Florida Federal Court Filing Formatting Rules: Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts

Florida federal filing format is district-specific. There is no single statewide "Florida federal court format" rule for civil pleadings, motions, briefs, exhibits, captions, signatures, sealing, redactions, or electronic filing.

On This Page

• Quick Answer
• Scope and Date Reviewed
• Florida Federal Filing Formatting Rules at a Glance
• Federal Baseline Rules
• Southern District of Florida Filing Formatting Rules
• Middle District of Florida Filing Formatting Rules
• Northern District of Florida Filing Formatting Rules
• What Is Actually Different About Florida Federal Filing Format
• FAQ
• Primary Source Index

For ordinary civil filings in Florida federal court, start with the local rules for the district where the case is pending: the Southern District of Florida Local Rules, the Middle District of Florida Local Rules, or the Northern District of Florida Local Rules.

The federal rules still matter. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 10 supplies the baseline rules for captions, pleading paragraphs, and exhibits attached to pleadings. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 supplies the federal privacy-redaction rule. But the document-formatting details that determine font size, spacing, margins, captions, brief limits, signatures, exhibits, and electronic filing come from the Florida district's local rules.

Quick Answer

For ordinary civil filings in the Middle District of Florida, the main formatting rule is Local Rule 1.08, "Form of a Pleading, Motion, or Other Paper." Local Rule 1.08 requires 8.5-by-11-inch paper, 1-inch margins, bottom-center page numbering, 13-point double-spaced main text for specified typefaces, and specific font sizes for indented quotations and footnotes. Times New Roman is permitted only if the main text is at least 14-point, indented quotations are at least 13-point, and footnotes are at least 12-point.

For Southern District civil filings, the main formatting rule is Local Rule 5.1. For Northern District civil filings, the main formatting rule is Local Rule 5.1. The three Florida federal districts do not use one shared formatting template.

Scope and Date Reviewed

This guide summarizes primary-source rules for ordinary civil filings in the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida. It was reviewed against the sources linked in this article as of June 11, 2026.

The local-rule corpora reviewed here identify the Southern District of Florida Local Rules as revised December 1, 2025, the Middle District of Florida Local Rules as effective November 1, 2025, and the Northern District of Florida Local Rules as effective November 24, 2015.

This article does not cover judge-specific standing orders, individual practices, criminal rules, bankruptcy rules, appellate rules, patent rules, admiralty rules, case-type-specific procedures, emergency procedures, or every CM/ECF administrative procedure. Always check the assigned judge's standing orders, any case-specific order, and the court's current CM/ECF procedures.

Florida Federal Filing Formatting Rules at a Glance

Federal Baseline Rules

FRCP 10(a) requires every pleading to have a caption with the court's name, a title, a file number, and a Rule 7(a) designation. The complaint must name all parties in the title. Later pleadings may name the first party on each side and refer generally to the other parties.

FRCP 10(b) requires claims or defenses to be stated in numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practicable to a single set of circumstances. Separate claims based on separate transactions or occurrences, and separate defenses other than denials, should be stated in separate counts or defenses if doing so would promote clarity.

FRCP 10(c) says a statement in a pleading may be adopted by reference elsewhere in the same pleading or in another pleading or motion. It also says a written instrument attached as an exhibit to a pleading is part of the pleading for all purposes.

FRCP 5.2 supplies the federal privacy-redaction rule. Unless the court orders otherwise, a filing containing a Social Security number, taxpayer identification number, birth date, minor's name, or financial account number may include only the last four digits of the Social Security or taxpayer identification number, the year of birth, the minor's initials, and the last four digits of the financial account number.

Those federal rules are only the starting point. Florida's federal districts add local formatting requirements, and those local requirements are not identical.

