Third Judicial Circuit of Florida (Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor Counties) Service and Proof of Service Rules

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

The movant must serve the emergency or expedited motion directly on the judicial assistant and verify receipt.

The movant must serve a copy of the emergency or expedited motion directly to the judicial assistant and verify receipt.

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 Microsoft Word format (.docx) and provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

CRITICAL

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide each exhibit to the opposing side at least one business day before the proceeding.

Remote Appearances: all attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide copies of each exhibit to the opposing attorneys or self- represented litigants no less than one (1) business day before the proceeding.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of cancellation

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

Additionally, a notice of cancellation must be immediately filed and served on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

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

Proposed order

A copy of each proposed order must be provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

a copy provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

CRITICAL

A 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

A notice of cancellation must be served immediately 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.

CRITICALCriminal cases

The specified motions must be served on opposing counsel at least seven days before the final pretrial hearing.

All motions to suppress, motions in limine requiring an evidentiary hearing, and motions to exclude shall be filed and served upon opposing counsel at least seven days prior to the final pretrial hearing.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must update their contact information on 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 cancellation

A notice of cancellation must be served immediately 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

A 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

Plaintiff’s counsel must distribute a copy to parties without an email address and file a Notice of Filing for the Certificate of Service.

Pursuant to the standing order of this Court, counsel for the Plaintiff shall distribute a copy of the foregoing to all parties not utilizing an electronic mail address and file a “Notice of Filing” for the Certificate of Service.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Service

Email to opposing party

Proposed orders may be submitted to the judicial assistant via email with opposing counsel or self-represented litigants copied.

Proposed orders may be submitted to the judicial assistant via email with opposing counsel or self-represented litigants copied.

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.

CRITICALCriminal cases

These motions must be served on opposing counsel at least seven days before the final pretrial hearing.

All motions to suppress, motions in limine requiring an evidentiary hearing, and motions to exclude shall be filed and served upon opposing counsel at least seven (7) days prior to the final pretrial hearing.

CRITICAL

Deadline

24 hours

Applies to

Witness lists and exhibits

For an emergency hearing, the parties must exchange witness lists and exhibits within 24 hours.

In the event of an emergency hearing, the parties shall exchange witness lists and exhibits within 24 hours.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Disclosure

Parties seeking temporary financial relief must exchange disclosure under Rule 12.285(b)(1).

Parties seeking temporary financial relief must exchange disclosure pursuant to rule 12.285(b)(1).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mandatory disclosure

Mandatory disclosure must be exchanged within 45 days after service of the initial pleading.

Pursuant to Florida Family Law Rule 12.285(b)(2), mandatory disclosure must be exchanged within 45 days of serving the initial pleading, accompanied by the filing of a certificate of compliance as required by Rule 12.285(j).

CRITICAL

Deadline

7 calendar days

Applies to

Witness lists and exhibits

The parties must exchange witness lists and exhibits within 7 calendar days of an evidentiary hearing.

Prior to any evidentiary hearing, the parties shall exchange witness lists and exhibits within 7 calendar days of the hearing.

CRITICAL

Service

Email to opposing party

Proposed orders must be emailed to the opposing party at the address on the service notice or another address designated by that party.

Proposed orders must be submitted to the opposing party by e-mail to the e-mail address on the service notice or as otherwise designated by the party.

CRITICAL

Counsel must provide self-represented parties a copy of an electronically signed order.

The counselors are responsible for providing a copy of an electronically signed Order to any prose parties.

CRITICAL

Service

Mail

If the pro se litigant has not filed an email address on Form 12.915, counsel must mail a copy of the order.

If not, it is the responsibility of counsel to provide a copy of the Order by regular U.S. mail.

INFO

Service

Email

If a pro se litigant has filed Form 12.915 with an email address, the signed order may be provided electronically.

If the prose litigant has included an e-mail address on Form 12.915 (titled "Designation of Current Address and E-mail Address"), filed within the case, it may be provided electronically.