(a) Judge and Administrator Signatures. All electronically filed and served documents that require a judge's, judicial officer's, or court administrator's signature shall either capture the signature electronically under a process approved by the state court administrator pursuant to judicial branch policy or begin with a handwritten signature on paper that is then converted to electronic form by scanning, imaging, or other means such that the final electronic document has the judge's, judicial officer's, or court administrator's signature depicted thereon. The final electronic document shall constitute an original. (b) Registered User and Non-Registered User Signatures. (1) Registered Users. Every document electronically filed or served through the E-Filing System that requires the signature of the Registered User filing or serving the document shall be deemed to have been signed by the Registered User and shall bear the facsimile or typographical signature of such person, along with the typed name, address, telephone number, designated e-mail address, and, if applicable, attorney registration number of a signing attorney. The typographical or facsimile signatures of a Registered User shall be considered the functional equivalent of an original, handwritten signature produced on paper. A typographical signature shall be in the form: /s/ Pat L. Smith.(2) Non-Registered Users. Any document electronically filed or served through the E-Filing System that requires the signature of a person who is not the Registered User filing or serving the document shall bear the typed name, along with the facsimile or typographical signature, of such person. The person's typographical or facsimile signature shall be considered the functional equivalent of an original, handwritten signature produced on paper. A typographical signature shall be in the form: /s/ Pat L. Smith. (c) Notary Signature, Stamp. Unless specifically required by court rule, documents, including affidavits, electronically filed or served through the E-Filing System are not required to be notarized. Where a signature under penalty of perjury is otherwise required, the provisions of part (d) of this rule apply. A document electronically filed or served through the E-Filing System that by court rule, specifically requires a signature of a notary public shall be deemed signed by the notary public if, before filing or service, the notary public has signed a printed or electronic form of the document and the electronically filed or served document bears a facsimile or typographical notary signature and stamp. (d) Perjury Penalty Acknowledgment. A document electronically filed or served through the E-Filing System that requires a signature under penalty of perjury may, with the same force and effect and in lieu of an oath, be supported by an unsworn declaration, provided that the typographical or facsimile signature of the declarant is affixed immediately below a declaration using substantially the following language: "I declare under penalty of perjury that everything I have stated in this document is true and correct." In addition to the signature, the date of signing and the county and state where the document was signed shall be noted on the document.(e) Certification; Retention. By electronically filing or serving a document Registered User is certifying compliance with the signature requirements of these rules for all signatures on the document, and the signatures on the document shall be considered the functional equivalent of original, handwritten signatures produced on paper.Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.04
Amended effective 7/1/2015.