Teh Guide

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===== Self-Represented Litigant Filing a New Case =====

This is a summary of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb-1D-hZoC0|Self-Represented Litigant Filing a New Case video]] from Florida Courts E-filing youtube channel, generated by the Recall AI summary tool.

===== Intro =====

  * To access the Courts e-filing portal, users can visit the website at www.flcourts.org/access and click on the e-filing portal link or the “File Now” button, then sign in with their username and password .
  * Self-represented litigants are directed to the “DIY Documents” tab, where they can choose to file prepared documents or generate a document through an interview .
  * The portal currently offers interviews for tenant eviction complaints and answers, with plans to add small claims and injunction documents within the next six weeks .
  * Users can select whether they have prepared documents ready to file or want to go through an interview to generate a document .
  * The DIY Documents tab allows self-represented litigants to prepare and file their documents electronically .

===== Filing a Case =====

  * To file a new case electronically with the court, start by clicking on “continue” after preparing the necessary documents, such as a complaint .
  * The e-filing map will appear, and since this is a new case, select “case initiation” and then choose the county where the case will be submitted from the filing map .
  * On the case information page, select the division, which should automatically populate based on the map, and then choose the correct division .
  * Fill in the required information, including case type, sub-type, and circuit civil information, such as the proceeding type of case, which in this example is a .
  * Specify whether the case is a complex business case, the remedy sought, and the claim amount, and also indicate the number of causes of action and whether it is a class-action lawsuit .
  * If there are related cases, list them; otherwise, select “no,” and indicate whether a jury trial is demanded .
  * After completing the case information, click “next” to proceed to the parties tab, or save the information to the workbench to finish at a later time .

===== Adding Party Information =====

  * To add party information, at least one plaintiff and one defendant must be added, which can be done by clicking on the “add party” link and selecting the party type .
  * The plaintiff is considered a primary party and is the individual on whose behalf the case is being filed, requiring information such as name, alias (if applicable), email address, and physical address .
  * After entering the required information for the plaintiff, clicking “save” will create the party plaintiff, and any changes can be made by clicking the “edit” button .
  * The defendant is also a primary party, but the plaintiff is not filing on behalf of the defendant; instead, the defendant is being named in the case .
  * To add the defendant, their name and address must be entered, and then “save” must be clicked to complete the party defendant information .
  * Once both the plaintiff and defendant information have been added and saved, the party information is complete, and the user can proceed to the documents section by clicking “next” or the “documents” tab .

===== Adding a Complaint =====

  * To add a complaint, start by searching for the word “complaint” and hitting the tab key to bring up all the document descriptions in that contain the word complaint .
  * Select the applicable document description and then browse to the location on the computer where the complaint document is saved as a PDF, and attach it by clicking on the name of the document and opening it .
  * Once the document appears, click on save to populate the field, and if there are any other documents to file at this time, click the Add button and type in or search for the desired document .
  * Since it’s case initiation, only the complaint needs to be submitted to get a case number, so with all documents linked, click on next or the service list .
  * As the person creating the case, start the service list, and if a file-stamped copy of the complaint is desired, add oneself to be served .
  * Other interested parties can be added to the case for service by clicking on the “my added attorney/interested party” link and adding another attorney or interested party .

===== Fee and Payment =====

  * To proceed with the case, navigate to the ‘Fee and Payment’ tab, where a total fee of $400 is due to open the case .
  * There are two options to provide payment information: completing and paying by credit card or ACH account, or requesting a fee waiver .
  * To request a fee waiver, select ‘indigent’ and attach the completed indigent fee waiver form, which should be saved as a PDF document .
  * The attached indigent fee waiver form will be displayed on the page, and then click ‘next’ to proceed to the ‘Review and Submit’ page .
  * On the ‘Review and Submit’ page, review all the entered information, including the service list, attached documents, and fee information .
  * The service list includes the name and email address of the person to be served, such as Mary Longfellow, and the attached documents include the civil cover sheet and the complaint .
  * The fee information includes the statutory filing fee amount and party information, which should be reviewed for accuracy before proceeding .

===== Submitting a New Case =====

  * When ready to submit a new case, clicking the submit button takes the user to their filing pleaded page, which shows recent filings, and upon refreshing, it displays the new case as received by , along with the submission date and time .
  * Once Orange County accepts the complaint, the completion date is filled in, and the user receives an email notification that the new case has been received .
  * The user also receives an email with the East Service, which includes a copy of the complaint, as requested during the filing process .
  * The email includes the civil cover sheet, the complaint, and information about the service list, which in this case, indicates that the user has exceeded service and is the only one listed .
  * The notification of electronic filing is also accessible on the user’s account page, and it includes a copy of the document attached .
  * After submitting a new case, it is added to the user’s cases page, allowing them to easily file new pleadings to the case in the future .
  * The pleading button becomes available as soon as the new case is accepted by and a filing number is received, which is indicated by a case number .
  * Submitting a new case through the courts e-filing portal is a straightforward process that allows users to easily file electronically .