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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

The proposed order’s substantive ruling must appear on the same page as the judge’s signature line; reformat an order that places only the signature on its last page.

The proposed order must have substantive language of the ruling on same page as judge’s signature line. Orders that contain only the judge’s signature on the last page should be reformatted prior to submission to the judge.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Video exhibits

Place video exhibits on a flash drive and deliver them to the judge’s office.

Video exhibits must be placed on a flash drive and delivered to the judge’s office.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Objection

Objections must be in writing.

you must file your objections in writing

CRITICAL

Trial counsel and all pro se parties must appear in person at the Pretrial Conference.

Appearance in person at the Pretrial Conference, by trial counsel and all pro se parties, is mandatory.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Format

DOCX

Submit proposed orders in Word format and provide them to opposing counsel and any pro se litigant.

All proposed orders must be submitted in Word formatand provided to opposing counsel and any pro se litigant.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of court appearance

all notices for court proceedings include the following notice (as amended by Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.540) in either Times New Roman or Courier 14 point bold font.

all notices for court proceedings include the following notice (as amended by Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.540) in either Times New Roman or Courier 14 point bold font.

CRITICAL

All trials, including foreclosure trials and trials after default, are conducted in person.

All trials, including foreclosure trials and cases in which a default has been entered against a party, will be conducted in person.

CRITICAL

All parties and counsel must attend every trial in person; remote trial appearances are not permitted for them.

All parties and all counsel shall be present in person for all trials, including non-jury trials in foreclosure cases. Remote appearances at a trial will not be permitted for parties or attorneys.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Format

DOCX

Submit proposed orders in Word format and provide them to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

All proposed Orders must be submitted in Word format and provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice

The ADA notice in all notices of court proceedings must use Times New Roman or Courier, 14-point bold font.

Administrative Order 2015-32 requires that all notices of court proceedings include the following ADA notice (in Times New Roman or Courier, 14-point bold font):

CRITICAL

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring enough copies of every exhibit for the clerk, the court, and each party at the hearing or trial.

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the clerk, the Court, and each party to review during the hearing or trial.

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

All proposed orders must be submitted in Microsoft Word format.

All proposed orders must be submitted in Microsoft Word format.

CRITICALCivil cases

All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format through the Florida e-Filing Portal.

Submission Method: Submit all proposed orders in Word format to the Florida e-Filing Portal pursuant to Administrative Directive ECAD 2021-03.

CRITICAL

Proposed orders must be submitted in Word format.

All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format

CRITICAL

Exhibits longer than 20 pages must be delivered by hand or U.S. Mail.

All exhibits over 20 pages must be hand delivered or delivered by U.S. Mail.

CRITICAL

Proposed orders must be submitted in MS Word format.

Proposed orders must be in MS Word Format.

CRITICAL

Mark all exhibits, using numbers for the Petitioner and letters for the Respondent.

Please mark all exhibits – Petitioner shall use numbers and Respondent shall use letters.

CRITICAL

Label exhibits using the format ‘Petitioner/Plaintiff 1’ or ‘Respondent/Defendant A.’

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

CRITICAL

For in-person hearings, attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring enough copies of each exhibit for the Clerk, Court, and each party to review.

For In-Person Hearings - All attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the clerk, the Court, and each party to review during the hearing or trial.

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

Submit proposed orders in Microsoft Word format with a cover letter certifying agreement by all parties or identifying any disagreements.

All proposed orders must be submitted in Microsoft Word format and be accompanied by a cover letter either (1) certifying that all parties agree to the order or (2) containing a statement identifying any disagreement of the parties as to the proposed order.

CRITICAL

Digital evidence must be provided on media suitable for permanent retention by the Clerk of Courts.

Digital evidence must be contained on media appropriate for permanent retention by the Clerk of Courts.

CRITICAL

Proposed orders must be submitted in Microsoft Word format.

Please e-mail ALL proposed orders in Microsoft Word with the case name, number and title of document (Ex. Jones 18 CF 1111 Order to Withdraw) to the appropriate e-mail address:

CRITICAL

Probate and guardianship proposed orders must be submitted in Word format.

All proposed orders shall be submitted in Word format to esc.divu.eserve@flcourts1.gov.

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Courtesy-copy materials must be in PDF format; do not submit hard copies or binders.

Format: PDF. DO NOT SUBMIT HARD COPIES/BINDERS

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

Proposed orders must be submitted in Word format.

Format: Proposed orders are to be submitted to the Court in Word format.

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

The PDF must be searchable, include a table of contents, and have a bookmark for each item.

The PDF must be searchable, contain a table of contents, and bookmarks for each item.

CRITICAL

Format

PAPER

Use paper exhibits for in-person proceedings.

For in person proceedings, paper exhibits must be used.

WARNING

Name the document with the case number, case name or names, and type of motion.

