The trial judge’s office, court clerk, or other person assigned by the court to prepare the record on appeal will issue a notice of estimated costs after designations have been filed, or after the time period for filing the designations passes. The appellant has 15 days from the date the notice of estimated costs was sent to deposit with the trial judge a check or money order in the amount stated in the notice of estimated costs.
An appellant who is not able to pay the amount stated in the notice of estimated costs, must file a verified petition to be relieved of costs and a sworn financial affidavit. Both the verified petition to be relieved of costs and the self-represented appellant’s financial affidavit have to be filed with the trial judge’s office no later than 15 days from the date the “notice of estimated costs” was sent. Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.180(g)(2) and (3) lists the type of information an appellant must include in both the verified petition to be relieved of costs and the financial affidavit. The appellant must send a copy of both the verified petition to be relieved of costs and the financial affidavit to:
(1) all parties involved in the case (such as the attorney for the opposing party and the opposing party);
(2) the Division of Workers’ Compensation;
(3) the office of the general counsel of the Department of Financial Services; and
(4) the clerk of the district court of appeal.
If the trial judge grants the verified petition to be relieved of costs, the 60-day period for preparing the record on appeal starts the date of the order granting the verified petition to be relieved of costs. If the trial judge denies the verified petition to be relieved of costs completely or only grants it in part, the appellant must deposit the estimated costs with the judge’s office within 15 days from the date of the order denying the verified petition to be relieved of costs or the order granting it only in part.
