Tenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties Document Format Requirements

WARNING

Furnished envelopes must use the specified judge, court, and mailing address as the return address.

The return address on the furnished envelopes shall read: (Name of Judge) Circuit Judge P.O. Box 9000, Drawer “__” (assigned letter of Judge’s mail drawer is used) Bartow, Florida 33831-9000

WARNING

The requirement to use a minor child’s initials does not apply to the child’s name in orders concerning parental responsibility, time-sharing, or child support.

Regarding rule 2.425(b)(5), the requirement to use a minor child’s initials does not apply to “[t]he name of a minor in any order relating to parental responsibility, time-sharing, or child support.”

WARNING

Parenting plans associated with Final Judgments must be paginated.

Parenting plans associated with Final Judgments shall be paginated

WARNING

Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.520 and Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.100 address the requirements for captioning and formatting orders or judgments. Special attention should be paid to the requirement for recording space in Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.520. A sufficiently-sized blank for the signature of the judge should be provided, and the signature blank should not be the only item on a page. All pages should be numbered.

Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.520 and Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.100 address the requirements for captioning and formatting orders or judgments. Special attention should be paid to the requirement for recording space in Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.520. A sufficiently-sized blank for the signature of the judge should be provided, and the signature blank should not be the only item on a page. All pages should be numbered.

WARNINGCivil cases

The application should be printed legibly or typed.

Please print legibly or type.

WARNING

Mailed proposed orders should be clipped together, and the cover letter must not be stapled to the original order.

The proposed orders that are mailed to the Court should be bound together by either a paperclip or binder clip. Do not staple the cover letter to the original proposed order.

WARNING

The Judge’s signature block must not appear by itself on a page.

Do not put the Judge’s signature block on a page by itself.

WARNING

The case track must be marked with a check mark or an X.

Case Track Assignment (track must be selected with a “check mark” or “X”):

WARNING

For motions with many attachments, separate attachment files are permitted if they are named sequentially for alphabetical or numerical sorting.

For Motions with many attachments (e.g., motions for summary judgement), the attachments may be separate files from the Motion provided they are named sequentially so that they can be sorted alphabetically or numerically (e.g., 01_Attachment.pdf, 02_Attachement.pdf).

WARNING

Said instructions should be in Word format.

Said instructions should be in Word format.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Parties appearing by Microsoft Teams are expected to maintain the same professionalism, decorum, and civility as in person.

When appearing by Microsoft Teams all parties are expected to conduct themselves with it the same professionalism, decorum, and civility as if physically present in court.

WARNINGCriminal cases

The participant should name themselves using their true legal first and last name. Failure to be properly named will result in the Court not allowing you into the courtroom.

The participant should name themselves using their true legal first and last name. Failure to be properly named will result in the Court not allowing you into the courtroom.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Participants should remain muted with their cameras off in the Microsoft Teams courtroom until their case is called.

When in the Microsoft Teams courtroom, the participant should remain muted with their video camera off until their case is called.

WARNINGCivil cases

c. Each submitted item should be submitted as a separate attachment with a file name including the case number and a brief description clearly delineating the nature of the item. Example: “00DR00000 Husb Prop Fin Judg.”

c. Each submitted item should be submitted as a separate attachment with a file name including the case number and a brief description clearly delineating the nature of the item. Example: “00DR00000 Husb Prop Fin Judg.”

WARNING

Complex formatting, including tables, styles, and auto-populating fields, should be minimized.

Complex formatting such as tables, styles, and auto-populating fields should be minimized.

WARNINGCivil cases

If additional space is needed for the professional medical treatment information, continue on a separate sheet of paper.

if you need additional space, please continue on separate sheet of paper

WARNINGCivil cases

Each submitted item should be submitted as a separate attachment with a file name including the case number and a brief description clearly delineating the nature of the item.

Each submitted item should be submitted as a separate attachment with a file name including the case number and a brief description clearly delineating the nature of the item.

WARNING

Do not staple envelopes to copies submitted for conformation.

Also, please do not staple the envelopes to the copies to be conformed. It is quite difficult and time consuming to remove all those staples!

