Judge Michelle Vitt Baker
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Amended Notice Of Hearing, Cross Notice Of Hearing
Court-wideMotion
Court-wide- Within 10 Days After Service
Notice Of Hearing
Court-wideObjection To Order Of Referral To General Magistrate
Court-wide- 1 copy • Email
Adjournments
Court-wideRequest must include
Communication
Chambers
Clerk
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Document Format Requirements11 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
Exhibits must be provided to the Court as printed hard copies; video or audio recordings must be on a labeled compact or digital video disk, and digital or electronic-format exhibits are not accepted.
a. Each party shall provide the Court with hard-copy, printed exhibits. If an exhibit consists of a video or audio recording, it shall be submitted to the Court on a compact disk or digital video disk. The face of the disk shall bear the case number and exhibit label as described below. The Court will no longer accept exhibits in digital or electronic format
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
Orders submitted after a hearing: send to the JA, via email, complete with signature and date lines for the Court. Please indicate the date of hearing in the email. Also, No CODES in orders submitted via email.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
FILING REQUIREMENTS • Each filing must contain a Cover Letter and only one proposed order.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
b. An exhibit sticker shall be places in the lower right-hand corner (or as close thereto as is possible without interfering with the text or substance of the document).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
Exhibit stickers must identify the party and exhibit letter, and each label must state the case number and hearing date.
Each sticker shall state “Petitioner’s Exhibit *” or “Respondent’s Exhibit *” with “*” being each letter of the alphabet beginning with the letter “A.” When/If you get to “Z” on your exhibits, you will continue with “AA,” etc. d. Each label shall state the case number and date of the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
Exhibits must be Bates stamped, and the index must identify each exhibit by its letter and stamped number series.
All of the exhibits shall be Bates stamped for easier identification. The index shall identify the exhibit, with the corresponding exhibit letter and the dates stamped number series for each such exhibit. (Example: Petitioner’s Exhibit A – Petitioner’s Financial Affidavit – 1 – 13).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
Please provide case law and exhibits to the Judicial Assistant at least 5 days prior to the hearing. Hard Copies must be submitted. They are not permitted via email.
Paper
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
Use the phrase “Done and Ordered” as the last portion of the order for the Judge’s signature and date codes. The Date and Signature codes must be on their own line and in
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
There can be no characters or verbiage or use of the tab key or space bar before or after the codes.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
all Capital letters with all four letters in each field. The Signature code, JJJJ, must be aligned left or center or right.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
COVER LETTER PDF format • PROPOSED ORDER Word document (.docx extension). No additional formatting – text boxes, macros, headers, footers, etc.
Document Filing Requirements15 rules
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
If you are cancelling a hearing, you MUST immediately contact the JA via email to cancel the hearing and then immediately file a notice of cancellation.
DocumentNotice Of Cancellation
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
Once a date is coordinated, please email the JA to confirm and set hearing. Please include in the notice of hearing the teams link and the physical court address.
DocumentNotice Of Hearing
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
Orders must include the specified certification language, and the moving party must serve non-registered self-represented parties by first-class U.S. mail within five days of e-service and file counsel’s signed certificate of delivery.
Orders must also contain the following language: I HERBY CERTIFY that copies have been furnished via e-service only MMMM. Moving party is responsible for service of all non- registered pro-se parties and/or within 5 days from the date of eservice of this Order/Judgment the Plaintiff shall: Furnish a copy of this Order/Judgment to each self- represented party by US Mail, first class, postage paid; and, file a certificate signed by Counsel that delivery of the Order/Judgment as been made as set forth herein.
DocumentOrder
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
Brevard e-portal filings require DJMCA codes on proposed orders.
DocumentProposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
If you are submitting an Order resulting from a ruling made at a hearing, please email the Order (with NO CODES, complete with Done and Ordered and the Judge’s signature line) to the Judicial Assistant: lisa.walters@flcourts18.org
DocumentOrder
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
Motion for Substitution of Counsel (signed by both the party and counsel).
DocumentMotion For Substitution Of Counsel
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
Stipulated Orders/Final Judgments: The Stipulation, signed by both parties, should be e-filed with the Clerk prior to submitting the proposed document.
DocumentStipulation
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
If party is pro se, and no email address has been provided, please include the following on the notice: The physical Court address and teams link information.
DocumentNotice Of Hearing
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
All submissions shall include an index of the exhibits.
DocumentExhibits
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
The moving party shall be responsible for preparation of any orders following the hearing, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
DocumentOrder
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
All such orders shall be submitted for review to the opposing party prior to submitting the same to the Court.
DocumentOrder
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
The case style must reference to the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, i.e., IN THE COUNT COURT OF THE 18TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA.
DocumentProposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
Motion to Withdraw (as long as the Client consents).
DocumentMotion To Withdraw
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
When a notice for trial, specify the amount of time requested; forward a copy directly to the JA
DocumentNotice For Trial
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
Failure to do so may result in your hearing being canceled or being reset.
DocumentUncontested Dissolution Hearing Request
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
The listed matters may be submitted through the portal without being set for a hearing.
