Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

All hearing and conference notices and orders must contain the prescribed ADA accommodation notice language.

All matters noticed or ordered for a hearing or conference before a judge or quasi-judicial officer or court administration program shall contain, in boldface, 14- point Times New Roman or Courier font, the following: American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A). If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator, Room 20140, 201 S.E. Sixth Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301, 954-831-7721 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification. If the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days. If you have a hearing or voice disability you can contact the court through the Florida Relay Service by calling 711.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Stipulation of substitution of counsel

Must include

proposed order

An executed Stipulation of Counsel must be e-filed. A copy of the e-filed Stipulation and a Proposed Order should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.

An executed Stipulation of Counsel must be e-filed. A copy of the e-filed Stipulation and a Proposed Order should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Unopposed motion

Unopposed motions must include the language 'Unopposed Motion' in the motion's title.

** UNOPPOSED Motions must contain the language "Unopposed Motion" in the title of the Motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to withdraw

Must include

certificate of service

Motions to withdraw and notices of hearing must include a certificate of service to the defendant showing the defendant's full address and manner of delivery; the Court will not hear the motion without proper notice.

All Motions to Withdraw and Notice of Hearing must include: 1. Certificate of service to the Defendant; 2. Include the full address of where Notice is being sent to Defendant; 3. Manner of delivery (Email address, Physical address and U.S. Mail, FedEx, UPS, etc. and/or Hand Delivery). The Court will not hear any Motion to Withdraw without proper notice.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Change of plea documents

Defendants must upload a fully executed and notarized plea form, and an acceptable fingerprint card for adjudications, before the Zoom change-of-plea hearing.

Defendant must upload a fully executed and notarized plea form. Additionally, Defendant must submit an acceptable fingerprint card when the plea is an adjudication. These must be uploaded prior to the Zoom hearing on the change of plea.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Waiver of appearance

Defendants must appear in person at all calendar call hearings unless a properly executed Waiver of Appearance is timely filed with the Clerk's Office.

Defendants are required to appear in-person for any and all Calendar Call Hearings unless a properly executed Waiver Of Appearance is timely filed with the Clerk's Office.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Zoom hearing request

Zoom hearing requests must be accompanied by a Motion for Zoom and the underlying motion, both of which must be sent in advance to opposing counsel.

All requests for zoom must be accompanied by a Motion for Zoom, with the corresponding underlying motion. The request for zoom hearing and underlying motion shall be sent in advance to the opposing counsel.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to continue

Must include

certificate of conference

Counsel must confer with opposing counsel before filing a Motion to Continue and state the results of the conferral on the Motion.

Counsel is required to confer with opposing counsel prior to filing a Motion to Continue and must state on the Motion the results of the conferral.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Notices of hearing must state the hearing date, time, and length of time set aside; hearings will not be set without a Notice of Hearing from the parties.

The Notice shall include the date and time of the hearing and the length of time set aside for the hearing. Hearings WILL NOT be set without a Notice of Hearing from the parties.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to continue

Must include

proposed order

A Proposed Order must accompany the emailed copy of a continuance motion sent to the Judicial Assistant.

A Proposed Order must accompany the emailed copy sent to the Judicial Assistant.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

All hearing notices and orders must contain the prescribed ADA accommodation notice language, including the ADA Coordinator's contact information and the 7-day advance request instruction.

American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.). If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator, Room 20140, 201 S.E. Sixth Street, For Lauderdale, Florida 33301, 954-831-7721 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days. If you have a hearing or voice disability you can contact the court through the Florida Relay Service by calling 711.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for depositions

Deposition motions must identify each witness to be deposed and the good cause for each deposition.

The motion must identify the witness to be deposed and the good cause for each witness to be deposed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for depositions

Must include

certificate of conference

Counsel must confer with opposing counsel before filing a Motion for Depositions and state the conferral results on the Motion.

Counsel is required to confer with opposing counsel prior to filing a Motion for Depositions and must state on the Motion the results of the conferral.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Unopposed motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Unopposed motions must contain a certification at the end stating that the movant conferred with the opposing party and whether the parties agree on resolution.

Unopposed Motions: Must contain a certification at the end of the Motion. The movant must: (i) certify that the movant has conferred with the opposing party AND (ii) State whether the parties agree on the resolution of all or part of the Motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

The Notice of Hearing must state the hearing date, time, and length of time set aside, and hearings will not be set without a Notice of Hearing from the parties.

