Judge Michael S. Williams
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Notice Of Cancellation
Chambers Copy
Court-wideCourtesy copies
Court-wideExtraordinary Writ Petition
Court-wide- Immediately Upon Filing
Adjournments
- A hearing may not be cancelled without notifying all parties and obtaining their agreement.
- A case-management continuance motion must state the reasons, include a jointly signed agreement, and attach a proposed order ratifying the continuance.
- The signed continuance agreement and proposed order must confirm service and responsive pleading, financial-affidavit exchange and disclosures, parenting-course compliance when applicable, mediation status, and the new conference date.
Request must include
- A motion to continue a case-management conference must be emailed through the judicial assistant no later than two business days before the scheduled conference.
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Clerk
Clerk
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Document Format Requirements3 rules
An equitable-distribution issue should be submitted as one Excel worksheet distinguishing agreed items from disputed items by different highlight colors.
If equitable distribution (ED) is an issue, please provide a single ED Worksheet in Excel highlighting those items the parties agree upon and a different highlight color for those items not agreed upon.
A proposed order that is not agreed upon, or a competing order, should be submitted as a Word document.
Proposed Orders that are NOT agreed upon by the parties or competing Orders should be submitted to the Judicial Assistant by email and attached as a “WORD” formatted document, which will be forwarded to the Judge upon receipt of both proposed competing Orders.
DOCX
A party-agreed proposed order must be submitted in PDF format when sent through ePortal.
Proposed Orders that are agreed upon by the parties can be submitted to the Judge for signature through ePortal as a “PDF” formatted document.
Document Filing Requirements9 rules
The Notice of Hearing must include the Court’s Zoom login information.
Please include the Court’s Zoom log-in information on Notice of Hearing.
Document Type
Notice Of Hearing
Signatures on pro se summary-administration petitions must be notarized.
In addition to the requirements listed above, all signatures related to petitions for summary administration filed pro se must be notarized.
Document Type
Petition For Summary Administration
For summary administration, a petition filed within two years of death must be accompanied by proof of paid funeral expenses.
If the decedent died less than two years before the date of the filing, the petition for summary administration must be accompanied by a paid funeral bill or other satisfactory proof that the funeral expenses have been paid.
Document Type
Petition For Summary Administration
Signatures on pro se formal-administration petitions must be notarized.
In addition to the requirements listed above, all signatures related to petitions for administration filed pro se must be notarized.
Document Type
Petition For Administration
Summary-administration petitions in intestate estates must include an affidavit of heirs.
All petitions for summary administration in intestate estates must be accompanied by an affidavit of heirs.
Document Type
Petition For Summary Administration
Formal-administration petitions in intestate estates must include an affidavit of heirs.
All petitions for administration in intestate estates must be accompanied by an affidavit of heirs.
Document Type
Petition For Administration
When a hearing will be conducted via Zoom, the Notice of Hearing must include the Court’s Zoom login information.
IF HEARING WILL BE CONDUCTED VIA ZOOM, PLEASE INCLUDE THE COURT’S ZOOM LOG-IN INFORMATION ON NOTICE OF HEARING.
Document Type
Notice Of Hearing
For formal administration, a petition filed within two years of death must be accompanied by proof of paid funeral expenses.
If the decedent died less than two years before the date of filing, the petition for administration must be accompanied by a paid funeral bill or other satisfactory proof that the funeral expenses have been paid.
Document Type
Petition For Administration
An order resulting from a hearing must state the hearing date in its opening paragraph and should not be uploaded more than two days before the hearing.
Every Order that is uploaded to e-portal as a result of a hearing MUST include the date of the hearing in the opening paragraph of the Order and SHOULD NOT be uploaded more than 2 days before the hearing.
Document Type
Order
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Motions must be filed in writing through the ePortal or directly with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court.
Any motions must be filed in writing through the ePortal or directly with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court.
Page 1 | HEARINGS
When the parties agree to cancel a hearing or court appearance because of settlement, a Notice of Cancellation must be immediately e-filed with the clerk.
When the parties agree that a hearing or other court appearance needs to be cancelled or that the parties have reached a settlement in the case, a Notice of Cancellation MUST be immediately e-filed ===== PAGE 2 ===== with the Clerk of Court
Page 1 | CANCELLATION OF HEARING
Every post-judgment matter must upload an Order of Referral to the General Magistrate through ePortal for signature when the motion is filed.
