First Judicial Circuit of Florida, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties Service and Proof of Service Rules

CRITICAL

The notice of hearing must be served immediately after hearing time is reserved.

A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service

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

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders must be provided 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

The notice of cancellation must be served on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Immediately after the hearing time is confirmed, serve the Notice of Hearing.

Once the hearing time has been confirmed, a Notice of Hearing must immediately be filed and served.

CRITICAL

Deadline

5 business days

Applies to

Order or judgment

The sole attorney must serve the order or judgment on a qualifying pro se party within five business days.

In cases wherein one party is unrepresented (pro se), it is the responsibility of the sole attorney in the case to serve within five business days this [Order or Judgment] upon any pro se party who does not have access to and is not a registered user of the Florida Courts e-Filing Portal.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders must be provided 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

Service

Electronic service to opposing party

A notice of cancellation must be e-served immediately on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

You must also immediately file and e-serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service to all parties

The movant must add all e-service persons and agencies with email addresses to the e-portal and select them for service.

Movant filing motion will add all e-service persons/agencies with email address to the e-portal and select them for service.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service to all parties

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by email, generally through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, unless excused by the judge.

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by e-mail, which is generally through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, unless excused by the Judge. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service to all parties

Ex parte correspondence placed in the official case file will be e-served to the parties.

Ex parte correspondence will be made a part of the Clerk’s official case file and e-served to the parties in the case.

CRITICAL

Service

Email

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by email, generally through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, unless excused.

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by e-mail, which is generally through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, unless excused.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of cancellation

The moving party must file and serve a Notice of Cancellation on all attorneys and unrepresented parties.

The moving party shall also file and serve a Notice of Cancellation to all attorneys and any unrepresented parties.

CRITICAL

A matter seeking court action or intervention must be properly filed and copies distributed to all litigants, attorneys, and entities entitled to notice.

Any matter for which a party seeks court action or intervention must be properly filed in the court file with copies distributed to all litigants, attorneys, and entities entitled to notice.

CRITICAL

If case law or other authority is provided to the court, provide the same material to all other parties.

If provided to the Court, parties must also provide the same documents or authority to all other parties.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service

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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Serve the notice of hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.

A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of cancellation

Serve the cancellation notice on opposing counsel, any self-represented litigant, and any court reporter secured for the hearing.

You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel, any self-represented litigant, and the court reporter, if one was secured for the hearing.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service to court

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

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

CRITICAL

Deadline

5 business days

When a case has an unrepresented party who lacks access to or is not registered on the Florida Court e-Filing Portal, the sole attorney must serve that party within five business days.

In cases wherein one party is unrepresented (pro se), it is the responsibility of the sole attorney in the case to serve within five business days this [order or judgment [upon any pro se party who does not have access to and is not a registered user of the Florida Court e-Filing Portal.

CRITICAL

The submitting party or counsel must provide copies to parties who are not on the service list.

It is the responsibility of the submitting party/counsel to provide copies to any party not included on the service list.

CRITICAL

Counsel must send a copy of the signed order under the standard service rules to a party who is not on the e-portal list.

If a party is not on the e-portal list, Counsel needs to send a copy of the signed Order under the standard service rules.

CRITICAL

The party canceling a hearing must notify the Court and all participants, including any pro se party and secured court reporter.

Only the party who set the hearing may cancel it, and it is the party’s responsibility to file a written notice of cancellation of the hearing and to notify the Court and all participants of the cancellation, including any pro se party, and court reporter if one was secured.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A Notice of Hearing must be served immediately after the hearing time is confirmed.

Notice of Hearing: Once the hearing time has been confirmed, a Notice of Hearing must immediately be filed and served.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service to all parties

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

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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders must be provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

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

CRITICAL

The submitting party or counsel must provide copies to parties omitted from the service list.

It is the responsibility of the submitting party/counsel to provide copies to any party not included on the service list.

CRITICAL

The submitting party or counsel must provide copies of the signed order or judgment to any party not on the service list.

It is the responsibility of the submitting party/counsel to provide copies to any party not included on the service list.

CRITICAL

Serve or provide the cancellation notice to the Court, all participants including any self-represented party, and any secured court reporter.

A courtesy copy must be provided to the Court and all participants, including any pro se party, and court reporter if one was secured.

CRITICAL

Deadline

5 business days

Applies to

Order or judgment

The sole attorney must serve the order or judgment within five business days on an unrepresented party who lacks access to and is not registered on the Florida Court e-Filing Portal.

All proposed orders must include the last paragraph (before DONE and ORDERED) the following statement: In cases wherein one party is unrepresented (pro se), it is the responsibility of the sole attorney in the case to serve within five business days this [order or judgment [upon any pro se party who does not have access to and is not a registered user of the Florida Court e-Filing Portal.

CRITICAL

After three unsuccessful coordination attempts on separate days, the requesting party may set the hearing unilaterally with at least two weeks’ notice to the noncooperating opposing counsel.

