First Judicial Circuit of Florida, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties Document Filing Requirements

WARNING

Applies to

Matter submitted to court

All matters to be considered by the Court should be in the form of a motion or pleading, filed and served on all parties.

All matters to be considered by the Court should be in the form of a motion or pleading, filed and served on all parties.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

When the parties agree on a motion, the moving party must submit a proposed order in Microsoft Word format.

If the parties agree on a Motion, the moving party shall submit a proposed order in Microsoft Word format.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Please follow this example: DONE AND ORDERED in Escambia County, Florida.

Please follow this example: DONE AND ORDERED in Escambia County, Florida.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders must be titled with the case name, case number, and title of the order.

Title proposed orders as follows: Case Name Case # Title of Order.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to appear by zoom

A party seeking to appear by Zoom may file a motion under the cited rule, and the motion should include the opposing party’s position.

A party may file a Motion to Appear by Zoom pursuant to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.530. Please include the opposing party’s position in the motion.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Affidavit of heirs

If all beneficiaries are accounted for and none of the decedent's children have died, sections 6–13 may be skipped and the affidavit may proceed to the verification on the last page.

If all of the Estate's beneficiaries have been accounted for (i.e., none of the decedent's children have died), you may skip sections 6 - 13, and proceed to the verification on the last page.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

The checklist asks whether a proposed order determining homestead status has been filed.

10 Proposed Order Determining Homestead Status of Real Property filed?

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

Do not include a certificate of service for the judicial assistant to complete.

Do not include a certificate of service to be completed by the judicial assistant.

WARNING

Applies to

Checklist

The attorney certification states that the checklist was personally reviewed and is accurate based on the pleadings and court filings.

I certify that I have personally reviewed the foregoing checklist and it is accurate. In making the certification, I have relied upon the information set forth in the pleadings and court filings.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Affidavit of heirs

Check the box if attaching a supplement to the affidavit.

Check if you are attaching a supplement to this affidavit.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

If in person, exhibits should be brought to the hearing in a binder with an Exhibit list.

If in person, exhibits should be brought to the hearing in a binder with an Exhibit list.

WARNING

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must update their contact information on Form 2.603 whenever their registered electronic-service email account changes.

It is the responsibility of attorneys and self-represented litigants to update their contact information using Form 2.603 any time there is a change in the e-mail account registered for electronic service.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

If a case involves a self-represented party without a designated email address, include that party’s physical mailing address in the proposed order or judgment.

If a case involves a pro se party without a designated email address, please include the physical mailing address in the proposed order/judgment to ensure proper distribution of copies.

WARNING

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for electronic receipt of signed orders unless excused under the cited rule.

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused pursuant to Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516.

WARNING

Applies to

Courtesy copy pdf

Arrange the courtesy-copy PDF’s contents in the specified order, beginning with the table of contents and Notice of Hearing and ending with other items.

The documents in the PDF should be in the following order: Table of Contents Notice of Hearing Motion/Opposition/etc. Opposing Party’s Motion/Opposition (if the party desires) Reply (if applicable) Supporting documents Case law Other items:

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

All service recipients should be checked at the e-portal for service when uploading a proposed Order.

All service recipients should be checked at the e-portal for service when uploading a proposed Order.

WARNING

Do not use a generic title alone; the title should describe the particular purpose or relief sought or obtained.

Avoid using just "Order," "Notice," "Motion," etc., the title should describe with particularity the purpose or relief being sought or obtained [Notice of Hearing on Plaintiff's Request for Leave to Amend; Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to Amend; Order Granting Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to Amend; etc.].

INFO

Applies to

Proposed order

The Court identifies the following signature block as preferred for proposed orders.

Below is the preferred signature block.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to appear by zoom

A party may request to appear by Zoom by filing a motion under the cited rule.

A party may file a Motion to Appear by Zoom pursuant to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.530.

INFO

Applies to

Early termination of probation request

Defendants may submit an early-termination-of-probation request as either a motion or a letter.

Defendants may file Motions for Early Termination of Probation in motion or letter form.

INFO

Applies to

Cover letter

The motion itself may be used as the cover letter.

The cover letter may be the Motion itself.

INFO

Applies to

Uncontested dissolution submission

Parties may submit the necessary testimony in place of live testimony by filing the specified Notice and Special Affidavit.

In lieu of presenting live testimony, the necessary testimony for an uncontested dissolution of marriage with or without children may be submitted by filing the Notice of Filing Special Affidavit for Uncontested Dissolution Marriage attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and the Special Affidavit for Uncontested Dissolution Marriage with No Hearing attached hereto as Exhibit “B” as follows:

INFO

Applies to

Proposed order

A cover letter is not required when submitting a proposed order.

Judge Warrick does not require a cover letter.

INFO

As a best practice, identify the motion or order’s sequence and include its filing date from the clerk’s website in the title.

Often more than one motion, order, etc. has been filed on the same or similar issue, leading to confusion of which Motion/Notice/Order is intended. he best practice is for the title to reflect such information [Plaintiff's Second Motion for Leave to Amend ...] and include the date, according to the clerk's website, of filing [Notice of Hearing on Plaintiff's Second Motion for Leave to Amend (DIN#, filed 2/22/2222)] thus making clear the purpose or relief being sought or obtained.

CRITICALCivil cases

Nonresiduary beneficiaries must be provided written notice of their right to receive a copy of any appraisal of the assets.

Witten notice of their right to receive a copy of an appraisal, if any, of the assets.