Custodian Of Medical Records Laws in Florida

Florida

Medical Records Custodian & Retention Laws

Are you planning to close your medical practice or retire?
Morgan Records Management (MRM) is the top choice for managing medical records in the US, and we’re here to help! Our team will guide you through every step of the process to ensure a smooth transition.

Morgan Records Management:

Has over 25 years of experience with Providers in ALL 50 States!
Handles 3,000-4,000 Patient Record Requests a month
Manages over 1,500 Physician Practices Nationwide
Assists in Notifying Patients of the Practice Closing - Via Email and Closing Practice Letters
Offers Secure Physical and or Digital Storage of Records
Is Fully HIPAA Compliant
Is Responsible for over 15 million Patient Records
Assumes Custody of Physician’s Website and Handles all Patient Communications

Florida Medical Record Retention Law:
Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B8-10.002

Adult patients: At least 5 years.
Patients who were minors: No separate minors period in this rule.
The retention period runs from: The last patient contact.
The rule is titled 'Medical Records of Physicians Relocating or Terminating Practice' - it is written for exactly this situation.
Florida's malpractice limitation period effectively argues for 7 years.

If you are closing, selling or relocating your practice
Florida sets out what has to happen to patient records. The points below are taken from the source above.

On terminating, selling or relocating a practice, PUBLISH notice once each week for FOUR CONSECUTIVE WEEKS
Publish in the newspaper of greatest general circulation in EACH county where the physician practices or practiced, AND in a local newspaper serving the immediate practice area
The notice must state the date of termination/sale/relocation AND an address at which the records may be obtained
SUBMIT A COPY OF THE NOTICE TO THE FLORIDA BOARD OF MEDICINE WITHIN ONE MONTH of the termination, sale or relocation
Optional (not required): office signage and letters to patients about the change and their right to transfer or receive records
Records remain confidential and are to be kept in the physician's office or possession

Florida closing-practice checklist
The same requirements as a checklist you can print and work through, with the retention periods, the notice each rule requires and what you may charge for copies.
Open the Florida checklist →

Cost

$1.00 per page for paper; up to $2.00 for non-paper formats; up to $1.00 per year of records (s.395.3025).

Verified September 2026

Also referred to above
Fla. Stat. s.458.331(1)(m)

This page summarises the source above and is not legal advice. Retention periods change and several states adjust their copying fees every year, so confirm the current text before you rely on a date or a figure.