Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- No Later Than 72 Hours Before Hearing Excluding Holidays and Weekends
Motion, Notice of Hearing
- Email • At Least 10 Days Before Hearing
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Document Format Requirements5 rules
All proposed orders must comply with the formatting and technical requirements listed therein; proposed orders that fail to comply with the requirements of the Administrative Order will be rejected and must be resubmitted.
If any exhibits are to be introduced during the hearing, they must be pre-marked as per Administrative Order 5-20.8 and example below. The party submitting the exhibit shall fill in all blanks on the label except “admitted” and “excluded.”
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.
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.”
pre-marked as per Administrative Order 5-20.8.
Formatting
- •Pre-mark exhibits as per Administrative Order 5-20.8.
Document Filing Requirements11 rules
All contested evidentiary matters shall be heard in person. Requests for virtual appearance at a contested evidentiary hearing must be made by written motion identifying the basis for the request and which participant needs to appear virtually.
All notices of hearing and orders setting hearing must include the specified ADA accommodation notice.
Court's wording
The following ADA Notice must be included in all notices of hearing or orders setting hearing: If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in Order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, To the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Office of the Court Administrator, (863) 534-4686, at least 7 days before your Scheduled court appearance or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the schedule appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call TDD (863) 534-7777 or Florida Relay Service 711.
All notices of hearing and orders setting hearing must include the specified ADA accommodation notice.
Court's wording
The following ADA Notice must be included in all notices of hearing or orders setting hearing: If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Office of the Court Administrator, (863) 534-4686, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the schedule appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call TDD (863) 534-7777 or Florida Relay Service 711.
A notice of hearing must state the hearing location; in-person hearings are held in Hearing Room 6D-1 at the Polk County Courthouse.
Court's wording
The location of the hearing must be included in the Notice of Hearing. In person hearings are held at the Polk County Courthouse, 255 N. Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830, in Hearing Room 6D-1 (6th Floor, Blue Elevators).
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 all participants of the cancellation, including any pro se party.
Unless the motion is being submitted ex parte, the email shall include a cover letter that indicates that this submission has been copied to the opposing party/counsel.
All proposed orders or judgments being submitted without a hearing must include a copy of the motion in the packet emailed to the Court.
When filing documents containing Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or other non-public information in circuit civil, county civil, or small claims cases, parties must file a Notice of Confidential Information identifying each location and page and the type of confidential information or applicable provision.
Court's wording
All parties submitting an order, including attorneys and self-represented litigants, will be required to file a Notice of Confidential Information in circuit civil, county civil and small claims court cases when filing documents with Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or other non-public information; identify the precise location(s) of confidential information within the document, including each page number on which it appears; and identify the type of confidential information or provision that applies to the identified information.
A party calling a case up for hearing should provide the Court and all other parties a Notice of Hearing or Order Setting Hearing which includes the following information:
Any emergency motion submitted for ex parte consideration should clearly so state in the heading of the motion.
Do not include a certificate of service to be completed by the judicial assistant.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
A signed proposed order or judgment will be filed electronically.
Once the proposed order or judgment is signed, it will be e-filed.
Page 3 | VII. PROPOSED ORDERS AND JUDGMENTS
Proposed orders are not accepted by email and must follow the applicable Administrative Order procedures for electronic submission through CAPS.
Proposed orders will no longer be accepted by email. Refer to Administrative Order No. 1-61.1 (or any subsequently entered Administrative Orders) relating to Uniform Procedures and Requirements for Electronically Submitting Proposed Orders Through CAPS.
Page 3 | VII. PROPOSED ORDERS AND JUDGMENTS
Exhibits over 25 pages or containing audio-video evidence should be provided in hard copy by U.S. mail, express mail, or hand delivery to the mailroom.
If your exhibits are over 25 pages or contain audio-video evidence, please provide them via hard copy (US mail, express mail, or hand delivery to the mailroom).
Civil cases
Page 3 | VII. EVIDENCE FOR VIRTUAL HEARINGS
Exhibits under 25 pages may be provided to the Court by email.
If your exhibits are under 25 pages, you may provide them via email.
Civil cases
Page 3 | VII. EVIDENCE FOR VIRTUAL HEARINGS
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
If no hearing is scheduled within 30 days after filing an emergency motion that was denied as an emergency but allowed to proceed normally, the matter is deemed abandoned and denied.
