Electronic Filing (eFiling) is the service that allows authorized users, or filers, to submit court documents to the Clerk of Court electronically. At this time the ePortal only authorizes Florida attorneys as users. The Florida ePortal, governed by the Florida eFiling Authority Board, is the gateway to submitting your court documents to the Clerk of Court. The ePortal provides eFiling capability to filers with a single statewide login.
The Alachua County Clerk's Office is currently accepting electronic filings on new and existing cases for all Civil case types: Circuit Civil, County Civil, Domestic Relations, Probate, and Dependency.
To use the ePortal, including how to become an authorized user, we have provided the following frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ePortal?
The ePortal is a web site that provides eFiling and eRecording capability to users with a single statewide login.
How do I register for an account?
To register for an ePortal account, click on the ‘ePortal’ link in the ‘eFiling Portal Resources’ section to the right. For assistance with creating an account, click on the link "ePortal Documentation.” When registering, be sure the primary email address you enter on the ePortal matches the email address you have on record with the Florida Bar. Your first and last name must also match the records with the Florida Bar. You can verify your name and email address on file with the Florida Bar on the Florida Bar Website at http://www.floridabar.org/names.nsf/MESearchDK?OpenForm.
What document types does the ePortal support?
The ePortal will accept filings in Microsoft Word or PDF formats. All scanned documents must be 300 dpi and in black and white. Documents are limited to 25 megabytes in size.
How do I sign an electronic document?
A submission by a registered user is not required to bear the electronic image of the handwritten signature or an encrypted signature of the filer. Instead, the requirement of a signature on an electronically filed document may be met as follows:
s/ John Doe
John Doe (e-mail address)
Bar Number 12345
Attorney for (Plaintiff/Defendant) XYZ Company
ABC Law Firm
123 South Street
Orlando, FL 32800
Telephone: (407) 123-4567
See Florida Supreme Court AOSC09-30 for more information.
How do I e-file a document in an existing case?
Select existing from the drop down menu on the ePortal. Then select trial court, Alachua County, and the court type (i.e. Probate). Type in the case number with no dashes and include leading zeros, 012010CP000123, and add six x’s to the end which represent the uniform case number place holders for party numbers and location numbers, which are not used in Alachua County. The parts of the case number are the county code [01 for Alachua County], the year [4-digits, i.e. 2011], the case type [2 digits alpha, i.e. CP], the sequential file number [6 digits including leading zeros 001234] and the unused party and location digits [4 digits and 2 digits, i.e. xxxxxx], for example 012010CP000123xxxxxx. For cases with party suffixes, add the letter after the case number and delete an "x" so you will have only five x’s, like so: 012010DP000123Axxxxxx. TAB out of the case number box. The ePortal will find the case and the parties will appear in the parties screen after you select the next button. The title of the case will not appear, however you can verify the case is correct by reviewing the parties listed on the parties screen. At the document screen, select a case group and then a document type, browse your computer for the correct document and click the next button. Follow the remaining prompts to finish e-filing your document.
Will there be a charge to use the ePortal?
Payment for statutory filing fees or costs though the Florida ePortal includes an additional credit card or bank transaction fee. These are convenience fees established to offset the use of electronic funds transfers, whether using a credit, charge or debit card, or an ACH transaction. The ePortal accepts MasterCard, Discover, and American Express cards at a rate of 3 percent. The fee for an ACH transaction is a $3.00 flat fee.
How will the ePortal provide access to filings once the Clerk accepts them?
The ePortal provides access to filings “in progress” only. Once the filing is accepted and filed in the local Case Maintenance System, this becomes the official court record just like the current paper process. Original filings are retained at the portal for a brief period and then removed. Permanent access to these documents is provided through the Clerk’s Office.
I need assistance with my ePortal account. Whom do I contact?
For technical support, including password resets, contact the Florida Association of Court Clerks’ Services Group at 1-850-414-2210 or email support@myflcourtaccess.com. For assistance with a filing, such as an inquiry regarding a filing or a case, please use our Office & Phone Directory to contact the appropriate court division.
Do I still need to submit the original document to the Clerk?
No. The Alachua County Clerk of Court has been authorized to eliminate the follow-up paper filings in accordance with the Supreme Court’s Electronic Access Standards