Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516

SERVICE

sha256 0ee934a3bf1f2b9fdb1f0365a33444bb… · retrieved 8/16/2026, 9:15:37 PM · The Florida Bar consolidated ed. eff. 07-01-2026 (pinned Gen-Prac-Jud-Admin-Rules-07-01-26.pdf; the compilation's own ledger runs through SC2025-0725, eff. 7-1-26) · verified 8/16/2026 by gl3-furniture-identical-reload

RULE 2.516. 	SERVICE
(a) 	Service of Filed Documents. The filer of a document
must serve it on all other parties as provided in this rule unless:
(1) 	the document is the first pleading filed in the action
and is being served under the statutes and rules applicable to
service of process;
(2) 	a statute, rule, or administrative court order of the
Florida Supreme Court provides for a different method of service,
and the document is served under that method;
(3) 	a statute, rule, or court order requires or permits
the document to be filed without being served;
(4) 	the document is an application for a witness
subpoena; or
(5) 	a default has been entered against the party and
service is not required by law or another court rule.
(b) 	Service; How Made. Service must be made as follows
unless the parties agree otherwise.
(1) 	Portal Service. Documents filed through the portal
must be served using the portal’s e-service function. The portal will
transmit a copy of the document electronically to each address on
the service list, including the filer. Service on each listed recipient is
complete on filing, but the filer must immediately serve by any
permitted means any intended recipient that the filer learns did not
receive a filed document.
(2) 	Email Service.
(A) 	On Unrepresented Parties. A party not
represented by an attorney must file and serve a designation of a
primary e-mail address and up to 2 additional e-mail addresses for
service using Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial
Administration Form 2.602 unless the unrepresented party:

 

 
(i) 	is in custody; or
(ii) 	declares on Florida Rule of General
Practice and Judicial Administration Form 2.601, under penalty of
perjury, that the party does not have an e-mail account or does not
have regular access to the Internet. The clerks of court must make
this form available to the public at their offices and on their
websites.
(B) 	Other Electronic Service.
(i) 	If a document is filed using an electronic
court filing facility other than the portal, or if the document will be
electronically served but not filed, service must be made by
attaching the document in PDF format to an e-mail message and
transmitting it to the recipient’s e-mail address(es).
(ii) 	If an attorney cannot be served at the e-
mail address in the signature block or if there is no e-mail address
in the signature block, the attorney may be served at the attorney’s
official Florida Bar e-mail address.
(C) 	Format of E-mail Service. The title of the e-
mail message serving a document must begin with “SERVICE OF
COURT DOCUMENT” and be followed by the case number and a
reasonable abbreviation of the style of the case. The body of the e-
mail message must contain the style of the case, the title of the
document, and the name and telephone number of the person
serving the document. Service by e-mail is complete when sent.
(3) 	Service of Paper Documents.
(A) 	An unrepresented party who is in custody or
who has signed the declaration on Form 2.601 may serve paper
documents.
(B) 	A paper copy must be served on an
unrepresented party if that party is not a Florida Bar member or an
attorney who has been admitted pro hac vice and the party:

 

 
(i) 	is in custody;
(ii) 	signed the declaration on Form 2.601; or
(iii) 	has failed to register for the portal or
designate an e-mail address for service.
The failure of a judge, magistrate, clerk, or other court official
to serve a paper copy of a judgment or order in compliance with this
subdivision does not affect the validity of the judgment or order, its
finality, or any proceedings arising in the action.
(C) 	When service of paper is permitted or required,
the paper must be served by hand delivery, United States mail, or
other commercial delivery service at the address where process was
served unless a court or the party designated a different address.
Service by mail is complete on mailing. Service by delivery is
complete on the day of delivery.
(c) 	Service on Judge or Other Court Official. 	Documents
filed under rule 2.525 must not be served on the judge or other
court official under this rule unless service is required by a statute,
rule, administrative order, or court order. If permitted, service on a
judge or other court official must be made electronically under
subdivision (b) and the Florida Courts Technology Standards.
(d) 	Oversized Documents. For any document that must be
served but is too large for portal or e-mail service, the party must
serve the document in compliance with the Florida Courts
Technology Standards.
(e) 	Technical Standards. Service must comply with the
Florida Courts Technology Standards but noncompliance with
technical requirements does not invalidate service unless the court
so orders.
(f) 	Certificate of Service. A person establishes prima facie
proof of service by including the following:
(1) 	certification;

 

 
(2) 	date of service;
(3) 	name(s) of person(s) served
(4) 	service address(es); and
(5) 	method of service.
The following sample certificate complies with this rule:
“I certify that on ….(date)….this document has been furnished
to (here insert name(s) and service address(es) by (here insert
method of service such as portal, e-mail, delivery, or mail).
Attorney at Law”

Verbatim from the official publication; the only normalization is removal of the publisher's page headers. Verify against the official source for filing-critical use — court publications change without notice.