How to e-file your own Florida court papers without paying a filing service
If you are representing yourself, you can send documents to any Florida trial court from your own computer through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Here is the whole process, from creating your account to the clerk's acceptance email.
What "free" really means
Creating a portal account costs nothing, and the portal does not charge you a service fee for using it. You do not need to hire a lawyer or pay a private filing company to submit your papers.
Two costs can still apply. First, the court's own filing fee, which is set by Florida law and is the same whether you file online or at the counter. Second, a small payment-processing charge when you pay that fee online. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can ask the clerk to waive or defer it (see step 7). Many documents filed in a case that is already open carry no fee at all.
Before you start
- A desktop or laptop computer. County clerks advise that a phone or tablet is not enough.
- An email address you check often. The court and the other side will send you documents there.
- Your documents, completed and signed, saved as PDF files. Use one file per document.
- Your case number, if your case is already open.
- The county where your case is, or will be, filed.
- A debit card, credit card, or bank account if a filing fee is due, or a completed fee waiver application.
Step by step: filing through the portal
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Go to the portal and register
Open www.myflcourtaccess.com and choose the option to register for a new account. When the site asks for your role, select Self-Represented Litigant. This is the role for anyone filing without a lawyer.
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Fill in your account details
Choose a username and password, set a security question, and enter your name, email, mailing address, and phone number. Complete the "I'm not a robot" check and select Register.
Write down your security answer. You will need it in the next step and whenever you reset your password. -
Activate your account from your email
The portal sends an activation message to the address you registered. Open it, follow the link, answer your security question, and select Activate. Then log in with your new username and password. If the message does not arrive in a few minutes, check your spam folder.
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Tell the portal you are ready to file, then pick your county
After you log in, choose the option that says you have your document prepared and are ready to e-file. The portal shows a map of Florida. Select the county where your case belongs, then select File Now.
Check the county twice. A filing sent to the wrong county is the most common avoidable mistake, and it can cost you days. -
Choose new case or existing case
Starting a case: select New Case, then pick the court division (for example family, small claims, county civil, or circuit civil) and the case type. Enter the names and addresses of the parties exactly as they appear on your documents.
Filing in an open case: select Existing Case, enter your case number, and confirm that the case name shown is yours.
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Upload your documents
For each document, pick the document type from the list that best matches it, then choose the PDF file from your computer. Add documents one at a time.
The portal will ask whether your filing contains confidential information. Florida court rules require you to answer this. Items such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and the names of minor children in some case types are protected. If your document includes them, say so, and follow the on-screen instructions.
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Pay the filing fee, or ask to have it waived
If a fee is due, the portal shows the amount before you pay. You can pay by card or by electronic check from a checking or savings account.
Cost Who sets it What to expect Portal account E-Filing Authority No charge Court filing fee Florida law Varies by case type. Same amount online or in person. Payment processing E-Filing Authority County clerks report about 3.5% on a card or a flat $5 for an e-check. Confirm the amount on the payment screen. If you cannot afford the fee, complete the Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status, available from your county clerk, and file it with your case. The clerk decides whether you qualify.
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Review and submit
The portal shows a summary of everything you entered. Read it carefully, then select Submit. You will see a confirmation that your filing was received.
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Watch for two emails
The first email confirms that the portal received your filing. The second arrives after the clerk's office reviews it and tells you it was accepted. Your filing is not complete until you get the second one.
If the clerk returns your filing for a correction, it will appear in your account under My Filings. Fix the problem described and resubmit promptly.
Do not also file on paper. Once you e-file a document, do not bring a paper copy of the same document to the clerk.
After the clerk accepts your filing
Filing a document and serving it are two different things. Filing puts your papers in the court's record. Service is how the other party officially receives them.
- New cases: the other party usually must be served in person by a sheriff or a certified process server. E-filing does not do this for you.
- Open cases: later documents can usually be served by email through the portal on parties who are registered for e-service.
- Keep records: save both confirmation emails and a copy of every document you filed.
Common questions
Do I have to e-file if I do not have a lawyer?
No. E-filing is required for lawyers but optional for self-represented litigants. You may still file paper documents at the clerk's office if you prefer.
Can I file at night or on a weekend?
Yes. The portal is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Clerk staff review filings during business hours, so your acceptance email may arrive the next business day.
Can I e-file in any Florida county?
Yes. One portal account works for the trial courts in all 67 Florida counties. You choose the county each time you file.
How do I sign a document I am filing electronically?
Sign the document before you convert it to PDF. If a form must be notarized or signed in front of a deputy clerk, do that first, then scan the signed and notarized pages.
Who can help if the portal is not working?
The portal's support desk handles technical problems such as login and upload errors. Contact details and training videos are on the portal website. For questions about your case or a returned filing, contact the clerk of court in your county. Neither the support desk nor the clerk can give legal advice.
My court form is not filled out yet. What should I do first?
Complete and sign your documents before you open the portal. The portal sends documents to the court. It does not check whether you chose the right form or filled it in completely.
Need the documents before you can file them?
The portal handles delivery. Getting the right Florida forms completed correctly is the harder part. JusticeXpress Florida helps you prepare your court documents so they are ready to upload.
See how document preparation worksJusticeXpress Florida is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This guide is general legal information about using the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Portal screens, fees, and procedures change, and some counties have local requirements. Confirm current details with the portal or your county clerk of court. If you need advice about your specific situation, consult a Florida-licensed attorney.