The Notice shall include the date and time of the hearing and the length of time set aside for the hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Unopposed motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Unopposed motions must contain a certification at the end stating that the movant conferred with the opposing party and whether the parties agree on resolution of all or part of the motion.

Must contain a certification at the end of the Motion. The movant must: (i) certify that the movant has conferred with the opposing party AND (ii) State whether the parties agree on the resolution of all or part of the Motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Agreed order

Agreed orders submitted with agreed motions must contain the language 'Agreed Order' in the heading.

Submitted with Agreed Motions must contain the language "Agreed Order" in the heading and should be submitted with supporting documentation to the Court's CMS workbench or via email to divmq@17th.flcourts.org in PDF format.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for continuance

Must include

proposed order

A motion for continuance must be submitted to the Court with an attached order.

Must be submitted to the Court with an attached Order on or before the Wednesday prior to the Calendar Call.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Unopposed motion

Unopposed motions must include the language 'Unopposed Motion' in the title of the motion.

** UNOPPOSED Motions must contain the language "Unopposed Motion" in the title of the Motion.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Notice of readiness for trial

Parties seeking to set an adversarial matter for final hearing or trial must file a Notice of Readiness for Trial.

The parties seeking to set the matter for Final Hearing/Trial must file a Notice of Readiness for Trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Emergency motion

Emergency motions must be styled as 'Emergency,' contain a detailed summary of the emergency circumstances, be verified, and include a good-faith certification by counsel or the filing party.

If an emergency matter arises, any party may request an emergency hearing be set forthwith to address the emergency. The motion shall be styled as an "Emergency" and the body of the motion shall be comprised of a detailed summary of the circumstances constituting the emergency. The emergency motion shall be verified and include a certification by counsel or any party filing such motion that the motion is an "emergency" and that counsel or any party is acting in good faith in seeking such relief.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Notice of hearing

All parties must file a Notice of Hearing for any hearing set before the Court.

All parties are required to file a Notice of Hearing for any hearing set before the Court, and notice all parties. The automated notification is not sufficient.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Submitting an order through a CMS portal constitutes an affirmation that the matter is uncontested, all interested parties were served notice, and no objection has been received.

The submission of an order to either the CMS proposed order portal or agreed order portal shall be considered an affirmation that the matter is uncontested, that all interested parties have been served notice of the petition/motion to be ruled upon, and that no notification has been received that any interested party objects to the entry of the proposed/agreed order.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

The petition/motion and all required supporting documents with e-filing reference numbers must be uploaded as 'other attachments' to the proposed/agreed order submission, or the order may be rejected.

(d) The uncontested petition and/or motion and all required supporting documents with efiling reference numbers on the face of the document, shall be uploaded as supporting documents as "other attachments" to the submission of the proposed/agreed order. Failure to upload all necessary supporting documents may result in a proposed/agreed order being rejected.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition for appointment of guardian

Guardian appointment petitions cannot be submitted for review until the proposed guardian's credit and criminal investigation is completed, approved, and on the docket; if not approved or if contested, the matter must be set for hearing.

Appointment of Guardian(s): A Petition for Appointment of Guardian shall not be submitted to the Court for review unless the proposed guardian's credit and criminal investigation is completed, approved, and appears on the docket. If the proposed guardian's credit and criminal investigation is not approved, or if the Petition for Appointment of Guardian is contested, that matter shall be set for hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for remote appearance

Remote appearances require a properly filed motion set on UMC in advance; parties may not stipulate among themselves to appear via Zoom.

Parties, counsel, and witnesses, however, are required to appear in-person when mandated by Division Procedures or when ordered by the Court. The parties may not stipulate or otherwise agree among themselves to appear via Zoom. If remote appearance is requested for any party, counsel, or witness, a motion must be properly filed and set on UMC pursuant to Local Rule 10(a) in advance of the hearing or trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Foreign language document or exhibit

Non-English documents or exhibits must include a certified complete English translation or they will not be considered and may not be admitted into evidence.

Any document or exhibit written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a complete English translation prepared and certified by a qualified translator. Foreign-language documents submitted without a certified English translation will not be considered by the Court and may not be admitted into evidence.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed final judgment

Proposed final judgments must include the date of the final hearing or they will be rejected.