Southern District of Florida Filing Formatting Rules

Southern District Rule Summary

• Main formatting rule: Local Rule 5.1, "Filing and Copies."
• Paper, margins, spacing, and font: Local Rule 5.1(a)(3)-(4) requires standard 8.5-by-11-inch white opaque paper, 1-inch margins, one-sided text, at least 1.5 spacing for typewritten documents except long quotations and footnotes, and at least 12-point font for typewritten documents, including footnotes and quotations. Under Local Rule 5.1(a)(5), the paper, margin, and caption requirements do not apply to exhibits, papers filed in removed actions before removal, or forms provided by the court.
• Pagination: Local Rule 5.1(a)(4) requires proper consecutive pagination at the bottom center of each page.
• Caption: Local Rule 5.1(a)(5) requires a caption with the court name, docket number, case category, assigned judge names, action style, and document title.
• Signature block: Local Rule 5.1(a)(6) requires each counsel's name, street address, telephone number, email address, and Florida Bar or other applicable bar identification number.
• Electronic filing: Local Rule 5.1(b) requires documents that must be served to be filed in compliance with the CM/ECF Administrative Procedures, subject to stated exceptions.
• Exhibits: Local Rule 5.3 governs files and exhibits, including electronic filing of trial and hearing exhibits after the hearing or trial.
• Sealing and redactions: Local Rule 5.4 governs filings under seal and redacted exhibits.
• Motion briefs: Local Rule 7.1(c)(2) limits motions with incorporated memoranda and opposing memoranda to 20 pages, and replies to 10 pages, absent prior permission.

Southern District Font, Spacing, Margins, and Caption

The Southern District's main formatting rule is Local Rule 5.1. Although Local Rule 5.1(a) begins by addressing documents exempted from CM/ECF and tendered for conventional filing, Local Rule 5.1(b) applies the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2) through (a)(6) to documents filed via CM/ECF.

Under Local Rule 5.1(a)(3)-(4), documents must use standard 8.5-by-11-inch white opaque paper, 1-inch margins on the top, bottom, and each side, one-sided text, and bottom-center consecutive pagination. Typewritten documents must have at least one-and-one-half spaces between lines, except that quoted material of 50 words or more and footnotes may be single-spaced. Fonts for typewritten documents, including footnotes and quotations, must be no smaller than 12-point. Local Rule 5.1(a)(5) excludes exhibits, papers filed in removed actions before removal, and court-provided forms from the paper, margin, and caption requirements in Local Rule 5.1(a)(3)-(5).

Local Rule 5.1(a)(5) sets the Southern District caption requirements. The caption must include the court name centered across the page, the docket number, civil or criminal category, and last names of the assigned district judge and magistrate judge centered across the page. The style of the action must fill no more than the left side of the page, leaving space for the clerk's filing stamp on the right. The document title must include the name and designation of the party on whose behalf the document is submitted and must be centered across the page.

Southern District Motion Briefs, Exhibits, Sealing, and ECF

Local Rule 7.1(c)(2) sets the basic Southern District motion-brief page limits. Unless the court gives prior permission, a motion and incorporated memorandum of law may not exceed 20 pages, an opposing memorandum may not exceed 20 pages, and a reply memorandum may not exceed 10 pages. Title pages, tables of contents, tables of citations, request-for-hearing sections, signature pages, certificates of good-faith conferences, and certificates of service do not count if no substantive part of the submission appears on the same pages.

Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) also matters for motion formatting because it requires a pre-filing conference certificate for many civil motions. The certificate appears at the end of the motion and above the signature block.

Exhibits are governed by Local Rule 5.3. Unless the court orders otherwise, a party must file and serve in CM/ECF an electronic version of each documentary exhibit offered or introduced into evidence and a digital photograph of each nondocumentary physical exhibit within 10 days after the conclusion of a hearing or trial. Before filing those exhibits electronically, the filer must review and redact sensitive, confidential, or private information under FRCP 5.2, Criminal Rule 49.1, and the CM/ECF Administrative Procedures, or seek sealing or exemption from electronic filing.

Local Rule 5.4 governs filings under seal. A party seeking to file under seal must file a motion that states the factual and legal basis for departing from public filing, describes the proposed sealed material with as much particularity as possible without revealing its content, and specifies the proposed sealing duration. Local Rule 5.4(f) also permits redacted exhibits in lieu of sealed exhibit filing in specified circumstances, while requiring redactions mandated by FRCP 5.2, Criminal Rule 49.1, or the CM/ECF Administrative Procedures.

