Signatures, Simplified: Florida Drops the Attorney-Signature Requirement

Chasing lawyer signatures after a “done deal” was always a great way to turn a settlement into a sequel. Florida fixed part of that problem. Effective April 1, 2025, the Florida Supreme Court amended Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.730(b) so a court-ordered mediation agreement is no longer required to be signed by counsel.

What is still required? A written agreement signed by each party—or a party representative with full authority to settle (meaning the real final decision-maker, not the attorney). The rule also expressly accommodates modern execution: signatures may be original/electronic/facsimile and can be done in counterparts.

Why does it matter? Before the rule amendment, Florida courts were not always consistent when signatures were missing from the settlement agreement - especially when the agreement was signed by the lawyer but not the client or when a lawyer signed for a client or when a party signed but counsel didn't. The amendment removes the confusion and the risk that despite settlement at mediation the parties have an unenforceable settlement agreement.

Where do I find more information? Read the Florida Supreme Court Amendments here. Read the Florida Bar Labor & Employment Section E-Update here.

Mediator’s Tip: Audit your settlement template now—remove the “counsel signature” line, tighten party definitions, and make sure your signature blocks match the actual parties (or properly authorized full-authority reps). Then get it signed before everyone leaves the room—or logs off.

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