All post judgment matters must have an Order of Referral to the General Magistrate uploaded through the ePortal for signature at the same time the motion is filed.
Page 2 | POST JUDGMENT HEARINGS
All orders in East Circuit Probate Division O must be uploaded through the e-portal.
ALL ORDERS MUST BE UPLOADED THROUGH THE E-PORTAL to EAST CIRCUIT PROBATE DIVISION O.
Page 1 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
A party-agreed proposed order may be submitted to the judge for signature through ePortal as a PDF document.
Proposed Orders that are agreed upon by the parties can be submitted to the Judge for signature through ePortal as a “PDF” formatted document.
Page 2 | SUBMITTING PROPOSED ORDERS
Certified copies of death certificates may be filed electronically and should not be mailed to the clerk.
The following documents no longer need to be originals and should not be mailed to the Clerk’s office: 1. Certified copies of Death Certificates can be e-filed.
Page 1 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
The Oath of Personal Representative and Designation of Resident Agent and Acceptance may be filed electronically.
Oath of Personal Representative and Designation of Resident Agent and Acceptance can be e-filed.
Page 1 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
Hard copies of proposed orders must not be mailed.
Please do not mail in hard copies of proposed orders.
Page 2 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
An Income Withholding Order may be uploaded to ePortal.
Income Withholding Orders may be uploaded to the ePortal.
Page 2 | SUBMITTING PROPOSED ORDERS
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Five days before a qualifying family-law trial, each party must provide a final financial affidavit highlighting only contested entries.
Five (5) days prior to family law trials in which alimony, child support and/or attorney’s fees are an issue, each party is required to provide to the court a copy of their respective final financial affidavit highlighting only the entries that are contested.
Page 1 | HEARING/TRIAL EXHIBITS
Attorneys must wait three business days after filing through the e-portal or submitting original documents before uploading the order.
Please wait 3 business days after filing through the e-portal or submitting original documents to upload the Order to allow time for the Clerk’s office to docket same.
Page 1 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
Documents responding to an Order to Show Cause must be filed no later than five business days before the hearing.
Documents filed in response to an Order to Show Cause MUST be filed no later than 5 business days prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
Exhibits intended for introduction at a hearing or trial must be submitted at least three days beforehand in a tabbed binder with an index.
ALL EXHIBITS INTENDED TO BE INTRODUCED IN HEARING/TRIAL MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 3 DAYS BEFORE HEARING/TRIAL AND BE SUBMITTED IN A BINDER WITH AN INDEX AND TABBED.
Page 2 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
An order should not be uploaded more than two days before the hearing; orders uploaded earlier will be rejected and removed.
SHOULD NOT be uploaded more than 2 days before the hearing. If an Order is uploaded more than 2 days in advance of a hearing, the Clerk of the Circuit Court will reject and remove the Order.
Page 2 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
Exhibits and case law for evidentiary hearings or trials should be sent to Judge Williams five days before the hearing.
All exhibits and/or case law for any evidentiary hearing or trial should be sent to Judge Williams at Plant City Courthouse, 301 N. Michigan Ave., Room 2006, Plant City, FL 33563 five (5) days prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | HEARING/TRIAL EXHIBITS
Case law submitted for contested hearings must be submitted at least three days before the hearing.
CASE LAW MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST 3 DAYS BEFORE HEARING.
Page 1 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
Service and Proof of Service Rules
If a pro se party has no email address associated with the case, the attorney must mail the party a copy of the order.
If a party is pro se and does not have an email address associated with the case, the attorney will be responsible for mailing copy of the Order to pro se party.
Page 2 | SUBMITTING PROPOSED ORDERS
The attorney must provide an electronically signed order to any pro se party.
It is the responsibility of the attorney to provide copy of electronically signed Order to any pro se parties.
Page 2 | SUBMITTING PROPOSED ORDERS
Opposing counsel or parties must be copied on division emails, and a copy of the Notice of Hearing must be emailed to the judicial assistant.
If any case has opposing counsel/parties, they MUST be copied on any emails to the division JA. Please email copy of Notice of Hearing to JA at snelljd@fljud13.org.
Page 2 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A courtesy copy of the Notice of Cancellation must be emailed to the division.
AND a courtesy copy of said Notice of Cancellation emailed to the division at EastCirDivP@fljud13.org.
Page 2 | CANCELLATION OF HEARING
Filing Bundling Requirements
Exhibits intended for introduction at a hearing or trial must be bundled in a tabbed binder with an index.