If after 3 attempts on separate days have been made to coordinate a hearing and counsel does not cooperate or respond, the requesting party may unilaterally set a hearing giving at least two weeks’ notice to the opposing counsel who failed to cooperate or respond.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Expert objection

If no written objection to a witness designated as an Expert is served on the counsel or any unrepresented party offering the witnesses within twenty (20) days after such written disclosure, then no further objection as to the expert’s qualifications in the area denoted shall be allowed, except that all objections as to relevancy, materiality or reasonableness shall be reserved until trial.

If no written objection to a witness designated as an Expert is served on the counsel or any unrepresented party offering the witnesses within twenty (20) days after such written disclosure, then no further objection as to the expert’s qualifications in the area denoted shall be allowed, except that all objections as to relevancy, materiality or reasonableness shall be reserved until trial.

CRITICAL

The Notice of Hearing must be served immediately after the hearing is reserved.

The Notice of Hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Notice of hearing

At the final pretrial conference, counsel and unrepresented parties must serve a notice of hearing for any last-minute matters not previously addressed.

At the final pre-trial conference on ______________________, commencing at (TBD) CDT, each counsel and each unrepresented party shall serve on opposing counsel and each unrepresented party and the Court a NOTICE OF HEARING for any last-minute matters which were not addressed at the pre-trial conference on ______________________.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Witness disclosure

By the stated date, the Defendant must serve the opposing side, unrepresented parties, and the Court with its trial fact-witness list, any interrogatory answers it seeks to introduce, and the identity and expertise of any expert witness.

On or before________________, 2026, the Defendant shall serve on opposing counsel, unrepresented parties, and the court a list of all fact witnesses expected to be called to testify in person or by deposition at the trial of this cause, as well as any answers to written interrogatories which counsel desire to introduce in evidence, denoting any expert witness and the area of expertise.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibit list

By the date agreed by counsel, each party must serve the opposing side, unrepresented parties, and the Court with an itemized list of trial exhibits and a copy of each exhibit.

On or before ____________, 2026, (TO BE AGREED BY COUNSEL) EACH PARTY shall serve on opposing counsel and each unrepresented party and the court an itemized list of all exhibits intended to be offered in evidence at the trial of this cause, with a copy of each such exhibit attached thereto.

CRITICAL

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.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Expert objection

A written objection to the Plaintiff’s designated expert’s qualifications must be served within 30 days after disclosure or further qualification objections are barred.

If no written objection to a witness designated as an Expert is served on the counsel or any unrepresented party offering the witnesses within THIRTY (30) days after such written disclosure, then no further objection as to the expert’s qualifications in the area denoted shall be allowed.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for electronic receipt of signed orders and update registered service contact information on Form 2.603 whenever it changes.

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address to receive signed orders electronically. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516. It is the responsibility of attorneys and for all self-represented litigants to update their contact information using Form 2.603 anytime there is a change in the email address that has been registered for electronic service.

CRITICAL

The Notice of Cancellation must be served on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

The Notice of Cancellation must be served upon opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Witness disclosure

By the stated date, the Plaintiff must serve the opposing side, unrepresented parties, and the Court with its trial fact-witness list, any interrogatory answers it seeks to introduce, and the identity and expertise of any expert witness.

On or before ________________, 2026, the Plaintiff shall serve on opposing counsel and each unrepresented party and the Court its list of all fact witnesses expected to be called to testify in person or by deposition at the trial of this cause, as well as any answers to written interrogatories which counsel seeks to introduce into evidence at trial, denoting any expert witness and the area of expertise.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibit objection

A written objection to an exhibit must be served within 20 days after service of the exhibit disclosure to preserve objections to authenticity or genuineness; other specified objections are reserved for trial.

If no written objection is served on the counsel/party offering the exhibit within twenty (20) days after such service, then no further objection as to authenticity or genuineness shall be made, except that all objections as to relevancy, materiality or reasonableness shall be reserved until trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Serve the Notice of Hearing within five days after reserving a hearing time.

A Notice of Hearing must be filed and served within 5 days after reserving a hearing time.

CRITICALCivil cases

Any issue to be considered by the judge should be in the form of a motion filed with the Clerk of Court with copies provided to all parties of record.

Any issue to be considered by the judge should be in the form of a motion filed with the Clerk of Court with copies provided to all parties of record.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

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

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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of cancellation

Serve the Notice of Cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

The Notice of Cancellation must be served upon opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Serve the Notice of Hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.

The Notice of Hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice for trial

Serve the Notice for Trial on all parties.

A Notice for Trial is filed with the Clerk and served on all parties.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service

The person submitting an order must select all relevant parties for electronic service.

It is the responsibility of the person submitting the order to make sure all relevant parties are selected for e-service.

CRITICAL

Serve the Notice of Hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.

Notice of Hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.