The document should be named Case Number / Case Name(s) / Type of Motion

WARNING

Do not expect the court to print notebooks, exhibits, case law, or similar materials for you.

Do not expect the court to use its resources to print your notebooks, exhibits, case law, etc.

WARNING

The court prefers documentary exhibits not be placed in binders or other binding that impairs their separation for the clerk after the hearing.

The Court prefers that documentary evidence/exhibits are NOT placed into 3-ring binders, binding combs, spiral binding or other methods that impair the Court’s ability to easily separate the exhibits for presentation to the Clerk of Court following the hearing.

WARNING

Format

PDF

All exhibits should be combined into a single, searchable PDF document and emailed to the Court’s judicial assistant.

All exhibits should be combined into a single, searchable PDF document and emailed to the Court’s judicial assistant.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

Do not staple exhibits.

Please do not staple exhibits.

WARNING

Applies to

Electronic evidence

Electronic evidence such as video or audio recordings should be put on a thumb drive.

Electronic evidence such as video or audio recordings should be put on a thumb drive.

WARNING

Format

PDF

These items should be combined into one searchable PDF document and emailed to the Court’s judicial assistant.

These items should be combined into one searchable PDF document and emailed to the Court’s judicial assistant.

WARNING

If an order requires an attachment that cannot be created in Word, the filer may use the Signed Proposal option to submit a PDF.

In the event the proposed order requires an attachment that cannot be accomplished via Word, you may use the “Signed Proposal” option, which will allow filing of a PDF.

WARNING

Proposed orders should use the title of the order being submitted; the title need not include the word “proposed.”

All proposed orders should be titled the same as the title of the order you are submitting.Also, it is not necessary to include “proposed” in the title (i.e. Order on Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel).

WARNING

All proposed orders should be titled the same as the title of the order you are submitting. Also, it is not necessary to include “proposed” in the title (i.e. Order on Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel).

All proposed orders should be titled the same as the title of the order you are submitting. Also, it is not necessary to include “proposed” in the title (i.e. Order on Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel).

WARNING

All notices must use Central Time; counsel’s different time zone may also be included in the notice of hearing.

Please note this is a Santa Rosa County case, which is in CT (Central Time Zone), therefore all notices MUST be for CT. You are welcome to include counsel’s time zone in the NOH if it differs from the Court’s.

WARNING

Zoom participants should know how to use the platform and sign in early to ensure timely appearance.

Those appearing via Zoom should ensure that they are familiar with the platform and shall sign in early to ensure timely appearance.

WARNINGCivil cases

The serving party must mark each exhibit with an identification number or letter consistent with the itemized list.

All exhibits shall be marked by the party serving same (in accordance with this itemized list) with identification numbers or letters.

WARNING

Any thumb drive provided to the court should be free of any documents and exhibits other than are to be submitted for consideration by the court. Please make sure that only “clean” thumb drives are used to provide these documents to the court.

Any thumb drive provided to the court should be free of any documents and exhibits other than are to be submitted for consideration by the court. Please make sure that only “clean” thumb drives are used to provide these documents to the court.

WARNING

A remote participant’s username must display the participant’s full name and case number, not a nickname or screen name.

Please ensure that your username reflects your full name and case number in lieu of a nickname or screenname.

WARNING

A thumb drive submitted to Judge Lewis must be clearly marked for him and will not be sent to the clerk or returned after the hearing.

If submitting via thumb drive to Judge Lewis, it should be clearly marked for Judge Lewis and will not be submitted to the clerk or returned after the hearing.

WARNING

A thumb drive with all documents should be clearly labelled to coincide with their content. e.g., Exhibit 1 – Marriage License.

A thumb drive with all documents should be clearly labelled to coincide with their content. e.g., Exhibit 1 – Marriage License.

WARNINGCivil cases

Please bring all exhibits to the hearing. Exhibits should be marked prior to the hearing.

Please bring all exhibits to the hearing. Exhibits should be marked prior to the hearing.

WARNING

For voluminous exhibits, binders are strongly encouraged and should be delivered or mailed to the judge’s office.

For voluminous exhibits, binders are strongly encouraged and should be submitted via hand delivery or mail to the judge’s office.

WARNING

For an evidentiary hearing, the Court prefers a binder containing the motions, exhibits, and case law.

When set for an evidentiary hearing, the Court prefers a binder(s) of motion(s), exhibits, and case law.

WARNING

If said documents are voluminous, please submit binders.

If said documents are voluminous, please submit binders.

WARNING

Courtesy copies may be submitted in PDF or Word format.

Courtesy copies can be submitted in PDF or Word format.

WARNING

Applies to

Redline

The redline sent to the judicial assistant must be in Word format.

If the parties disagree on the language in an order, please email a redline in Word format directly to the judicial assistant at kaitlyn.dalton@flcourts1.gov.