The proposed final judgment must include the date of the final hearing or it will be rejected.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Certificate of conferral

Must include

certificate of conference

A certificate of conferral with specified language is required before setting a hearing on any properly filed motion; in Division 37 conferral means oral communication (in-person, video, or telephone), not just e-mail.

As of October 31, 2025, in accordance with Local Rule 10A and in compliance with Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.202, the parties are required to include a certificate of conferral stating the following prior to setting a hearing on a properly filed motion: "I certify that prior to filing this motion, I discussed the relief requested in this motion by [method of communication and date] with the opposing counsel/party and [the opposing counsel/party (agrees or disagrees) on the resolution of all or part of the motion] OR [the opposing counsel/party did not respond (describing with particularity the efforts undertaken to accomplish dialogue with the opposing counsel/party prior to filing the motion)]."

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed final judgment

Proposed final judgments in cases with minor children must include a parenting plan conforming to Form 12.995(a) and, where applicable, child support guidelines worksheets and calculations.

In all cases involving minor children, any proposed final judgment shall also include a proposed parenting plan in substantial conformity with Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.995(a), and, where applicable, child support guidelines worksheets and calculations pursuant to Florida law.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Physical evidence

Physical evidence must be presented as hard copies or on a USB drive at the hearing; displaying devices or emailing/uploading materials does not constitute entry of evidence.

Parties/counsel are required to present physical evidence, such as photographs and/or videos, as hard copies or on a USB drive at the time of the hearing. Showing the contents of a phone, laptop, or tablet, will not constitute the entry of evidence. Please be advised that e-mailing materials to the Judicial Assistant, uploading them to the docket or CMS, or filing them with the Clerk of the Courts is insufficient for purposes of entering evidence.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders must contain hearing date(s), motion title(s), motion filing date, other pertinent dates, clearly identified exhibits, and filed transcripts for any referenced depositions/hearings, or they may be rejected.

ALL proposed orders must contain the hearing date(s), the title of the motion(s) heard, the date such motion was filed, and any other pertinent date. Each exhibit referenced must be clearly identified for the Court. If a deposition, hearing, or trial transcript is referenced, a complete copy of the transcript must be filed in the Court record. Failure to include such information may result in this Court rejecting the proposed order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Agreed proposed order

Agreed proposed orders must include verification of the opposing party's review and agreement (in the body or as a supporting document) or they will be rejected.

All AGREED proposed orders must include a verification that the proposed agreed order has been reviewed by the opposing counsel/party and the opposing counsel/party agrees with the proposed order or the proposed order shall be rejected. The verification may be in the body of the proposed order or attached through the CMS portal under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (e.g., cover letter, e-mail, other correspondence indicating agreement). Failure to include such verification will result in a rejection of the proposed agreed order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed final judgment rucd

The RUCD proposed order must be titled FINAL JUDGMENT OF DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE BY AFFIDAVIT or it will be rejected.

The proposed order must contain the order title of: FINAL JUDGMENT OF DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE BY AFFIDAVIT or it will be rejected.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Notices of hearing must state the date, time, and location (including Zoom instructions for Zoom hearings) and be filed with the Clerk.

All notices of hearing shall set forth the date and time of the hearing and the hearing location instructions and shall be filed with the Clerk of the Courts. If your hearing is by Zoom, you must include the Zoom instructions in your Notice of Hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders must include all applicable statutory factors and the Court's specific findings or they may be rejected.

All proposed orders must include all relevant factors the Court must evaluate pursuant to Florida Statutes and the specific findings made by the Court. Failure to include the statutory factors may result in this Court rejecting the proposed order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Emergency motion

Emergency motions must include a certification by counsel or the pro se party that the motion meets the emergency definitions and is brought in good faith.

All emergency motions MUST include a certification by counsel or the party pro se that the motion qualifies under one of the above definitions AND is brought in good faith.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of readiness for trial

The Notice of Readiness for Trial must include estimated trial length, witness and expert counts, remaining disputed issues, and confirmation that affidavits and mandatory disclosure certificates are filed.

In the Notice of Readiness for Trial, please include the following: The approximate length of trial; The approximate number of witnesses to be called at trial; The approximate number of expert witnesses to be called at trial; The remaining disputed issues; and All necessary affidavits and certificates of compliance with mandatory disclosure have been filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A hearing may be set unilaterally if no response is received within two full business days or after three good-faith attempts, and the Notice of Hearing must state 'Set Unilaterally Pursuant to Judge Kanner's Procedures.'

