Rule 9.360 Parties
Rule Text
(a) Joinder for Realignment as Appellant or Petitioner. An appellee or respondent who desires to realign as an appellant or petitioner must serve a notice of joinder no later than the latest of the following:
(1) within 15 days of service of a timely filed notice of appeal or petition; appeal; or
(2) within the time prescribed for filing a notice of
(3) within the time prescribed in rule 9.100(c).
The notice of joinder must be filed in the appellate court either before service or immediately thereafter. The body of the notice must set forth the proposed new caption. The notice must be accompanied by any required filing fee except as provided in rule 9.430 for proceedings by indigents. On filing the notice and payment of the fee, the clerk of the court will change the caption to reflect the realignment of the parties in the notice.
(b) Attorneys; Representatives; Guardians Ad Litem. Attorneys, representatives, and guardians ad litem in the lower tribunal will retain their status in the court unless others are duly appointed or substituted; however, for limited representation proceedings under rule 9.440 or Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.040, representation terminates on the filing of a notice of completion titled “Termination of Limited Appearance” pursuant to rule 9.440 or rule 12.040(c).
(c) Substitution of Parties.
(1) If substitution of a party is necessary for any reason, the court may so order on its own motion or that of a party.
(2) Public officers as parties in their official capacities may be described by their official titles rather than by name. Their successors in office will be automatically substituted as parties.
(3) If a party dies while a proceeding is pending and that party’s rights survive, the court may order the substitution of the proper party on its own motion or that of any interested person.
(4) If a person entitled to file a notice of appeal dies before filing and that person’s rights survive, the notice may be filed by the personal representative, the person’s attorney, or, if none, by any interested person. Following filing, the proper party will be substituted.