Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union Counties Document Format Requirements

WARNING

Remote hearing participants should maintain courtroom decorum, use a quiet setting with minimal distractions and a neutral background if possible, and dress as they would for court.

Although the hearing is being conducted virtually, proper courtroom decorum should be maintained. Participants should be in a quiet setting and minimize any external distractions. Be aware of what is behind you and choose a solid neutral wall, if possible. Please dress like you are coming to the courthouse.

WARNING

A proposed order without a hearing may be submitted in Microsoft Word with a cover letter copied to opposing counsel and unrepresented parties.

Proposed Orders without a hearing may be submitted to the Court in Microsoft Word with a cover letter, which must be copied to all opposing counsel/unrepresented parties.

WARNING

Proposed orders should not contain argument.

Proposed orders should not contain argument.

WARNING

Participants should expect delays and remain in the remote hearing.

Due to the number of hearings, please expect delays and remain in the hearing.

WARNING

Remote participants should maintain courtroom decorum, minimize distractions, use a neutral background if possible, and dress as they would for court.

Although the hearing is being conducted virtually, proper courtroom decorum should be maintained. Participants should be in a quiet setting and minimize any external distractions. Be aware of what is behind you and choose a solid neutral wall, if possible. Please dress like you are coming to the courthouse.

WARNING

All parties must follow The Florida Bar Best Practices Guide for Remote Conferences.

All parties shall be familiar with and follow the procedures set forth in The Florida Bar Best Practices Guide for Remote Conferences.

WARNING

Parties should use the hearing link to join before the hearing’s start time.

All parties should use the link to join the hearing prior to the start time.

WARNING

A proposed Order without a hearing may be submitted in Microsoft Word with a cover letter copied to all opposing counsel and unrepresented parties.

Proposed Orders without a hearing may be submitted to the Court in Microsoft Word with a cover letter, which must be copied to all opposing counsel/unrepresented parties.

WARNING

If all parties before the Court are using e-Portal, the proposed Order may be emailed to the Court in Microsoft Word format;

If all parties before the Court are using e-Portal, the proposed Order may be emailed to the Court in Microsoft Word format;

WARNING

Participants must review and comply with the Court’s Zoom procedures.

Please review and comply with the Zoom procedures which may be found at: https://circuit8.org/zoom-guidelines/

WARNINGCivil cases

Once the Amended Motion is filed you may submit a proposed order via E-mail in Word format.

Once the Amended Motion is filed you may submit a proposed order via E-mail in Word format.

WARNING

Participants will need a computer with a webcam and microphone (preferred) or a tablet with Internet access to the Zoom application.

Participants will need a computer with a webcam and microphone (preferred) or a tablet with Internet access to the Zoom application.

WARNING

Participants should expect delays and remain in the remote hearing.

Due to the number of hearings, please expect delays and remain in the hearing.

WARNING

Proposed orders should not include argument.

Proposed orders should not contain argument.

WARNING

You may provide via e-mail only proposed orders which must be submitted in PDF format.

You may provide via e-mail only proposed orders which must be submitted in PDF format.

WARNING

Leave the 2-by-3.5-inch box blank and do not add the lines shown to depict its size.

Per the Clerk of Court, this 2” x 3.5” box shall be left blank. You DO NOT need to add the vertical and horizontal lines that constitute this box. These lines were only added to portray the size of the box on this document.

WARNING

Format

PAPER

Hearing materials must be submitted as paper copies, which may be sent by delivery service or hand-delivered to the courthouse.

Any documentation (i.e. evidence, case law, memorandum, etc.) that you would like the Court to consider for your hearing must be received in paper copy by 4:00pm at least 5 business days prior to the hearing. Any late submissions may delay a ruling in your case or may not be considered. Paper copies may be sent via delivery service (Fed Ex, UPS, US Mail, etc.) or may be hand delivered to the courthouse.

WARNING

A proposed order sent by U.S. Mail or email must be in PDF format.

Do not send proposed orders by United States Mail or email unless the proposed order is in PDF format.

WARNING

Evidence and documents presented at a hearing must be pre-marked for identification.

If you intend to present any evidence or documents to the court at your hearing, you must pre-mark all items for identification (ex. Plaintiff’s A,B, C, etc.) and serve a copy to all parties using the e-portal no less than three (3) business days prior to the hearing (or by the date listed in your specific order).