If, after making a good-faith effort to confer regarding a mutually agreeable hearing date and time, you do not receive a response from opposing counsel or the self-represented party within two (2) full business days of your communication, or you have made at least three (3) good-faith attempts to coordinate the hearing without successfully obtaining a mutually agreeable date and time, you may set the hearing unilaterally. The Notice of Hearing must state: "Set Unilaterally Pursuant to Judge Kanner's Procedures."

CRITICAL

Applies to

Rucd final judgment submission

RUCD requests require uploading the petition/counter-petition, answer or waiver, any default order, marital settlement agreement/parenting plan with worksheets, UCCJEA affidavits if children, financial affidavits, valid photo ID, and a signed and notarized Supplemental Sworn Affidavit via CMS supporting documents.

Prior to requesting dissolution by affidavit the following documents must be submitted to the Court through the CMS portal under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Financial affidavit

Each party in cases involving child support, alimony, or equitable distribution must file a financial affidavit.

Each party involved in a family law case where child support, alimony, or equitable distribution is at issue must file a financial affidavit. This includes cases involving dissolution of marriage, paternity, or support.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Must include

certificate of conference

No hearing will be set without a certificate of conferral.

NO HEARINGS WILL BE SET WITHOUT A CERTIFICATE OF CONFERRAL.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

After three unsuccessful good-faith attempts to coordinate, a party may unilaterally set a hearing, and the notice must be marked as unilaterally set with supporting correspondence attached.

It is mandatory that all parties consult with one another regarding their availability. However, if after three (3) reasonable good faith attempts were unsuccessful, a party may unilaterally set a hearing. Once the hearing has been set the Notice of Hearing must indicate that it is a Unilaterally Set hearing and please attach the correspondence supporting the attempts to coordinate the hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to withdraw as attorney

Must include

certificate of service

A Motion to Withdraw must include the client's contact information in the motion text and in the certificate of service for both the motion and the notice of hearing.

When filing a Motion to Withdraw as Attorney of Record, you are required to include the client's contact information, including address and e-mail address if any, within the text of the Motion. You are also required to serve on your client a copy of the Motion to Withdraw and a Notice of Hearing. You must include your client's name and contact information in the certificate of service for both the Motion to Withdraw and the Notice of Hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for continuance

Must include

proposed order

A Motion for Continuance must be filed and a proposed order uploaded.

A Motion must be filed. A proposed order must be uploaded.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Any filed paper

Must include

ai disclosure

Any filing prepared with AI must include a clear factual disclosure of AI use and a certification that all citations to the law or record were verified as accurate.

If any attorney for a party or a pro se party has used Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the preparation of any complaint, answer, motion, brief, or other paper filed with the Court, assigned to Judge Peffer, MUST in a clear and plain factual statement, disclose that AI has been used in any way in the filing, and CERTIFY that each and every citation to the law or the record in the paper, has been verified as accurate, the order stated.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order motion to withdraw

The proposed order on a motion to withdraw must include the client's contact information and 30-day notice to retain new counsel or be deemed pro se.

Your proposed order must include your client's contact information and indicate that your client has 30 days to retain new counsel and have counsel file a notice of appearance or your client shall be deemed to be proceeding pro-se unless the party must be represented per the rules of civil procedure.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for remote appearance

Must include

proposed order

Phone and /or Video Conference appearance may be permitted; however, the movant must e-file a written motion prior to the hearing and secure an order via the e-order service or directly to chambers permitting remote appearance.

Phone and /or Video Conference appearance may be permitted; however, the movant must e-file a written motion prior to the hearing and secure an order via the e-order service or directly to chambers permitting remote appearance.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Emergency motion

Emergency motions must comply with Administrative Order 2021-51-CO, including submission of a Request for Emergency Relief; a bare email claiming emergency is insufficient.

Please do not simply email the Court stating that you have an emergency. You must comply with the requirements of Administrative Order 2021-51-CO, Circuit and County Civil and Probate Emergency Matters, “including the submission of a “ Request for Emergency Relief.”

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for substitution of counsel

Substitution of counsel requires the client's written consent and a certification by new counsel that they reviewed the docket and spoke with all counsel of record.

The Court will not grant a substitution of counsel unless client's written consent is obtained, and new counsel certifies, “I have reviewed the Court docket in this file and have spoken with all counsel of record. I am aware of all pending hearings, depositions and other deadlines that are set in this case.” See Rule 2.505(e)(2)