TBD | Procedure F (eFiling at USFLMD)

1. Signatures of filing parties. Every pleading, motion, memorandum of law, or other document must be signed by the pro se litigant authorized by the court to file electronically or at least one lawyer of record. A signature must appear on documents filed electronically in one of the following manners:

a. “/s/ [E-filer’s first and last name]”;

b. An electronic image of the E-filer’s signature; or

c. An original signature (when document is scanned).

The submission of a document signed in any manner listed above and filed under that E-filer’s login constitutes an original signature under the Federal Rules of Procedure.

2. Signatures of non-filing lawyers. The filing lawyer is permitted to file a document that requires the signature of another lawyer (e.g., stipulation), if the filing lawyer obtains approval to electronically sign the document from the non-filing lawyer. The filing lawyer may indicate such approval by one of the following:

a. Oral approval for electronic signature.

i. /s/[non-filing lawyer’s first and last name]

ii. (Signed by filing lawyer with permission of non-filing lawyer)

iii. Electronic signature or /s/ [filling lawyer’s first and last name]

The filing lawyer must maintain a record of when and how permission was obtained to sign the non-filing lawyer’s name until all appeals have been exhausted or the time for seeking appellate review has expired.

b. Approval by signature.

i. /s/ [non-filing lawyer’s first and last name]*

ii. (*I certify that I maintain a signed copy of the document bearing the signature of [non-filing lawyer first and last name] in my office.)

iii. Electronic or /s/ [filling lawyer’s first and last name]

The filing lawyer must maintain the signed copy of the document until all appeals have been exhausted or the time for seeking appellate review has expired.

c. Scanned signature. The filing lawyer may obtain an original signature, scan the signature page, and file it as an attachment to the document. The filing lawyer must maintain the signed original until all appeals have been exhausted or the time for seeing appellate review has expired.

3. Signatures of non-lawyers. The filing lawyer is permitted to file a document that requires the signature of a non-lawyer or an individual who is not counsel of record (e.g., verified pleading, contracts, and affidavits) in electronic format in any of the following ways, provided the filing lawyer maintains the signed original until all appeals have been exhausted or the time for seeing appellate review has expired:

a. An electronic version of a document bearing “/s/ [first and last name]” filed with a statement that the original has been signed.

i. /s/Party Name*

ii. (*I certify that I have the signed original of this document that is available for inspection during normal business hours by the court or a party to this action.)

iii. Electronic Signature or /s/ [filing lawyer first and last name]

b. A document bearing “/s/ [first and last name]” may be filed with a scanned copy of the signature page as an attachment.

c. If a document containing original signatures is not digitally available, it may be scanned and filed electronically.

4. Signatures of judges and court officials. The submission of a document that is signed

(i) with “/s/ [judge or court official first and last name]” or an electronic image of a judge’s or court official’s traditional signature, and

(ii) filed using the judge’s or court official’s login constitutes an original signature for all purposes.

	Download
	Textbook Case
	Textbook Case
	How-To: eFiling Access
	How-To: Fee Exemption
	How-To: File Suit (Federal)
	Info: Warning on eSignatures
	Info: Magistrate Orders

F | ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES

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