WARNING

If a Zoom display does not show your name, change it so the Court can identify you.

If your zoom does not show your name, then please change your name on zoom so the Court can identify who you are.

WARNING

Provide each case or document as a separate file.

Each case or document should be provided as a separate file.

WARNING

Litigants should highlight the portions of a law or case that they consider pertinent to the issues.

Litigants should highlight the parts of a law or case that they believe are pertinent to the issues at hand.

WARNING

Provide each case or document as a separate file.

Each case or document should be provided as a separate file.

WARNING

Do not send electronic devices such as videos or flash drives to the Court by U.S. Mail; a physical copy may be submitted at the hearing or trial.

The Court will not accept electronic devices (i.e., videos, flash drives, etc.) sent via US Mail; you may submit a physical copy at hearing/trial.

WARNING

For parties who have not consented to email service, provide stamped, blank, unaddressed envelopes to the Judicial Assistant by mail or hand delivery, clipped together with a sticky note stating the case name and number.

If there are parties who have not consented to use of e-mail service, stamped envelopes should be mailed or hand delivered to the Judicial Assistant, Amber Allen. Please clip the envelopes together, along with a sticky note that indicates the case name and case number. PLEASE DO NOT ADDRESS THE ENVELOPES; LEAVE THE ENVELOPES BLANK BUT BE SURE TO ADD THE PROPER POSTAGE.

WARNING

Format

PDF

Any proposed order sent by United States Mail or email must be in PDF format.

Do not send proposed orders by United States Mail or email unless the proposed order is in PDF format.

WARNING

Virtual-hearing participants should maintain courtroom decorum, use a quiet setting, minimize distractions, and dress as they would for court.

Proper courtroom decorum should be maintained in virtual hearings. Participants should be in a quiet setting and minimize any external distractions and dress as if they were coming to the courthouse.

WARNING

Applies to

Digital exhibits

Do not send electronic devices to the Court by U.S. mail; a physical copy may be submitted at the hearing or trial.

The Court will not accept electronic devices (i.e., videos, flash drives, etc.) sent via US Mail; you may submit a physical copy at hearing/trial.

WARNING

Each case or document should be provided as a separate file.

Each case or document should be provided as a separate file.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

Format

DOCX

Proposed orders should be submitted in Microsoft Word format, except agreed final judgments with attachments.

All proposed orders should be sent in Microsoft Word format (unless it is an agreed final judgment with attachments).

WARNING

Equitable Distribution Worksheets must be provided as Microsoft Excel documents.

Equitable Distribution Worksheets shall be provided in a Microsoft Excel document(s) prior to the Final Hearing.

WARNING

Label exhibits using the Petitioner/Plaintiff or Respondent/Defendant numbering format.

Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: Petitioner/Plaintiff 1 or Respondent/Defendant 1.

WARNING

Orders must leave a blank space measuring 2 by 3.5 inches in the upper-right corner of the first page.

All orders shall have a 2” by 3.5″ blank space on the first page of the order in the upper right-hand corner.

WARNING

Exhibits should be pre-marked with a letter for identification.

All exhibits should be pre-marked with a letter for identification.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

Exhibits should be pre-marked with an identification letter.

All exhibits should be pre-marked with a letter for identification.

WARNING

Applies to

Order

Every order must leave a 2-by-3.5-inch blank space in the upper-right corner of its first page.

All orders shall have a 2” by 3.5″ blank space on the first page of the order in the upper right-hand corner.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

Exhibits must be labeled using the Petitioner/Plaintiff or Respondent/Defendant designation followed by a number.

Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: Petitioner/Plaintiff 1 or Respondent/Defendant 1.

INFO

Format

DOCX

The preferred method for submitting proposed orders and final judgments is to email them in Word format to the stated address.

The preferred method is to send proposed orders and final judgments in Word format, via email to StephensonT@circuit8.org.

INFO

A driver’s-license copy may redact the license number except for its last four digits and may redact the birth month and day, but not the birth year.

The driver’s license number (except the last 4 digits) may be redacted. The month and day of birth (but not the year) may also be redacted.

INFO

Litigants should highlight the portions of a law or case they consider pertinent.

Litigants should highlight the parts of a law or case that they believe are pertinent to the issues at hand.