eFiling Flagler County

eFiling Civil Cases

What is the ePortal?

The ePortal is a web site that provides eFiling capability to officers of the court with a single statewide login.

How do I register for an account?

To register for an ePortal account, click on the `Florida Courts E-Filing Authority' link 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 .

How do I e-file a document in Flagler County using the Eportal?

Filing a New Case on the Eportal (pdf)

Adding Documents to Existing Cases (pdf)

Instructions for Using the "Pending Queue" (pdf)

Are there any Education Videos available to go over EPortal navigation?

Educational Videos are available on the Florida Courts E-Filing Authority website: http://www.flclerks.com/eFiling_authority.html .

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.

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 1-850-577-4609 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.

 

May any document be eFiled or must some originals be filed with the Clerk’s office?

Pursuant to AOSC09-30, section 7.3, “Original documents (Death Certificates, etc.) or those that contain original signatures such as affidavits, deeds, mortgages and wills must be filed manually until the court has determined the digital format by which these issues are addressed.” If you eFile one of the above-mentioned documents, please also provide the paper original to the Clerk’s office. Electronic Access Standards

FAQ'S for eFiling

Q: What document formats does the ePortal accept?

A: Word 97 or above, PDF files, and WordPerfect (later release of the ePortal). All documents are converted to PDF once filed so the local Clerk’s offices are not able to alter your documents.

Q: Can I use the ePortal to eFile into an existing case or do I have to open/initiate the case through the ePortal?

A: As long as you know the case number, you may use the ePortal to file documents in an existing case. You do not need to open a case through the ePortal in order to eFile subsequent documents.

Q: If I eFile a document, how do I serve a copy on the other parties to the case?

A: You may continue to serve paper copies of your filings by mail at this time. The “eService” Rule amendments were recently adopted by the Supreme Court (See SC10-2101, Rule 2.516). E-mail service becomes MANDATORY on September 1, 2012 in civil, probate, small claims and family law divisions of the trial courts, as well as in all appellate cases. Effective on this date, service solely by U.S. Mail will no longer be allowed (except in certain circumstances). (E-mail service in criminal, traffic and juvenile matters is not mandatory until October 1, 2013). However, until the deadline attorneys are not required to send or receive notices and copies via email service. You will be receiving more information on the move toward an integrated eService process leading up to the mandatory eService date.

Q: Are there fees to use the ePortal? Why is there a service charge when I file a new case using the ePortal?

A: There is only a charge when the document being filed has an associated fee (for example, filing a new case). For subsequent filings that do not require a filing fee, there is no fee to eFile using the ePortal.

The statewide Florida Courts eFiling Authority has set and gained approval for the user convenience fees charged by the ePortal. They are 3% of the total charge when using a credit card, or $3 flat for ACH using a bank account. The fees are collected at the State level and do NOT come to or benefit the local Clerk’s office.

Here is the eFiling Authority’s answer to the question: “The regular (fees) established by Florida law are required to be paid to file cases with Florida’s courts. In addition to the filing fees, there are also convenience fees established to offset the use of electronic funds transfer, whether using a credit, charge or debit card, or ACH transaction. The portal 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.”

Q: Currently, when we file a new case, the Clerk’s office allows us to file our request for summons and payment for the Sheriff’s service fee with the copies to be served, and the Clerk issues the summons and forwards the copies to be served to the Sheriff’s office for service. How can we do this with eFiling?

A. Until there are law changes that allow complaints/petitions and summons to be provided to the Sheriff’s office electronically, you may choose one of the following methods for service. Either:

1. Initiate new cases by filing paper as you currently do with the original complaint/petition, your copies, the filing fees including $10 for each summons, a letter instructing the summons issuance, and your Sheriff’s service fee and we will file your case and forward your packets for service as normal. Once you receive your case number, you will then be able to file subsequent documents in the case using the ePortal; OR

2. eFile your new case through the ePortal, indicating the appropriate number of summons needed, and include a cover letter telling us that you’ll follow up with the letter directing the summons issuance, paper copies and the Sheriff’s service fee. File your service packet with our office in paper along with the eFiled reference number and we’ll forward your packets for service as normal; OR

3. eFile your new case through the ePortal, indicating the appropriate number of summons needed, and include a cover letter directing the summons issuance and ask us to return the summons to you once we’ve completed them. Once you receive the issued summons, forward your summons, copies and the fee directly to the process server.

Q: Currently, when we file proposed orders, we give the Clerk copies of the proposed orders and self-addressed, stamped envelopes so that the orders can be forwarded to all the parties when they’ve been signed. How do we handle this through eFiling?

A: Until eService is the permissible way to accomplish service (September 1, 2012 in civil cases, pursuant to SC10-2101), copies of executed orders must still be mailed to the parties. Until the new eService Rule goes into effect, you must continue to provide all proposed order copies and self addressed stamped envelopes to the Clerk’s office. You may eFile motions, but please do not eFile proposed orders to avoid duplicate order execution. Simply provide your proposed orders and envelopes in paper.

Q: May any document be eFiled or must some originals be filed with the Clerk’s office?

A: Pursuant to AOSC09-30, section 7.3, “Original documents (Death Certificates, etc.) or those that contain original signatures such as affidavits, deeds, mortgages and wills must be filed manually until the court has determined the digital format by which these issues are addressed.” If you eFile one of the above-mentioned documents, please also provide the paper original to the Clerk’s office.