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By COLLEEN JENKINS, Times Staff WriterAttorneys now must file certain documents via the Web for the Clerk of Circuit Court's office.
The Pasco County Clerk of Circuit Court's office took its first step Tuesday toward a paperless future.
Attorneys now must submit all documents for new probate and guardianship cases via the Internet, joining ranks with only a handful of Florida counties that also have adopted electronic filing.
The clerk's office heralded the transition as one that will increase efficiency and streamline the filing process without costing taxpayers a dime.
"It really changes the landscape of court operations and takes advantage of the technology we have today," said Rosalyn Fenton, the clerk's director of court services.
Though mostly willing to embrace change, several local attorneys expressed concern about new fees that will be passed on to their clients.
In addition to basic filing fees, attorneys now will be charged an $8 transaction fee each time they file documents through vendor Lexis-Nexis. That fee can include multiple documents under a single case.
"In order to save money for our clients, we're going to basically just save up as much as we can and file it all at once," said John Stewart, a New Port Richey probate attorney.
Fenton noted that electronic filing cuts out costs for couriers or FedEx.
The system, approved by the Florida Supreme Court in April, will allow multiple parties to view a file at once instead of requiring them to trek to the courthouses for a paper copy.
Paper copies will be kept for the next 90 days while officials ensure the new system works properly. After that, Fenton said, individuals can request them for a fee. Records also will be accessible to the public on a computer in the clerk's probate office.
Clerk Jed Pittman hopes to expand e-filing to all civil cases during the next six months. Criminal cases will be included "a ways down the road," Fenton said.
Kenneth Compton, a Zephyrhills attorney who handles wills, trusts and probate cases, submitted the first filing Tuesday in east Pasco without a hitch.
"We felt good about it," Compton said.
On the west side, veteran attorney Stewart was a bit more apprehensive. He wasn't particularly interested in the new technology. He didn't really want to buy a scanner or learn how to use it.
He also knew he didn't have a choice.
So weeks ago, his office began preparing for the change. Then, despite efforts to file two new cases before the implementation of e-filing, his office ended up being the first to transmit in west Pasco.
"This is the future apparently," Stewart said. "I'm still going to maintain paper because after 33 years, that's what I'm accustomed to.
"Attorneys, by nature, are slow to change."
Colleen Jenkins covers courts in west Pasco County. She can be reached at 727 869-6236 or cjenkins@sptimes.com