Middle District of Florida Filing Formatting Rules

Middle District Rule Summary

• Main formatting rule: Local Rule 1.08, "Form of a Pleading, Motion, or Other Paper."
• Paper, margins, and page numbers: Local Rule 1.08(a) requires 8.5-by-11-inch paper, 1-inch margins, bottom-center page numbering, and no page number required on page one.
• Font and typography: Local Rule 1.08(a) requires main text to be at least 13-point and double-spaced, indented quotations to be at least 12-point and single-spaced, and footnotes to be at least 11-point and single-spaced when using listed typefaces. Local Rule 1.08(b) permits Times New Roman only with larger sizes.
• Title requirements: Local Rule 1.09 requires specified words in the titles of unopposed motions, emergency or time-sensitive motions, injunction papers, jury demands, class actions, sealing motions, and other listed filings.
• Motion briefs: Local Rule 3.01 governs motions, responses, replies, conferral certificates, hearing requests, supplemental authority, and page limits.
• Sealing: Local Rule 1.11 governs sealing in civil actions.
• Exhibits: Local Rule 3.07 governs trial and evidentiary-hearing exhibits.

Middle District Font, Typeface, Spacing, and Margins

The Middle District has the most detailed typography rule among the Florida federal districts. Local Rule 1.08(a) applies to each pleading, motion, or other paper, excluding exhibits, attachments, transcripts, images, and other addenda.

Under Local Rule 1.08(a), the paper size is 8.5 by 11 inches, margins are 1 inch, page numbering is bottom-center, and page one does not need a page number. Main text must be at least 13-point and double-spaced. Indented quotations must be at least 12-point and single-spaced. Footnotes must be at least 11-point and single-spaced.

The listed typefaces in Local Rule 1.08(a) are Book Antiqua, Calisto MT, Century Schoolbook, Georgia, and Palatino. The rule also specifies 100% scale, normal character spacing, and normal position.

Times New Roman is treated separately. Local Rule 1.08(b) permits Times New Roman if the main text is at least 14-point, an indented quotation is at least 13-point, a footnote is at least 12-point, and the paper otherwise complies with Local Rule 1.08(a).

Middle District Titles, Motions, Sealing, and Exhibits

Local Rule 1.09 requires certain words in the title of specified filings. For example, an unopposed motion must include "Unopposed"; an emergency or time-sensitive motion must include "Emergency" or "Time Sensitive"; a motion requesting a temporary restraining order must include "Motion for Temporary Restraining Order"; and a paper demanding a jury trial must include "Demand for a Jury Trial." The rule also includes title requirements for sealing motions, class actions, collective actions, derivative actions, constitutional challenges, and three-judge-court claims.

Motion practice is governed by Local Rule 3.01. Local Rule 3.01(b) requires a motion to include, in a single document no longer than 25 pages, a concise statement of the precise relief requested, a statement of the basis for the request, and a legal memorandum supporting the request. Local Rule 3.01(c) limits responses to 20 pages. Local Rule 3.01(e) provides that, except for a reply to a summary-judgment motion or a social-security reply brief, no reply may be filed without leave, and a reply may not exceed 7 pages.

Local Rule 3.01(g) requires a good-faith conferral before many civil motions and requires the movant to include a certificate at the end of the motion under the heading "Local Rule 3.01(g) Certificate." Local Rule 3.01(h) prohibits incorporation by reference in a motion, legal memorandum, or brief. Local Rule 3.01(i) requires oral argument or an evidentiary hearing to be requested in a separate document accompanying the motion or response.

Local Rule 1.11 governs sealing in civil actions. It states a presumption of public access and requires a motion to seal to describe the item, establish why filing and sealing are necessary, explain why redaction, pseudonym use, or another alternative is unavailable or unsatisfactory, include a legal memorandum, propose a seal duration, and include the item, which is sealed pending resolution of the motion.

Trial and evidentiary-hearing exhibits are governed by Local Rule 3.07. Before trial or an evidentiary hearing, each party must obtain exhibit labels and label each exhibit. At the end of trial or an evidentiary hearing, each party must deliver to the clerk an electronic version of documentary, audio, or video exhibits and a photograph or reproduction of each nondocumentary tangible exhibit, subject to the rule's exception for pornography.

