Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 721 rules apply across Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Hillsborough County. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 259
  • Applies to
    Waiver of jury trial

    A defendant electing a non-jury trial must personally sign and file a Waiver of Jury Trial form with the court.

  • Applies to
    Notice of related cases form

    A petitioner must complete and file a Notice of Related Cases form, using Form 12.900(h), when related cases are pending and known or reasonably ascertainable, except in the Domestic Relations I Family Law Divisions.

  • Applies to
    Notice of related cases

    Petitioners in the Domestic Relations I Family Law Divisions must complete and file a Notice of Related Cases form using Form 12.900(h), even when no related cases exist.

Filing Timing

All 122
  • All motions and notices of hearing must be filed by noon on the business day before the hearing.

  • An attorney of record may not withdraw unless a motion to withdraw is filed, heard, and granted at least 30 days before trial.

  • Deadline
    10 calendar days

    An objection to referral must be filed within 10 days of service of the order of referral.

Service

All 91
  • Deadline
    2 business days
    Applies to
    Case law
    Service
    Electronic service to court

    A party using case law in support of or opposition to a filed motion must provide an electronic copy of the case law, the notice of hearing, and the motion to the presiding judge's office and opposing counsel or party at least two business days before the hearing.

  • Service
    Court service to all parties

    After obtaining a hearing time, the clerk must notify all necessary parties.

  • Applies to
    Motion
    Service
    Email

    The clerk must email motions filed by self-represented defendants to the presiding judge and judicial assistant.

E-Filing

All 68
  • Applies to
    Probable cause application

    Law enforcement agency attorneys must submit the probable-cause application by email to the County Criminal Division C judicial assistant for filing in the Clerk's Administrative File.

  • Applies to
    Proposed order

    The law enforcement agency attorney must submit the proposed order through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal using the assigned Clerk's Administrative File number.

  • Applies to
    Motion

    Except for Motions for Discharge and Motions for Speedy Trial, an attorney must e-file a motion for hearing simultaneously with a Notice of Hearing after coordinating the hearing time with the opposing attorney or party.

About Judge Helene L. Daniel

The Honorable Helene L. Daniel --- #### Year elected to the Bench: 2020 Commissioned in January 2021 #### Assignments: - General Circuit Civil – Division H - Tampa - General Civil and Family Law – Division R – Plant City - Administrative Judge, East Circuit – Plant City #### Education - Law School: Juris Doctor, Nova University College of Law - Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts, Stetson University, Foreign Languages #### Professional Activities - American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) - Past President, Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers - Member, Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers - Member, Hillsborough County Bar Association - Member, Tampa Sister Cities Organization - Member, International Association of Women Judges - Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator - Judicial Chair, Southwest Region, Mediation Qualification Disciplinary Review Board, 2022-Present - Judicial Master, The William Reece Smith, Jr., Litigation Inn of Court, 2020-2021; 2023-Present - Barrister, Ferguson-White Inn of Court, 2009-2011 - Appointed to the Florida Bar Grievance Committee for the 13th Judicial Circuit, 2005-2008 - Director, National Conference of Women Bar Association, 2009-2011 - Rated AV-Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell® (while in private practice)

**Edgecomb Courthouse** - 800 E. Twiggs St., Room #521 - Tampa, Florida 33602 - Courtroom #502 - Judicial Assistant: Tammy Farina - Phone: (813) 272-6972 - Email: gencivdivh@fljud13.org

Common questions about Judge Helene L. Daniel's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Helene L. Daniel?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motions. Details: delivery immediately upon filing, by email. After an emergency motion is filed and properly flagged, a courtesy copy must be emailed to the judicial assistant.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Circuit Civil Division H Preferences - The Top Ten

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Helene L. Daniel?