If an emergency motion is denied as an emergency, but leave is granted to address the issue through the normal process and no hearing is scheduled within 30 days of filing the motion, that matter will be deemed abandoned and as such, denied.
Civil cases
Page 1 | EMERGENCY MOTIONS
Exhibits for a virtual hearing must be provided to the Court at least 72 hours before the hearing, excluding holidays and weekends.
If any exhibits are to be introduced during the virtual hearing, they must be provided to the Court (copying opposing counsel) at least 72 hours in advance of the hearing (excluding holidays and weekends)
Civil cases
Page 3 | VII. EVIDENCE FOR VIRTUAL HEARINGS
Do not send a notice of hearing before the judicial assistant confirms the hearing time; hearing times are reserved only upon confirmation.
Do not send out a notice of hearing until after you have received confirmation of the hearing time from the judicial assistant. Hearing times are booked on a first come, first serve basis and hearing times are not reserved until the confirmation email is sent.
Page 1 | II. SCHEDULED HEARINGS
Motions and proposed orders for virtual appearances must be received at least five days before the scheduled hearing.
All motions and proposed orders for virtual appearances must be received no later than 5 days prior to the scheduled hearing date.
Page 1 | I. IN PERSON HEARINGS
Proposed orders or judgments will be held for five working days unless written confirmation states that there is no objection.
Note that proposed orders or judgments will be held for 5 working days absent written confirmation that there is no objection to the proposed order or judgment.
Page 4 | VII. PROPOSED ORDERS AND JUDGMENTS
Service and Proof of Service Rules
When providing virtual-hearing exhibits to the Court, parties must also copy opposing counsel.
If any exhibits are to be introduced during the virtual hearing, they must be provided to the Court (copying opposing counsel) at least 72 hours in advance of the hearing (excluding holidays and weekends)
Civil cases
Page 3 | VII. EVIDENCE FOR VIRTUAL HEARINGS
A party requesting a case be heard must provide a notice of hearing to the Court and all other parties.
A party calling a case up for hearing must provide to the Court and all other parties a Notice of Hearing.
Page 2 | III. NOTICING HEARINGS
The party who cancels a hearing must notify all participants, including any self-represented party.
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 all participants of the cancellation, including any pro se party.
Page 2 | IV. CANCELLATION OF HEARINGS
The submitting party or counsel must provide copies of the signed order or judgment to any party 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.
Page 3 | VII. PROPOSED ORDERS AND JUDGMENTS
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.
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.
Civil cases
Page 2 | IV. SUBMISSION OF CASELAW AND OTHER PREHEARING MATERIALS FOR VIRTUAL HEARINGS
Courtesy Copy Requirements
All parties must submit courtesy copies of caselaw and other materials they intend to rely on or refer to at a virtual hearing no later than 72 hours beforehand, excluding holidays and weekends.
No later than 72 hours in advance of any hearing (excluding holidays and weekends), all parties must submit to the court courtesy copies of caselaw or any other materials the party intends to rely upon or refer to during the virtual hearing.
Civil cases
Page 2 | IV. SUBMISSION OF CASELAW AND OTHER PREHEARING MATERIALS FOR VIRTUAL HEARINGS
Email the judicial assistant a copy of the motion being heard and the notice of hearing at least ten days before the hearing.
A copy of the Motion that is being heard, along with the Notice of Hearing must be emailed to wwatson@jud10.flcourts.org at least 10 days in advance of the hearing.
Page 2 | III. NOTICING HEARINGS
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
Parties submitting orders are responsible for ensuring confidential information in the filings is appropriately redacted or identified for redaction.
Effective July 1, 2021, parties submitting orders are solely responsible for ensuring any confidential information contained in filings in these cases is appropriately redacted or identified for redaction.
Page 4 | VII. PROPOSED ORDERS AND JUDGMENTS
Chambers Communication Rules
The party scheduling a hearing must contact the other parties to determine how much hearing time each will need.
The party scheduling a hearing is responsible for contacting all other parties to determine how much time each party will require.
Page 1 | II. SCHEDULED HEARINGS
To obtain hearing time, email the judicial assistant with the case number, party names, matters to be heard, and time required.