ALL EXHIBITS INTENDED TO BE INTRODUCED IN HEARING/TRIAL MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 3 DAYS BEFORE HEARING/TRIAL AND BE SUBMITTED IN A BINDER WITH AN INDEX AND TABBED.
Page 2 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
Competing proposed orders are held for submission to the judge until both orders have been received.
which will be forwarded to the Judge upon receipt of both proposed competing Orders.
Page 2 | SUBMITTING PROPOSED ORDERS
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A hearing may not be cancelled without notifying all parties and obtaining their agreement.
DO NOT CANCEL A HEARING WITHOUT NOTIFICATION AND AGREEMENT OF ALL PARTIES.
Page 1 | CANCELLATION OF HEARING
A case-management continuance motion must state the reasons, include a jointly signed agreement, and attach a proposed order ratifying the continuance.
The motion shall include the reason(s) for the continuance and a statement jointly signed by the parties agreeing to the continuance as well as a proposed Order ratifying same.
Page 2 | CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES
A motion to continue a case-management conference must be emailed through the judicial assistant no later than two business days before the scheduled conference.
The moving party shall submit his/her motion for continuance to the Judge through his Judicial Assistant by email no later than two (2) business days before the scheduled Case Management Conference.
Page 2 | CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES
The signed continuance agreement and proposed order must confirm service and responsive pleading, financial-affidavit exchange and disclosures, parenting-course compliance when applicable, mediation status, and the new conference date.
The signed agreement and proposed Order shall confirm the following: (1) service of process has been effectuated and an answer or responsive pleading has been filed; (2) both parties have exchanged financial affidavits and complied with mandatory disclosure requirements; (3) if there are minor children, both parties have completed the parenting course and filed their certificates of completion with the Clerk of the Court; (4) mediation has been completed or is scheduled and will not be canceled except by Order of the Court; and (5) the date/time of the new Case Management Conference.
Page 2 | CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES
Chambers Communication Rules
Requests for hearings longer than 30 minutes must be emailed to the judicial assistant with a copy to the opposing party or attorney.
If more than 30 minutes is needed, please email JA at EastCirDivP@fljud13.org and copy opposing party or attorney.
Page 1 | SCHEDULING HEARINGS ON JAWS
Hearing scheduling and cancellation communications should be emailed to the division with all parties copied and must identify the case number, case name, hearing matter, and needed hearing length.
The preferred form of communication for setting and cancelling hearings is by email at EastCirDivP@fljud13.org with copy to all parties. The following should be included in the email: case number, case name, matter to be scheduled for hearing, and length of time needed for the hearing.
Page 1 | COMMUNICATION WITH THIS OFFICE
A proposed order that is not agreed upon, or a competing order, should be emailed to the judicial assistant as a Word document and will be forwarded to the judge after both competing orders arrive.
Proposed Orders that are NOT agreed upon by the parties or competing Orders should be submitted to the Judicial Assistant by email and attached as a “WORD” formatted document, which will be forwarded to the Judge upon receipt of both proposed competing Orders.
Page 2 | SUBMITTING PROPOSED ORDERS
The judicial assistant must be emailed to schedule a post-judgment hearing.
You must email the judicial assistant to schedule post judgment hearings.
Page 2 | POST JUDGMENT HEARINGS
For hearings requiring more than 30 minutes, email the judicial assistant and copy the opposing party or attorney.
If more than 30 minutes is needed, please email JA at snelljd@fljud13.org and copy opposing party or attorney.
Page 1 | SCHEDULING HEARINGS ON JAWS
Email the judicial assistant at snelljd@fljud13.org once a hearing time has been agreed upon.
When a hearing time has been agreed upon, please email JA at snelljd@fljud13.org.
Page 1 | SCHEDULING HEARINGS ON JAWS
Scheduling requests should be submitted by email, rather than by telephone, after checking JAWS.
The preferred method for scheduling in East Circuit Probate Division O is by email request rather than telephone. Please email snelljd@fljud13.org only after checking JAWS.
Page 2 | Probate Division O Is Paperless
Questions about the procedure may be directed to Judge Williams’ Judicial Assistant by email at snelljd@fljud13.org.
If you have any questions about this procedure, please contact your attorney or Judge Williams’ Judicial Assistant, Janell Brown, at snelljd@fljud13.org or 813-272-1003.
Page 1 | HEARINGS