The following matters do not need to be set for a hearing and may be submitted through the portal.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 5 | Matters Not Requiring a Hearing
Proposed orders other than those submitted after a hearing by email must be e-filed through the portal’s Proposed Documents section using the specified Brevard County and Viewer/Judicial selections.
All other proposed orders must be e-filed through the Proposed Documents section of the portal in the jurisdictional map; choose Brevard County from the drop-down menu and select Viewer/Judicial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 4 | Preparation of Orders
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Exhibits must be delivered to the Court at least three business days before the hearing begins.
Exhibits shall be delivered to the Court at least three (3) business days before the scheduled commencement date of the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 2 | EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS
Do not submit a proposed order until the clerk’s office has accepted the documents.
Please DO NOT submit proposed order until after your documents have been accepted by the clerk’s office.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 5 | Preparation of Orders
The stipulation for a stipulated order or final judgment should be e-filed with the Clerk before the proposed document is submitted.
Stipulated Orders/Final Judgments: The Stipulation, signed by both parties, should be e-filed with the Clerk prior to submitting the proposed document.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 5 | Matters Not Requiring a Hearing
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The moving party must ensure non-registered self-represented parties receive the order by first-class U.S. mail within five days of e-service, and counsel must file a signed certificate of delivery.
Moving party is responsible for service of all non- registered pro-se parties and/or within 5 days from the date of eservice of this Order/Judgment the Plaintiff shall: Furnish a copy of this Order/Judgment to each self- represented party by US Mail, first class, postage paid; and, file a certificate signed by Counsel that delivery of the Order/Judgment as been made as set forth herein.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 4 | Preparation of Orders
The party scheduling a hearing must notify the other party even after the court has entered a default.
A party scheduling the hearing shall provide notice to the other party even if a default has been entered by the Court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 3 | Notice of Hearings
The filer must select themself in the e-service list.
Filer must select himself/herself in the e-service list.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 4 | Preparation of Orders
The parties must exchange exhibits and confer about each exhibit's admissibility at least five full business days before the hearing; reaching agreement is encouraged.
The parties must exchange exhibits and confer about the admissibility of each exhibit at least five (5) full business days prior to the hearing; The parties are encouraged to reach an agreement as to the admissibility of all evidence.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 2 | EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS
Chambers Communication Rules
When cancelling a hearing, immediately email the Judicial Assistant and immediately file a notice of cancellation.
If you are cancelling a hearing, you MUST immediately contact the JA via email to cancel the hearing and then immediately file a notice of cancellation.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 2 | CANCELLING HEARINGS
An order resulting from a hearing ruling must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at the stated address.
If you are submitting an Order resulting from a ruling made at a hearing, please email the Order (with NO CODES, complete with Done and Ordered and the Judge’s signature line) to the Judicial Assistant: lisa.walters@flcourts18.org
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 5 | Orders Resulting from a Hearing
If cancelling a hearing within five days of its date, contact the Judicial Assistant because the docket will already be prepared.
If you are cancelling a hearing within 5 days from the date of the hearing, please contact the JA since dockets will already be prepared for the Judge.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 2 | CANCELLING HEARINGS
To schedule a hearing, email the Judicial Assistant the specified case and hearing details, coordinate a date, and email to confirm it.
Please contact the Judicial Assistant at the above email address and provide the following information: Case number, Case Style, Motion to be heard, amount of time being requested, whether the hearing will be in person, or virtual and opposing counsel, if any. The JA will respond with available hearing time to coordinate with opposing. Once a date is coordinated, please email the JA to confirm and set hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 2 | PROCEDURES FOR SCHEDULING HEARINGS
For an uncontested dissolution of marriage hearing request, contact the Pro Se Coordinator several days before the hearing to review and confirm that the required documents are complete.
On Uncontested Dissolution of Marriage hearing requests, you must contact the Pro Se Coordinator at the Clerk's office to review and confirm you have all the needed documents and paperwork required to go forward on the hearing several days prior to the hearing date. The Pro Se Coordinator can be reached at: prosecoordinator@brevardclerk.us
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 3 | Special Set Hearings
Before the small claims date, contact the Clerk by email to obtain the docket number for each case you will appear on or cover.
Prior to the small claims date: You must contact the Clerk by email to obtain the docket number for the case(s) that you are appearing on or covering. The Court will ask for the docket number when addressing your case. The Clerk can be contacted at: VieraCivilCourtClerks@brevardclerk.us
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 6 | Small Claims – Pretrial Conference
If the parties agree on an order’s language, they may submit it to the court by email to the Judge’s Judicial Assistant.
If the parties agree to the language of an order, it may be submitted to the Court via email to the Judge’s JA
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 4 | Preparation of Orders
For eviction and uncontested dissolution of marriage special-set hearings, parties may email the Judicial Assistant for a hearing time, and all parties must be included in the correspondence.
You may contact the Judicial Assistant for hearing time by email regarding these case types. All parties much be included in the correspondence to the Judicial Assistant.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 3 | Special Set Hearings