Pro hac vice ("for this occasion") admission lets an attorney licensed in another state appear in a particular Florida case without joining The Florida Bar. In Florida state courts, the process is governed by Rule 2.510 of the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration and Rule 1-3.10 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar — and it always runs through one gate: association of a Florida-admitted attorney as local counsel of record.
Quick facts
| Governing rules | Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.510; R. Regulating Fla. Bar 1-3.10 (state courts) |
| Required form | The form verified motion that is part of Rule 2.510 — courts expect it, not a freestyle motion |
| Local counsel | Required — a member of The Florida Bar in good standing must be associated as attorney of record and sign the motion |
| Florida Bar fee | $250 nonrefundable fee to The Florida Bar, served with a copy of the motion (as of July 2026) |
| Clerk filing fee | $100 statutory filing fee to the court where the motion is filed — separate from the Bar's fee |
| Frequency limit | More than 3 appearances in separate representations within 365 days is presumed a "general practice" and disqualifying |
| Who decides | The court rules on the motion; The Florida Bar only processes the fee and assigns a PHV number for e-filing access |
| Renewal | An annual renewal fee applies for each year the attorney remains admitted pro hac vice in Florida |
State court requirements under Rule 2.510
An attorney who is an active member in good standing of another state's bar may be permitted to appear in a particular Florida case on the conditions the court deems appropriate. The rule has two structural requirements:
- Association of Florida counsel. A member of The Florida Bar in good standing must be associated as an attorney of record. Local counsel signs the verified motion, files it, and remains responsible to the court throughout the case.
- The verified motion. Rule 2.510 includes a form motion promulgated by the Florida Supreme Court, and that form must be used. It requires, among other things, statements identifying every jurisdiction where the attorney is admitted (with bar numbers), all Florida pro hac vice motions filed in the preceding 5 years and their outcomes, any discipline or pending disciplinary proceedings in the preceding 5 years, and when the representation at issue began.
Certain attorneys cannot appear under the rule at all — including Florida residents, ineligible or suspended Florida Bar members, and attorneys previously disciplined for misconduct in a pro hac vice appearance.
What it costs
Three separate line items, as of July 2026:
- $250 to The Florida Bar — a nonrefundable fee submitted with a copy of the motion. The Bar then assigns a PHV number used for e-filing access. Note the Bar does not rule on the motion; only the court does.
- $100 to the clerk — a statutory filing fee paid to the court where the attorney seeks to appear.
- Local counsel's fee — set by agreement. I quote it up front — flat, hourly, or a hybrid, depending on the matter — so the structure is known before you commit.
Attorneys who remain admitted pro hac vice also owe The Florida Bar an annual renewal fee for each year of admission. Fee amounts are set by the Bar and can change — I confirm the current figures on every engagement.
The three-appearance limit
Pro hac vice is for occasional appearances, not a Florida practice. More than 3 pro hac vice appearances in separate representations within a 365-day period is presumed to constitute a "general practice" before Florida courts, and further appearances can be denied. Firms with recurring Florida work usually pair a standing local counsel relationship with careful tracking of who appears and when — something I manage for repeat clients.
Federal courts are different
Rule 2.510 and the $250 Bar fee apply only to Florida state courts. The Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida each set their own admission rules, forms, and fees through local rules and administrative orders. The Southern District, for example, requires the pro hac vice motion to be filed by co-counsel admitted in that district, limits attorneys to three pro hac vice motions in the district within 365 days, and requires all filings to go through local counsel's CM/ECF account — meaning your local counsel is not a formality there; they file everything. I am registered on PACER / CM-ECF and handle the district-side requirements in the Southern and Middle Districts.
Typical timeline
- Day 1 — intake and conflicts. You send the court, parties, and deadline; I clear conflicts and send an engagement letter, usually the same business day.
- Days 1–3 — motion prepared and filed. With the attorney information in hand (admissions, five-year appearance and discipline history), the verified motion is drafted, verified, filed, and served, with fees submitted.
- Court ruling. Some judges grant on the papers; some set the motion for hearing. Timing depends on the division — I track it and appear if a hearing is set.
A note on reliance: this page is general information for lawyers, current as of July 2026 — not legal advice, and rules and fee amounts change. Verify current requirements with The Florida Bar and the presiding court, or send me the matter and I'll handle it.
Where local counsel fits
Every requirement above runs through the Florida lawyer who signs the motion. As your local counsel, I prepare and file the verified motion, submit the fees, appear as Florida counsel of record, and stay on for whatever the case needs next — e-filing, docket monitoring, hearings, depositions, and trial support. One point of contact, engaged within a business day.