Northern District of Florida Filing Formatting Rules

Northern District Rule Summary

• Main formatting rule: Local Rule 5.1, "Form of Documents."
• Case style and heading: Local Rule 5.1(B) requires the first page to begin with the case style and requires a heading that clearly identifies the document.
• Font, spacing, margins, and page numbers: Local Rule 5.1(C) requires double spacing, at least 14-point font, at least 1-inch margins on all sides, and page numbers.
• Signature blocks: Local Rule 5.1(D)-(E) governs signature blocks for attorneys and pro se parties.
• Certificate of service: Local Rule 5.1(F) requires a certificate of service unless a stated exception applies.
• Electronic filing: Local Rule 5.4 requires electronic filing unless the court orders otherwise, with exceptions for certain exhibits, sealed documents, and pro se filings.
• Sealing and redactions: Local Rule 5.5 governs sealed documents and redaction of personal identifiers.
• Motion briefs: Local Rule 7.1 governs motions, conferral certificates, word limits, replies, supplemental authority, and oral argument requests.

Northern District Font, Margins, Case Style, and Signature Blocks

The Northern District's main formatting rule is Local Rule 5.1. Local Rule 5.1(A) applies to each document filed in a case other than an exhibit or other material not created for filing in the case.

Local Rule 5.1(B) requires the first page to begin with the case style. The case style must include the name of the court, the case number including initials of assigned judges, and the name of at least one party on each side of the case. The document must also include a heading after the case style and before any other content, and the heading must clearly identify the document.

Local Rule 5.1(C) requires double spacing, at least 14-point font, at least 1-inch margins on the top, bottom, left, and right of each page, and numbered pages. Handwritten documents must be legible with adequate spacing between lines. Hard copies should be securely fastened in the upper left-hand corner.

Signature blocks are covered in Local Rule 5.1(D)-(E). A document filed by an attorney must include the attorney's handwritten or electronic signature, typed name, bar number, street and email addresses, telephone number, and identification by name or category of the parties on whose behalf the document is filed. A document filed by a pro se party must include the party's handwritten signature, typed or printed name, street address, email address if the party has one, and telephone number if the party has one, unless electronic signature is allowed by administrative rule or court order.

Northern District Motions, Word Limits, ECF, Sealing, and Exhibits

Local Rule 7.1(A) requires written motions to comply with Local Rule 5.1 and Local Rule 7.1. Local Rule 7.1(B)-(C) requires a meaningful attorney conference before filing many motions and a certificate under a separate heading confirming compliance and stating the results.

The Northern District uses word limits for memoranda. Local Rule 7.1(F) provides that a memorandum must not exceed 8,000 words and must include a certificate stating the number of words. Headings, footnotes, and quotations count toward the word limit. The case style, signature block, and certificate of service do not count. If the motion itself exceeds 500 words, the words in the motion count toward the supporting memorandum's word limit.

Replies are limited and usually require leave. Local Rule 7.1(I) says a party ordinarily may not file a reply memorandum in support of a motion, except for summary-judgment replies under Local Rule 56.1(D), and a reply memorandum must not exceed 3,200 words unless the court sets a higher limit.

Electronic filing is governed by Local Rule 5.4. Unless the court orders otherwise, every document submitted for filing must be submitted through the electronic filing system, not in hard copy, by facsimile, or by other means. The rule identifies exceptions for exhibits introduced at a trial or hearing, documents filed under seal, and documents filed by pro se parties. Local Rule 5.4(C) makes attorneys responsible for electronically filed signatures, and Local Rule 5.4(D) requires attorneys electronically filing copies of sworn originals to retain originals for at least two years after the litigation, including appeals, has ended.

Local Rule 5.5 governs sealing and redactions. Case files and documents are public unless a statute, rule, administrative order, or case order provides otherwise. When feasible, a party filing a sealed document must file a redacted version for the public file. If a party violates FRCP 5.2 or Criminal Rule 49.1 by failing to redact a personal identifier, the party must promptly file a properly redacted substitute, and the clerk must seal the unredacted original when the substitute is filed.

Trial and hearing exhibits are governed by Local Rule 5.9. Exhibits tendered or received in evidence must be delivered to the clerk, subject to exceptions for court orders, sensitive exhibits, and temporary release to the assigned judge, judge's staff, or court reporter. Within 90 days after a case is closed and all appeals are exhausted, the offering party must retrieve exhibits from the clerk.

What Is Actually Different About Florida Federal Filing Format

The most important point is that "Florida federal format" is not one template. The Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts each have their own formatting rules.

Florida is also different from California-style federal pleading paper. The Florida local rules reviewed here do not impose a statewide line-numbered pleading-paper convention. Instead, the practical formatting issues are font size, spacing, margins, page numbering, captions, title language, motion limits, signature blocks, exhibits, and electronic-filing mechanics.