WARNING

Do not staple the cover letter, original proposed order, or the referenced copies.

PLEASE DO NOT STAPLE the cover letter, original proposed order, and copies to be

WARNING

Submitting proposed orders via the Portal is preferred, but should the documents exceed 50 pages and are to be mailed in, the packet should be bound together by either a paperclip or binder clip.

Submitting proposed orders via the Portal is preferred, but should the documents exceed 50 pages and are to be mailed in, the packet should be bound together by either a paperclip or binder clip.

WARNING

Case law shall be submitted via email in Word format with relevant text/rule of law/holdings highlighted, you can also mail color copies with your hardcopy package.

Case law shall be submitted via email in Word format with relevant text/rule of law/holdings highlighted, you can also mail color copies with your hardcopy package.

WARNING

Said instructions should be in Word format.

Said instructions should be in Word format.

WARNING

Cited materials to be argued in the Summary Judgment package must be tabbed and highlighted.

In your Summary Judgment package, you shall provide the Court with all documents that relate to the summary judgment requested or the non-movant’s response, all supporting pleadings, your affidavits, your declarations, your Designation of Specific Facts showing there is a genuine issue for trial, Supporting Factual Positions - Rule 1.510 (c)(1) & (5), cited materials that are tabbed and highlighted that you will be arguing, and copies of relevant discovery/depositions cited in pleadings and Rule 1.510 required documents.

WARNING

Said instructions should be in Word format.

Said instructions should be in Word format.

WARNINGCivil cases

Exhibits a party intends to introduce at a hearing should be pre-marked.

Any exhibits a party intends to introduce at a hearing should be pre-marked.

WARNING

Exhibits a party intends to introduce at a hearing should be pre-marked.

Any exhibits a party intends to introduce at a hearing should be pre-marked.

WARNINGCivil cases

Prehearing materials should be submitted electronically.

Prehearing materials should be submitted in electronic format and attached to an email forwarded to wwatson@jud10.flcourts.org, and copied to all other parties.

WARNINGCivil cases

Each submitted item should be submitted as a separate attachment with a file name including the case number and a brief description clearly delineating the nature of the item. Example: “00DR0000 Husb Prop Fin Judg.”

Each submitted item should be submitted as a separate attachment with a file name including the case number and a brief description clearly delineating the nature of the item. Example: “00DR0000 Husb Prop Fin Judg.”

INFO

Submissions under 25 pages may be emailed to Ms. Reiley.

Submissions less than 25 pages long may be emailed to Ms. Reiley.

INFOCivil cases

Additional pages may be added as needed.

Add additional pages as needed.

INFOCivil cases

Additional pages may be attached as needed.

Attach additional pages as needed.

INFO

The certificate of service and associated distribution list are generally not preferred for proposed orders.

The certificate of service and associated distribution list is generally not preferred.

INFO

Pages consisting of embedded images may use ½-inch margins to maximize image size.

Pages consisting of embedded images may be formatted with ½-inch margins to maximize image size.

INFO

Non-evidentiary hearings scheduled for less than 30 minutes may be held virtually through Microsoft Teams.

Non-evidentiary hearings scheduled for less than 30 minutes may be held virtually through Microsoft Teams.

INFOCivil cases

Prehearing materials should be submitted in electronic format.

Prehearing materials should be submitted in electronic format and attached to an email forwarded to btitus@jud10.flcourts.org, and copied to all other parties.

INFOCivil cases

Each submitted item should be submitted as a separate attachment with a file name including the case number and a brief description clearly delineating the nature of the item. Example: “00DR00000 Husb Prop Fin Judg.”

Each submitted item should be submitted as a separate attachment with a file name including the case number and a brief description clearly delineating the nature of the item. Example: “00DR00000 Husb Prop Fin Judg.”

INFO

Exhibit markings should follow the example provided in the document.

Below is an example of how the exhibits should be marked:

CRITICALCivil cases

Exhibits for virtual hearings must be pre-marked in accordance with Administrative Order 5-20.8.

pre-marked as per Administrative Order 5-20.8.