Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Case Law, Exhibits
- For Any Hearing or Trial
Courtesy copies
- No Later Than Five Days Before Any Hearing or Trial
Adjournments
- Continuances are disfavored and require good cause; lack of due diligence is not a ground, successive requests are highly disfavored, and the requesting party must sign the motion unless good cause is shown.
- A continuance motion must specify its basis and when it became known, whether it is opposed, actions and dates needed to be ready, and the proposed ready date and whether all parties agree.
Request must include
- Submit a trial-continuance motion at least five days before the scheduled court date and set it on the Court’s docket before calendar call.
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Document Format Requirements4 rules
Please note, the Clerk of Court requires hard copies of exhibits, marked with letters for identification, which shall be submitted at least five(5) days prior to the scheduled hearings.
All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format and provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
- Proposed order
Formatting
- •Submit in Word format
Courtesy copies must be submitted in PDF/a format.
- File type
- PDF/A
- Courtesy copy
Numbered exhibits will not be accepted. Numbered exhibits will ONLY be accepted if they are stipulated to.
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Do not submit numbered exhibits unless they are stipulated to
Document Filing Requirements12 rules
A Certificate of Conferral is to be attached to the motion.
- Document
- Motion
Include
- •Certificate of conference
If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a detailed motion setting forth the following must be filed: (1) the issues to be resolved, (2) reasons why an emergency hearing is necessary, and (3) the amount of time needed for each party’s presentation.
All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter either: certifying that all parties agree to the order OR containing a statement identifying any disagreement of the parties as to the proposed order.
All notices of hearing must contain the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the clerk, the court, and each party to during the hearing or trial.
You must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately via e-mail. You must also immediately file and serve a “Notice of Cancellation” on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Persons who want the Court to take any action on their case must first file the appropriate motion with the Clerk of Courts.
A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the judge’s zoom credentials.
Hearing requests and notices of hearing must provide the requested hearing details, case information, participants, motions, requested duration, and meet-and-confer date and manner.
Court's wording
The hearing request (and notice of hearing) must include: Date, location and time being requested for the hearing; Case number; Style of the case; Names of the attorneys (or self-represented litigants when applicable); Title of the motion(s) to be heard and the date the motion was filed; Amount of time requested for the hearing; Date and manner of the required meet and confer.
Unless a trial order has been filed already, please file a notice for trial to set the case for trial and email the Judicial Assistant for trial dates..
Update contact information using Form 2.603 whenever the email account registered for electronic service changes.
Court's wording
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.
Cases that have been settled that are scheduled for a hearing and/or trial, must file a Notice of Settlement with the Clerk of Court and email a copy to the Judicial Assistant.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Submit proposed orders through the proposed-order portion of the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
All proposed orders must be submitted to the court by the proposed order portion of the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Forward copies of exhibits and exhibit lists to the Judicial Assistant at least five business days before the hearing unless otherwise instructed.
Unless otherwise instructed, Copies of exhibits and exhibit lists shall be forwarded to the Judicial Assistant via e-mail at least five (5) business days prior to the scheduled hearing.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
The Court must receive all hearing materials at least five business days before the hearing.
The court must receive all materials for the hearing no later than Five (5) business days before the hearing.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Submit proposed orders no later than two days after a hearing unless otherwise instructed.
Proposed orders must be submitted no later than two (2) days after any hearing unless otherwise instructed.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Submit the Clerk’s hard copies of exhibits at least five days before the scheduled hearing.
Please note, the Clerk of Court requires hard copies of exhibits, marked with letters for identification, which shall be submitted at least five(5) days prior to the scheduled hearings.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
File a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal or Stipulated Order to Dismiss within 15 days after the Notice of Settlement or the case may be set for a status hearing.
A Notice of Voluntary Dismissal or a Stipulated Order to Dismiss shall be filed within 15 days of the Notice of Settlement, or this case may be set for a status hearing.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
File and serve the notice of hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Submit requests for remote appearance at least five days before the hearing.
Requests for remote appearance must be submitted five (5) days prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | C. Remote Appearance
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Serve the notice of hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Provide each proposed order 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.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for receiving signed orders electronically 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.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Immediately serve the Notice of Cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
You must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately via e-mail. You must also immediately file and serve a “Notice of Cancellation” on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Submit courtesy copies no later than five days before any hearing or trial.
Courtesy copies must be submitted to the court no later than Five (5) days before any hearing or trial.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law & Other Documents
Submit courtesy copies to the Court by email to the Judicial Assistant.
Courtesy copies must be submitted to the Court by e-mail to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law & Other Documents
Submit courtesy copies of case law and exhibits the party wants the Court to consider for any hearing or trial.
Courtesy copies of Case Law and Exhibits for Trial and Evidentiary Hearings the party wishes the court to consider must be submitted to the court for any hearing or trial.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law & Other Documents
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Meet and confer before filing any non-dispositive motion.
Florida Rule of Civil Procedure. 1.202 requires a “Meet and Confer” on all non-dispositive motions PRIOR to the motion being filed.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
At least one attempt to meet and confer must be made by telephone.
