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Changed Rule 2.420 of the Judicial Rules of Administration ordered by the Florida Supreme Court

Important notice for any filers of court records!  Beginning on July 1, 2021 the Levy Clerk’s Office will no longer identify confidential information in most circuit civil, county civil, and small claims court documents.  Filers will be solely responsible for ensuring any confidential information in these types of cases is appropriately redacted or identified for redaction by filing a Notice of Confidential Information.  This is in accordance with a change to Rule 2.420 of the Judicial Rules of Administration ordered by the Florida Supreme Court.

A video giving an overview of the changes can be found here.

Based on a recent Florida Supreme Court amendment to Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 regarding access to court records, “the clerk shall not be required to identify and designate information as confidential,” in circuit civil, county civil and small claims court documents.

Effective July 1, 2021, filers will be solely responsible for ensuring any confidential information contained in court records filed with the Clerk is appropriately identified for redaction in these kinds of cases.

Please review the changes to this rule and make sure that you and your staff are fully familiar with this rule change

beginning july 1, 2021, filers will be required to:

  • File a Notice of Confidential Information in small claims, county civil and most circuit civil cases when filing documents with Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or other non-public information;
  • Identify the precise location(s) of confidential information within the document, including each page number on which it appears; and
  • Identify the type of confidential information or provision that applies to the identified information.

Where does this rule change apply?

  • Changes apply to small claims cases, county court civil cases, and most circuit court civil cases
  • Changes do not apply to family law cases, domestic violence cases, cases stemming from sexual abuse, risk protection orders, mental health cases, Jimmy Ryce civil commitments, and medical malpractice cases *
    * Clerks and filers will retain dual responsibility to identify confidential information in all other types of filings for family, criminal, juvenile and probate cases.

RESOURCES

Educational materials

  • Attorney Handout (Available Soon)
  • Legal Professional Handout (Available Soon)
  • Self-Represented Litigants Handout (Available Soon)