Font size is not uniform. The Southern District requires typewritten documents, including footnotes and quotations, to use font no smaller than 12-point under Local Rule 5.1(a)(4). The Middle District requires at least 13-point main text for listed typefaces and permits Times New Roman only at 14-point main text under Local Rule 1.08. The Northern District requires at least 14-point font under Local Rule 5.1(C).

Motion limits also vary. The Southern District uses 20-page limits for motions and oppositions and 10 pages for replies under Local Rule 7.1(c)(2). The Middle District uses 25 pages for a motion and supporting memorandum in a single document, 20 pages for responses, and 7 pages for permitted replies under Local Rule 3.01. Under Local Rule 3.01(a), those page limits exclude only the caption, signature block, any certificate of conferral or service, any verification, and any attachment. The Northern District uses word limits: 8,000 words for memoranda and 3,200 words for replies when allowed under Local Rule 7.1(F) and (I).

Caption and title requirements vary too. The Southern District has a caption rule with court name, docket number, judge names, action style, and document title in Local Rule 5.1(a)(5). The Middle District's Local Rule 1.09 focuses on required title words for certain filings. The Northern District's Local Rule 5.1(B) requires a case style and a heading that clearly identifies the document.

The result is that Florida federal filing format is district-specific. The federal rules supply the pleading baseline, but the local rules decide what the document must look like when filed.

That is the gap DocketDrafter's AI pleading formatter is built around. Drafting text is only part of the job. The filed document still has to satisfy the court's mechanical requirements: caption structure, font size, spacing, margins, page numbering, title language, signature blocks, exhibits, redactions, and brief limits.

FAQ

What are the local formatting rules for pleadings in the Middle District of Florida federal court?

For Middle District of Florida civil filings, start with Local Rule 1.08. It requires 8.5-by-11-inch paper, 1-inch margins, bottom-center page numbering, 13-point double-spaced main text for specified typefaces, 12-point single-spaced indented quotations, and 11-point single-spaced footnotes. Times New Roman is allowed only if the main text is at least 14-point, indented quotations are at least 13-point, footnotes are at least 12-point, and the paper otherwise complies with the rule.

What font size is required in the Southern District of Florida?

Southern District of Florida Local Rule 5.1(a)(4) requires fonts for typewritten documents, including footnotes and quotations, to be no smaller than 12-point. The rule also requires 1-inch margins, bottom-center consecutive pagination, and at least 1.5 spacing except for long quotations and footnotes.

What font size is required in the Northern District of Florida?

Northern District of Florida Local Rule 5.1(C) requires documents to be double-spaced with at least 14-point font and at least 1-inch margins on all sides. Pages must be numbered.

Does Florida federal court require line-numbered pleading paper?

The Southern, Middle, and Northern District of Florida local formatting rules reviewed here do not impose a California-style line-numbered pleading-paper requirement for ordinary civil filings. Florida federal formatting focuses on district-specific font size, spacing, margins, pagination, captions or headings, signature blocks, title language, motion limits, and electronic filing.

What are the motion brief page limits in the Southern District of Florida?

Under Southern District of Florida Local Rule 7.1(c)(2), absent prior court permission, a motion and incorporated memorandum of law may not exceed 20 pages, an opposing memorandum may not exceed 20 pages, and a reply memorandum may not exceed 10 pages.

What are the motion brief limits in the Middle District of Florida?

Middle District of Florida Local Rule 3.01 limits a motion with its legal memorandum to 25 pages, a response to 20 pages, and a permitted reply to 7 pages. Replies are not allowed as a matter of right except for summary-judgment replies and social-security reply briefs.

Does the Northern District of Florida use page limits or word limits for motion memoranda?

The Northern District of Florida uses word limits for memoranda. Local Rule 7.1(F) limits memoranda to 8,000 words and requires a word-count certificate. Local Rule 7.1(I) limits reply memoranda to 3,200 words when a reply is allowed.

Are judge standing orders part of Florida federal formatting rules?

Judge standing orders are not covered by this guide, but they can change or add formatting requirements. Always check the assigned judge's standing orders, individual practices, CM/ECF procedures, and any case-specific orders before filing.

Primary Source Index