was entered on [__/__/____]
☐ Not applicable -- all counsel are members of The Florida Bar

B. Pro Hac Vice Attorney Information

Out-of-State Attorney Name:    [________________________________]
Bar Admission(s):              [________________________________] (Bar No. [____])
                               [________________________________] (Bar No. [____])
Good Standing in All Bars:     ☐ Yes

C. Pro Hac Vice Fees

☐ $250 fee to The Florida Bar has been paid or is enclosed
☐ $100 statutory filing fee pursuant to Section 454.18, Florida Statutes, has been paid to the court

D. Florida Sponsoring Counsel (Local Counsel)

A member of The Florida Bar in good standing must serve as local counsel:

Florida Counsel Name:     [________________________________]
Florida Bar Number:       [________________________________]
Firm Name:                [________________________________]
Florida Office Address:   [________________________________]
                          [________________________________], Florida [____]
Telephone:                [________________________________]
Email:                    [________________________________]

Note: The local Florida attorney must sign all pleadings, motions, and other papers filed with the court and must appear at all proceedings unless the court specifically excuses such attendance. Pro hac vice attorneys who opt into e-filing through the Portal cannot withdraw from e-filing without court leave.

E. Pro Hac Vice Certification

The pro hac vice applicant certifies:

☐ Applicant is a member in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia
☐ Applicant is not a member of The Florida Bar and is not a Florida resident
☐ Applicant has not been disciplined or held in contempt by reason of misconduct committed during the course of litigation in Florida
☐ Applicant agrees to be bound by the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar
☐ Applicant designates the clerk of the court in which the proceeding is pending as agent for service of process

SECTION 9: LIMITED APPEARANCE

Complete this section only if entering a limited appearance.

A. Scope of Limited Appearance

Pursuant to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.505 and applicable local administrative orders, the undersigned enters this appearance solely for the following limited purpose(s):

☐ Specific motion or hearing: [________________________________]
☐ Discovery proceedings only
☐ Mediation or alternative dispute resolution proceedings
☐ Trial proceedings only
☐ Appeal only
☐ Specific issue: [________________________________]
☐ Other (specify): [________________________________]

B. Duration

This limited appearance shall terminate upon:

☐ Conclusion of the specified proceeding(s) identified above
☐ Specific date: [__/__/____]
☐ Entry of order resolving the specified issue(s)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

C. Client Acknowledgment

☐ Client has been informed in writing of the limited nature of this representation
☐ Client understands that the undersigned attorney will not represent the client beyond the specified scope

SECTION 10: SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL

Complete this section only if this appearance constitutes a substitution.

A. Prior Counsel Information

Withdrawing Attorney Name:   [________________________________]
Florida Bar Number:           [________________________________]
Firm Name:                    [________________________________]

B. Basis for Substitution

☐ A Notice of Substitution of Counsel pursuant to Rule 2.505(e) is filed simultaneously
☐ Prior counsel has filed a Motion to Withdraw that was granted on [__/__/____]
☐ Prior counsel consents to the substitution (consent attached)

SECTION 11: SIGNATURE BLOCK

Respectfully submitted this [____] day of [________________________________], [____].

                              [________________________________]
                              (Firm Name)
                              [________________________________]
                              [________________________________], Florida [____]
                              Telephone: [________________________________]
                              Facsimile: [________________________________]


                              By: ________________________________________
                                  [________________________________]
                                  Florida Bar No. [________________________________]
                                  Primary Email: [________________________________]
                                  Secondary Email: [________________________________]

                                  Counsel for [________________________________]

SECTION 12: CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that on [__/__/____], I electronically filed the foregoing Notice of Appearance with the Clerk of Court using the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which will furnish an electronic copy to all counsel of record registered for e-service. For any parties not registered for e-service through the Portal, service was accomplished as indicated below, in compliance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516:

                              ________________________________________
                              [________________________________]
                              Florida Bar No. [________________________________]

SECTION 13: E-FILING INSTRUCTIONS -- FLORIDA COURTS E-FILING PORTAL

Step-by-Step Filing Procedure

1. Navigate to the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at www.myflcourtaccess.com
2. Log in with your registered credentials (registration required for all attorneys)
3. Select the correct county and court division
4. Enter the case number exactly as assigned by the clerk (including any division prefix)
5. Select filing type: "Notice of Appearance" or "Appearance of Counsel"
6. Upload the signed Notice of Appearance in PDF format
7. Verify the service list includes all counsel of record and unrepresented parties
8. Complete the e-service transaction through the Portal
9. Submit the filing and retain the electronic confirmation receipt
10. Confirm the filing appears on the court docket

Filing Fees

• Appearance filing fees vary by circuit and case type; verify with the clerk of the applicable circuit court
• Pro hac vice: $250 to The Florida Bar + $100 statutory fee to the court
• Some circuits require separate payment through the Portal

Portal Registration

• All attorneys must register at www.myflcourtaccess.com
• Pro hac vice attorneys may opt into Portal filing but cannot withdraw without court leave
• Unrepresented parties may opt into e-filing

SECTION 14: PRACTITIONER NOTES -- FLORIDA-SPECIFIC

A. Email Designation is Mandatory

Under Rule 2.516(b)(1), service by email is mandatory for all attorneys. Every attorney must designate at least one email address for e-service. Failure to provide a valid email address may result in deficient service. The designated email address is presumed to be the attorney's primary email as registered with The Florida Bar unless a different address is specified.

B. 2025 E-Filing and E-Service Modernization

The Florida Supreme Court adopted significant amendments to the Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration effective July 1, 2025, including:

• Mandatory Portal e-service for all registered users
• Presumptive authenticity of judicial e-signatures
• Expanded e-filing requirements

Verify that your practice complies with these updated rules.

C. Key Circuit-Specific Considerations

• Eleventh Judicial Circuit (Miami-Dade): High-volume jurisdiction with specific administrative orders for complex civil cases. Confirm local standing orders.
• Ninth Judicial Circuit (Orange/Osceola): May require courtesy copies for complex matters per local administrative orders.
• Seventeenth Judicial Circuit (Broward): Confirm divisional assignment procedures and any local requirements for appearance filings.
• Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Palm Beach): Complex Business Litigation Division has specific procedures.
• Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (Hillsborough): Verify local requirements for initial case management filings.

D. Substitution of Counsel

Under Rule 2.505(e), when an attorney is substituted as counsel:

• A Notice of Substitution must be filed identifying both the withdrawing and substituting attorney
• The substituting attorney must provide complete contact and email information for service
• The withdrawing attorney remains responsible until the substitution is filed and served

E. Withdrawal from Representation

• An attorney may not withdraw from representation without leave of court under Rule 2.505(f)
• A Motion to Withdraw must be served on the client and all parties
• The court considers whether withdrawal would prejudice the client or delay the proceedings

F. Preservation of Service Records

• Maintain all Portal e-service confirmation emails and receipts
• In the event of disputed service, Portal transmission records serve as prima facie evidence of service
• For non-Portal service (U.S. Mail, hand delivery), maintain separate proof of service

This template is designed for use in Florida state circuit courts. For Florida County Courts, Florida District Courts of Appeal, or the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida (federal courts), different rules and procedures apply.