Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County Document Filing Requirements

WARNING

Applies to

Agreed motion

Agreed motions must contain a motion indicating the parties' agreement, and they need not be scheduled for hearing unless the Court determines it necessary.

Agreed Motions must contain a motion indicating the agreement.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to compel discovery

Motions to compel discovery that trigger Local Rule 11 must use the court's standard form.

If Local Rule 11 is triggered, please use the standard form attached.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Notice setting hearing

A notice setting a Zoom hearing must include the Division 56 Zoom meeting link.

If you set a hearing via zoom, please use the following links for Division 56 and include the link in the Notice Setting Hearing:

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Notice of cancellation

When a matter is canceled, a Notice of Cancellation must be filed and the matter canceled on CMS (or chambers emailed if unable), and any court reporter and pro se parties must be informed.

If a matter is canceled for any reason, please file a Notice of Cancellation and cancel the matter on the Court Management System. If you are unable to cancel on CMS, please email us at div56@17th.flcourts.org and ask us to do so for you. Please copy the other side on all emails to us. Please let any court reporter know of the cancellation. Please make sure that pro se parties are informed regarding cancellations.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Agreed order

Agreed orders must be titled 'Agreed' and state in the body that the parties are in agreement.

If applicable, please make sure the Order is titled 'Agreed' and state that the parties are in agreement in the body of the Order.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Notice for trial

A Notice for Trial must indicate whether the case is set for a bench trial or a jury trial.

Please indicate bench trial or trial by jury.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Orders uploaded to CMS for signature must include the motion in the supporting documents.

Orders uploaded to CMS for signature shall include the Motion in supporting documents.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion for summary judgment

A summary judgment movant must identify each claim or defense (or part of each) on which summary judgment is sought.

A party moving for Summary Judgment shall identify each claim or defense-or part of each claim or defense- on which summary judgment is sought.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibit worksheet

All parties must complete the Clerk of Courts' Exhibit Worksheet prior to closing arguments.

All parties will be required to complete the Clerk of Courts "Exhibit Worksheet" prior to closing arguments using the PDF included herein.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Judgment on liquidated damages

Must include

certificate of service

Judgments on liquidated damages require proof of service, evidence of the debt, the complaint, and notice of hearing for entry of judgment.

For judgments on liquidated damages, the Court requires proof of service, evidence of the debt, the complaint, and notice of hearing for entry of judgment.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order motion to withdraw

If the withdrawing client is an entity, the proposed order must state that the entity must be represented by counsel who must file an appearance within 20 days or a default may be entered.

If the client is not an individual, please include a statement that the entity must be represented by counsel who must file an appearance within 20 days from the date of this order or a default may be entered.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Jury questionnaire

Jury questionnaires for prequalification must be titled only 'JURY QUESTIONNAIRE' without the case style or case number.

When prequalifying jurors please DO NOT WRITE THE CASE STYLE OR CASE NUMBER, just title it JURY QUESTIONNAIRE

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Agreed order

The sender of an agreed order must certify it is in fact agreed, and the order must contain the date of the hearing and type of motion.

The sender MUST certify the submitted order is in fact an agreed order, and must contain the date of the hearing and type of motion.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Notice of cancellation

When you file a Notice of Cancellation, the judge wants the notice to state the reason for the cancellation.

When you file a Notice of Cancellation, the judge wants the notice to state the reason for the cancellation.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders uploaded to the CMS Workbench must be accompanied by the motion and supporting documents uploaded under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.

When uploading proposed orders to the CMS Workbench, please attach the motion and supporting documents through the CMS portal under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.

WARNING

Applies to

Temporary relief hearing request

When requesting temporary support or time-sharing hearings, the parties must advise the Court whether mediation occurred and led to an impasse.

When requesting a hearing for temporary support and temporary time-sharing matters, the parties must advise the Court if mediation has occurred and led to an impasse.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of hearing

If opposing counsel does not respond within two full business days, the movant may set the hearing unilaterally and must note 'Set Unilaterally Pursuant to Judge Wigand's Procedures' on the Notice of Hearing.

If you have tried in good faith to coordinate a hearing and have not received a response from opposing counsel within two (2) full business days of your contact, you may set the hearing unilaterally. Please note on your Notice of Hearing: “Set Unilaterally Pursuant to Judge Wigand’s Procedures.”

