Judge Kevin A. Blazs
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Trial Or Hearing Set Memo
Court-wideCommunication
Chambers
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideDocument Filing Requirements9 rules
An urgent-order email must use an “URGENT” subject line containing the case number, case name, and reason for the email.
The email must include the following information: Subject line: URGENT: Case number, case name, and reason for the email (e. g., PENDING SALE; EMERGENCY TEMPORARY GUARDIAN, etc.)
Document Type
Urgent Order Email
Every probate case must include an affidavit of heirs.
All probate cases must file an affidavit of heirs.
Document Type
Affidavit Of Heirs
An Order of Referral to the General Magistrate must be filed in all guardian advocate and guardianship cases before a hearing will be set.
The Order of Referral to the General Magistrate will be filed for all guardian advocate and guardianship cases. A hearing will not be set until the referral has been filed.
Document Type
Order Of Referral
Attorneys must prepare and file the Notice of Hearing.
Document Type
Notice Of Hearing
One cover letter may cover multiple proposed orders, must reference any hearing date when a hearing was held, and proposed orders must not be sent before the hearing.
if you have more than one order to submit, one cover letter is sufficient —you do not need to submit cover letter for each order). Also, if a hearing was held, please reference the hearing date in your cover letter. Do not send proposed orders before a hearing.
Document Type
Proposed Order
After the hearing concludes, attorneys may be requested by the Magistrate to prepare and email proposed orders to the Magistrate’s Assistant in Word format at LNewton@coj.net.
Once hearing has concluded, depending on the type of case heard (either mental health/guardianship or guardian advocacy) the Magistrate will request attorneys to prepare and forward to the Magistrate Assistant via email (Word format), LNewton@coj.net the following proposed Orders:
Document Type
Proposed Order
Proposed letters of guardianship or guardian advocacy of the person or property may be requested after the hearing.
c. Letters of Guardianship/Guardian Advocacy of the Person/Property
Document Type
Proposed Order
A proposed Order Determining Incapacity, in the new format available on the Jud4.org Duval Judges website, may be requested after the hearing.
a. Order Determining Incapacity (new format updated on website Jud4.org - Duval Judges)
Document Type
Proposed Order
A proposed order appointing a guardian advocate of the person or property may be requested after the hearing.
b. Order Appointing Guardian Advocate of the Person/Property
Document Type
Proposed Order
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
An order admitting an original will and any simultaneous orders must be mailed or hand-delivered to the clerk and must not be emailed.
These should be mailed to the Clerk's office (not to the Judicial Assistant) or via hand delivery. Please do not email the clerk.
Page 1 | ELECTRONIC ORDERS: Exceptions
The petition or motion must be filed through the clerk and docketed before the proposed order is submitted directly to the court.
Additionally, petitions and/or motions must be filed through the Clerk's office and docketed prior to submitting your proposed orders. Pleadings are filed through the Clerk and proposed orders come directly to the Court (not through the Clerk). The Court will not submit unfiled petitions and/or motions to the Clerk for filing.
Page 1 | PROBATE / GUARDIANSHIP
Proposed orders may be filed electronically, except orders admitting original wills and orders of discharge.
We are accepting proposed orders by electronic filing with exceptions for original wills and orders of discharge.
Page 1 | PROBATE / GUARDIANSHIP
When the clerk has not approved discharge, the order of discharge must be mailed or hand-delivered to the clerk and must not be emailed.
If the Clerk has not yet approved the case for discharge, the order of discharge should be sent to the Clerk's office via U.S. Mail or hand delivery. Please do not email the clerk.
Page 1 | ELECTRONIC ORDERS: Exceptions
Original-will orders and discharge orders must be submitted directly to the clerk in paper form.
They must still be submitted directly to the Clerk's office in paper form.
Page 1 | PROBATE / GUARDIANSHIP
Orders must not be submitted by U.S. Mail to the court.
Please do not submit orders via U.S. Mail to the court.
Page 1 | ELECTRONIC ORDERS: Exceptions
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Attorneys should submit the orders within 14 days after the hearing concludes.
Attorneys should submit Orders within 14 days after hearing has concluded.
Page 1 | FINAL HEARINGS
Chambers Communication Rules
Urgent orders may be submitted by email.
You may still send those via email.
Page 1 | URGENT ORDERS
The docket should be checked for updates before requesting case status from the Judicial Assistant.
PLEASE CHECK THE DOCKET for updates before contacting the Judicial Assistant for a case status.
Page 2 | PLEASE CHECK THE DOCKET
Hearing requests should be submitted by email, and the Judicial Assistant will provide a Zoom link after confirming the date and time.
Email works best for hearing requests. The Zoom link will be provided by the Judicial Assistant upon confirmation of a date and time.
Page 1 | REQUESTS FOR HEARINGS
Attorneys should email the Magistrate’s Office at LNewton@coj.net to obtain the next available hearing date and time for the relevant division.
Attorneys should contact the Magistrate’s Office via email (LNewton@coj.net) for the next available date and time based on the specific division.
Page 1 | REQUESTS FOR HEARINGS — GUARDIAN ADVOCACY
The Magistrate’s Assistant may be contacted at 904-255-1214 or LNewton@coj.net when assistance is needed.
Please reach out to the Magistrate’s Assistant should you need assistance, 904-255-1214/ LNewton@coj.net.
Page 1 | GENERAL MAGISTRATE PROBATE REFERRAL PROCEDURES