Judge Helene L. Daniel's formatting rule includes file format PDF. The Uniform Order Setting Trial and Pre-Trial must be submitted in PDF format only.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Schedule

What must be included with notice of hearing filings before Judge Helene L. Daniel?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Every notice of hearing must include the filing date and docket number of the matter scheduled for hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Circuit Civil Division H Preferences - The Top Ten

What must be included with proposed order filings before Judge Helene L. Daniel?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. An agreed proposed order must be uploaded through the portal in PDF format with a cover letter identifying the hearing date and confirming party agreement.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Circuit Civil Division H Preferences - The Top Ten

How may parties contact Judge Helene L. Daniel's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Helene L. Daniel's chambers. The rule lists email gencivdivh@fljud13.org. The party scheduling a hearing must promptly notify the judicial assistant, opposing party or counsel, and any scheduled court reporter if the hearing is cancelled or rescheduled.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Circuit Civil Division H Preferences - The Top Ten

Does Judge Helene L. Daniel require motion papers to be bundled?

No. The rule prohibits holding covered papers for bundling. For UMC Hearings lasting 5-7 minutes and CMC Hearings lasting 15 or 30 minutes, do not submit binders or other paper documents to Chambers.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Circuit Civil Division H Preferences - The Top Ten

Is electronic filing required before Judge Helene L. Daniel?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. The Uniform Order Setting Trial and Pre-Trial must be uploaded through the e-portal in PDF format only.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Schedule

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Helene L. Daniel?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Authority and other documents intended for the court's consideration must be filed at least three business days before the hearing or earlier if applicable rules require an earlier date.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Circuit Civil Division H Preferences - The Top Ten
Complete rules summary for Judge Helene L. Daniel

The judicial assistant must be emailed to confirm availability for agreed trial and pretrial conference dates.

The trial order must state that the pretrial conference is in person.

The Uniform Order Setting Trial and Pre-Trial must be uploaded through the e-portal in PDF format only.

The Uniform Order Setting Trial and Pre-Trial must be submitted in PDF format only.

The judicial assistant must be emailed to schedule a certain trial date for non-jury trials.

Parties may email the judicial assistant to request an in-person hearing, non-jury trial, or evidentiary hearing.

Pro se litigants may email the judicial assistant to obtain hearing availability.

A request for a hearing longer than 30 minutes requires contacting the judicial assistant for availability.

Every notice of hearing must include the filing date and docket number of the matter scheduled for hearing.

Proposed orders must be uploaded to the e-portal in PDF format, and Word versions are automatically rejected.

Proposed orders are required to be in PDF format when uploaded to the e-portal.

An agreed proposed order must be uploaded through the portal in PDF format with a cover letter identifying the hearing date and confirming party agreement.

For disputed orders, one email to the judicial assistant must include a cover letter describing the differences, the hearing date, and Word versions of the competing orders.

Requests or messages to the judicial assistant must be sent by email with all other parties copied.

For UMC Hearings lasting 5-7 minutes and CMC Hearings lasting 15 or 30 minutes, do not submit binders or other paper documents to Chambers.

Authority and other documents intended for the court's consideration must be filed at least three business days before the hearing or earlier if applicable rules require an earlier date.

For hearings lasting 45 minutes or longer, hearing binders may be submitted by regular mail or courthouse drop-off at least three business days before the hearing, but not by email.

After an emergency motion is filed and properly flagged, a courtesy copy must be emailed to the judicial assistant.

The party scheduling a hearing must promptly notify the judicial assistant, opposing party or counsel, and any scheduled court reporter if the hearing is cancelled or rescheduled.

Every notice of hearing must include the hearing date and time, reserved duration, motion titles and document numbers, and the appropriate Zoom or in-person location information.

Pretrial conferences must be in person, each party must have at least one trial counsel present, and an agreed pretrial conference order must be emailed to the judicial assistant in Word format before the conference.

An agreed pretrial conference order must be emailed to the judicial assistant in Word format before the pretrial conference date.

Any attorney or pro se party that used AI in preparing a filing must disclose that use in a clear factual statement and certify that all legal and record citations were verified as accurate.

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