At least one of the attempts to confer, MUST be made by telephone call.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances are disfavored and require good cause; lack of due diligence is not a ground, successive requests are highly disfavored, and the requesting party must sign the motion unless good cause is shown.
Motions for continuance are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown. Successive continuances are highly disfavored. Lack of due diligence is not grounds for granting a continuance. Except for good cause shown, the motion must be signed by the party requesting the continuance, as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.545(e).
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Submit a trial-continuance motion at least five days before the scheduled court date and set it on the Court’s docket before calendar call.
Motions for trial continuance must be submitted at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled court date for which the continuance is sought and shall be set on the Court’s docket prior the calendar call.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A continuance motion must specify its basis and when it became known, whether it is opposed, actions and dates needed to be ready, and the proposed ready date and whether all parties agree.
Motions for continuance must state with specificity: (1) the basis of the need for the continuance, including when the basis became known to the movant; (2) whether the motion is opposed; (3) the action and specific dates for the action that will enable the movant to be ready, including, but not limited to, confirming the specific date any required participants are available; and (4) the proposed date by which the case will be ready to proceed and whether that date is agreed by all parties.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
Parties and counsel must not have ex parte communications with the court about substantive case matters or disagreements with opponents.
Parties and counsel must refrain from ex-parte communications with the court regarding substantive matters in pending cases and disagreements with opposing parties and/or counsel.
Page 1 | Communications with Judge’s Office
Email communications to the judicial office at the division address and include the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by email to brandy.wilson@keyscourts.net, the dedicated division e-mail account. The subject line of any e-mail to the judicial office must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 24 DR 1234 K – Doe v. Doe – 1 hour Hearing Requested on Respondent’s Motion for Contempt).
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Email the Judicial Assistant to request trial dates unless a trial order has already been filed.
Unless a trial order has been filed already, please file a notice for trial to set the case for trial and email the Judicial Assistant for trial dates..
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Include the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line of hearing-request emails to the judicial office.
The subject line of any e-mail to the judicial office must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 24 DR 001234 K – Doe v. Doe – 15 Minute Hearing Requested on Motion for Continuance.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Copy all parties and counsel on written communications to the court.
All written communications to the court must be copied to all parties and counsel.
Page 1 | Communications with Judge’s Office
Email a copy of the Notice of Settlement to the Judicial Assistant for a settled case scheduled for a hearing or trial.
Cases that have been settled that are scheduled for a hearing and/or trial, must file a Notice of Settlement with the Clerk of Court and email a copy to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
Notify the Judicial Assistant by email immediately when canceling a hearing, and immediately file and serve a Notice of Cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
You must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately via e-mail. You must also immediately file and serve a “Notice of Cancellation” on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Request hearings by email to brandy.wilson@keyscourts.net.
Hearings must be requested by e-mail: brandy.wilson@keyscourts.net
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Unless otherwise instructed, email copies of exhibits and exhibit lists to the Judicial Assistant at least five business days before the hearing.
Unless otherwise instructed, Copies of exhibits and exhibit lists shall be forwarded to the Judicial Assistant via e-mail at least five (5) business days prior to the scheduled hearing.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Do not contact the Court expecting legal advice or to speak with the judge; written communications to the Court must copy opposing parties or counsel, while the Judicial Assistant may be emailed about procedural or scheduling matters.
The judicial assistant is not authorized to provide legal advice. Accordingly, do not contact the Court expecting to speak to the judge about any case. You may, however, contact the judicial assistant via e-mail concerning purely procedural or scheduling matters. Any communication with the Court must be in writing and opposing side/counsel must be copied.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Coordinate hearing dates with other parties; unilateral scheduling with the Judicial Assistant is permitted only after three attempts to obtain dates, including one telephone call.
Parties must coordinate hearing dates amongst themselves. If a party cannot obtain dates from opposing parties or self-represented litigants, they may unilaterally schedule a hearing with the Judicial Assistant, provided they made three (3) attempts to secure dates, one of which included a phone call.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
All emails and telephonic communications should be directed to the Judicial Assistant, either via telephone or by e-mail, and should be limited to scheduling matters.
All emails and telephonic communications should be directed to the Judicial Assistant, either via telephone or by e-mail, and should be limited to scheduling matters.
Page 1 | Communications with Judge’s Office
The judicial office does not accept text messages.
The judicial office does not accept text messages.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Contact Maria Maynard or Isis Majeska by email to request an interpreter for a hearing or trial.
If an interpreter is needed for a hearing or trial, please contact Maria Maynard at Maria.Maynard@keyscourts.net or Isis Majeska at Isis.Majeska@keyscourts.net.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
Self-represented litigants and attorneys excused from email service may contact the judicial office by telephone at 305-852-7155.
Self-represented litigants and attorneys excused from e-mail service may communicate with the judicial office by telephone call to 305-852-7155.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Contact Cheryl Alfonso at Cheryl.Alfonso@keyscourts.net to request an ADA accommodation.
If you need an ADA accommodation, please contact Cheryl Alfonso, Court Operations Manager, at Cheryl.Alfonso@keyscourts.net.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures