Order allows oaths administered remotely

To aid efforts to conduct court proceedings remotely, and thus mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, Chief Justice Charles T. Canady, ordered notaries and other persons qualified to administer an oath be allowed to do so remotely by audio or video communication.

His administrative order suspends rules of procedure, court orders, and opinions applicable to remote testimony, depositions, and other legal testimony that could be interpreted “to limit or prohibit the use of audio-video communications equipment to administer oaths remotely.”

This latest order follows previously issued orders urging the use of technology to conduct business remotely where possible. A series of Chief Justice Canady’s orders recognize “the Florida State Courts System must take steps to mitigate the effects of theCOVID-19 on legal proceedings and participants in those legal proceedings,” as stated in the order on administering oaths.

A full list of administrative orders from Chief Justice Canady related to COVID-19 response, including information on administrative orders in all jurisdictions in the state, is available on the website of the Florida Supreme Court and the COVID-19 emergency orders linked there.