Hearing time may be obtained by email to the judicial assistant at wwatson@jud10.flcourts.org Such request must include the case number, party names, matter(s) to be heard, and time required.
Page 1 | II. SCHEDULED HEARINGS
After all parties have agreed upon a hearing date and time, email the judicial assistant with the agreed upon date and time, along with the time each party will require to present his or her position during the hearing. You must send back an email to reserve a particular hearing date/time.
After all parties have agreed upon a hearing date and time, email the judicial assistant with the agreed upon date and time, along with the time each party will require to present his or her position during the hearing. You must send back an email to reserve a particular hearing date/time.
Page 1 | II. SCHEDULED HEARINGS
Email a copy of every emergency motion to the Court because filing it only with the Clerk’s Office will not bring it to the Court’s attention.
Please email a copy of any emergency motion to the Court. Simply filing an emergency motion with the Clerk’s Office will not bring the motion to the attention of the Court.
Page 3 | V. EMERGENCY MOTIONS
Unless an emergency motion is submitted ex parte, the email to the Court must include a cover letter stating that the submission was copied to opposing counsel or the opposing party.
Unless the motion is being submitted ex parte, the email shall include a cover letter that indicates that this submission has been copied to the opposing party/counsel.
Page 3 | V. EMERGENCY MOTIONS
For a proposed order or judgment submitted without a hearing, email the packet containing the motion copy to the Court.
All proposed orders or judgments being submitted without a hearing must include a copy of the motion in the packet emailed to the Court.
Page 4 | VII. PROPOSED ORDERS AND JUDGMENTS
Before submitting a motion and proposed order packet for consideration, verify the correct judge with the Clerk’s Office.
Please verify the correct Judge with the Clerk’s Office prior to submitting the motion/proposed Order packet for consideration.
Page 4 | VII. PROPOSED ORDERS AND JUDGMENTS
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.
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.
Civil cases
Page 2 | IV. SUBMISSION OF CASELAW AND OTHER PREHEARING MATERIALS FOR VIRTUAL HEARINGS
Contact the court before using a method other than email to transmit prehearing materials.
Please contact the court before using a method other than email to transmit prehearing materials.
Civil cases
Page 2 | IV. SUBMISSION OF CASELAW AND OTHER PREHEARING MATERIALS FOR VIRTUAL HEARINGS
Participants seeking disability accommodations should contact the Court Administrator at least 7 days before the appearance, or immediately upon receiving notice if fewer than 7 days remain; hearing- or voice-impaired participants may call TDD or Florida Relay.
Please contact the Office of the Court Administrator, (863) 534-4686, at least 7 days before your Scheduled court appearance or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the schedule appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call TDD (863) 534-7777 or Florida Relay Service 711.
Civil cases
Page 2 | III. NOTICING VIRTUAL HEARINGS
Do not use the Court's virtual-hearing chat feature unless the Court expressly authorizes it.
Court-provided remote technology includes a “chat” feature. The chat feature should not be utilized without express authorization from the Court.
Civil cases
Page 4 | IX. VIRTUAL COURTROOM ETIQUETTE
Do not include the Court in electronic communications with other parties about coordinating hearing time.
After obtaining available hearing times, do not include the Court in any electronic communications with other parties relating to the coordination of hearing time.
Page 1 | II. SCHEDULED HEARINGS
A person needing an accommodation should contact the Office of the Court Administrator at least seven days before the appearance, or immediately upon notification if fewer than seven days remain; hearing- or voice-impaired people may call TDD or Florida Relay.
Please contact the Office of the Court Administrator, (863) 534-4686, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the schedule appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call TDD (863) 534-7777 or Florida Relay Service 711.
Page 2 | III. NOTICING HEARINGS
As a courtesy, notify the Court as soon as possible if a hearing’s length changes, so the remaining time may be used for other hearings.
As a courtesy, if the length of a hearing changes in any way (for example, a case settles and you know that a long hearing will now only take a few minutes rather than an hour), please notify the Court as soon as possible. The remainder of that hearing time may be needed for other hearings.
Page 2 | IV. CANCELLATION OF HEARINGS
The Court asks to be notified as soon as a party learns that a hearing will be cancelled.
Please notify the Court as soon as you learn that a hearing is to be cancelled.
Page 2 | IV. CANCELLATION OF HEARINGS