WARNINGCriminal cases

Applies to

Order judgment

Orders and judgments from in-court hearings are presented to the Clerk immediately after the hearing.

Orders/Judgments for hearings held in Court are usually presented to the Clerk of Courts immediately after the hearing while in Court for the Judge to enter.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of cancellation

Parties should file a notice of cancellation if they have resolved the matter before the properly noticed hearing date.

Parties should file a notice of cancellation if they have resolved the matter before the properly noticed hearing date.

WARNING

Applies to

Written waiver of client presence

If an attorney waives a client's presence for any hearing, a written waiver that complies with the rules should be filed with the clerk.

If an attorney waives a client's presence for any hearing, a written waiver that complies with the rules should be filed with the clerk.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion for deposition

Must include

proposed order

If the ASA has no objections to a deposition motion, an agreed order must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant for review; if the ASA objects, a hearing must be set.

If the Assigned Assistant State Attorney has no objections, an AGREED ORDER shall be emailed to the Judicial Assistant for the Judge to review. If the ASA objects, a hearing shall be set.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Once the hearing date is confirmed, the moving party must complete a notice of hearing.

Once the date is confirmed, a notice of hearing shall be completed by the moving party.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of hearing

When the defendant is in custody, the party must advise the court when scheduling (by telephone or division email) and include that language in the notice of hearing.

If the defendant is in - custody, please advise when scheduling via telephone or to our division email and include language in notice of hearing.

WARNING

Applies to

Defendants request form

Unrepresented parties must submit a Defendants Request Form at the Clerk of Court's Office for any request they want the Judge to consider.

The Court is not permitted to engage in any ex-parte communication. Unrepresented parties should fill out a Defendants Request Form at the Clerk of Court's Office, for any request they would like the Judge to consider.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Hearing request email

Emails to the judges' office requesting a hearing must attach the petition/motion to be heard and state the requested hearing time.

Please attach the Petition/Motion to be heard and the requested time needed for the hearing when emailing the judges' office.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibits

IN PERSON PROCEEDINGS: Hard Copies should be brought to the Hearing, either previously marked or in preparation to be marked for evidence.

IN PERSON PROCEEDINGS: Hard Copies should be brought to the Hearing, either previously marked or in preparation to be marked for evidence.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed final judgment paternity

In paternity actions with full agreement, a proposed final judgment may be submitted through CMS without a hearing, with proof of the agreement and any child support worksheets attached.

In Paternity actions, if the parties have come to a full agreement, a proposed final judgment may be submitted through CMS without a hearing. Please include proof of the agreement as an attachment through the CMS portal under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, and, where applicable, child support guidelines worksheets and calculations pursuant to Florida law.

WARNING

Applies to

Order of referral to mediation

Court mediation requests require the Standard Mediation Form Order plus the parties' financial affidavits as supporting documents; cases with a default entered will not be referred to court mediation.

If you are requesting an order for Court Mediation, please upload the Standard Mediation Form Order to the CMS Workbench. The parties' Financial Affidavits must be uploaded through the CMS portal under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS for the Order of Referral to be issued by this Court. Please Note: The Court will not refer cases to Court Mediation if a default has been entered.

WARNING

Applies to

Temporary custody petition

Temporary custody petitioners must prove Florida residency, all relevant parties must provide valid ID before a final hearing, and the moving party must file the child's birth certificate with the petition.

The Petitioner(s) must provide proof that they are a Florida resident, either a valid Florida's driver's license or a corroborating witness affidavit. All relevant parties must provide a copy of a valid form of identification in advance of a final hearing. The moving party must file a copy of the minor child(ren)'s birth certificate with the petition.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order withdrawal of counsel

Consented withdrawal orders must include the client's name and current contact information, advise the client about retaining counsel or proceeding pro se and updating contact info, with the client's verification of consent uploaded as a supporting document.

The proposed order granting withdrawal must include: (1) the client's name; (2) the client's most recent physical and mailing addresses, e-mail address, and phone number; (3) advise the client they may retain new counsel at any time or proceed pro se; and advise the client they have a continuing obligation to keep their contact information up-to-date with the Clerk of the Courts. The client's verification of consent must be uploaded through the CMS portal under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

Exhibits uploaded to CMS supporting documents must include a descriptive name.

Exhibits uploaded to CMS under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS must include a descriptive name (i.e., Petitioner's Exhibit A: Affidavit of Boo Radley).

WARNING

Applies to

Mandatory disclosure

Each party to a family law case must provide mandatory disclosure documentation to the other party under Rule 12.285.

The Mandatory Disclosure Rule of the Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.285, requires that each party to a family law case provide certain documentation to the other party so that each will be fully informed about the financial circumstances of the other party.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order substitution of counsel

Substitution of counsel orders must name the incoming counsel, the party, and the withdrawing counsel, with the stipulation uploaded as a CMS supporting document.

The proposed order must include: (1) the name of the law firm and/or attorney that is to be substituted as counsel of record, (2) the name of the party (Plaintiff/Defendant), and (3) the name of the law firm and/or attorney that is to be withdrawn as counsel and shall bear no further responsibility in the matter. The stipulation of counsel must be uploaded through the CMS portal under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order appointing guardian ad litem

Proposed orders appointing Guardians Ad Litem must include the GAL's input before submission.

Proposed Orders appointing Guardians Ad Litem must include input from the Guardian Ad Litem before submission, not just from the parties and their counsel.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

Trial and hearing exhibits must be pre-marked using letter format (e.g., Petitioner's Exhibit A).

Please pre-mark your trial/hearing exhibits using letter format (i.e., Petitioner's Exhibit A for identification XXX).

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed final judgment

After the final hearing, the proposed final judgment must be submitted through CMS with the Driver's License attached as a supporting document.

Once the hearing is concluded, please submit the proposed final judgment through CMS and include the Driver's License as an attachment through the CMS portal under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.

WARNING

Applies to

Agreed order

Must include

proposed order

Upon agreement the parties must file an Agreed Order, and appearance is excused only if the Judge signs it before the hearing.

If you reach an agreement, please file the Agreed Order. If the Judge signs the Order prior to the hearing, you do not need to appear. However, if it is not signed you must attend.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of hearing

All notices of hearing must include Judge Peffer's Zoom link.

Please make sure to include Judge Peffer's zoom link on all notice of hearings.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

Must include

proposed order

If parties cannot agree on order wording, each party must email their own proposed order with a cover letter explaining the disagreements in PDF/Word format.

If the parties cannot agree on the wording of an order each party shall submit their own proposed order to the Judge via email with a cover letter explaining the areas of disagreement in PDF/Word format. The Judge will then select whichever order she feels most accurately reflects her ruling or draft a separate order if needed.

WARNING

Applies to

Joint pretrial stipulation

Parties under a trial order must file the Joint Pretrial Stipulation before submitting readiness for trial.

If you are under a Trial order, please make sure the Joint Pretrial Stipulation is filed to the Courts before submitting readiness for Trial.

WARNING

Applies to

Temporary custody hearing

Temporary custody petitioners must provide proof of Florida residency via valid Florida driver's license or corroborating witness affidavit.

The Petitioner(s) must provide proof that they are a Florida resident, either a valid Florida's driver's license or a corroborating witness affidavit.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A hearing may be set unilaterally after no response within two full business days or after three attempted coordination attempts, and the Notice of Hearing must state 'Set Unilaterally Pursuant To Judge Weiss' Procedures.'

If you have tried in good faith to coordinate a hearing, and have not received a response from opposing counsel within two (2) full business days of your contact, the hearing may be set unilaterally. If you are unable to coordinate a date and time for a hearing after three (3) attempts, then the matter may be set unilaterally. Please note on your Notice of Hearing: "Set Unilaterally Pursuant To Judge Weiss' Procedures."

WARNING

Applies to

Temporary relief hearing submissions

For temporary relief hearings, the Order of Referral to Mediation must be uploaded to the CMS Workbench and the parties' Financial Affidavits uploaded through the CMS portal.

Please upload the Order of Referral to Mediation (the parties may choose the Mediator) to the CMS Workbench. The parties' Financial Affidavits must be uploaded through the CMS portal under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

Each exhibit referenced in a proposed order must be clearly identified for the Court.

Each exhibit referenced must be clearly identified for the Court.