Judge Edward Nicholas
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Communication
Chambers
Document Format Requirements7 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
Final Judgments of Dissolution are to be sent in Word format to FamilyDiv3@jud12.flcourts.org.
DOCX
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
The proposed order must be submitted electronically through the Portal in Word (.docx) format. If not submitted in Word format, it will be rejected.
DOCX
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
Cover letters must be submitted through the Portal in PDF/A format.
PDF A
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
Do not include a date; the date is included with the judge’s electronic signature. Please leave adequate room in the document for the judge’s electronic signature.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
Final judgments should be sent in Word format
DOCX
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Note
Any ancillary documents related to the proposed order (copy of the motion, case law, legal memorandums, etc.) may be attached to the cover letter in PDF/A format.
PDF A
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
Include any unnecessary headers or footers (e.g., firm names) within the proposed Order
Document Filing Requirements13 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
Please make sure the certificate of service is completed and includes all email addresses the order should be sent to.
DocumentProposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
All proposed orders submitted through the Portal to judges and magistrates in Manatee County require a cover letter.
DocumentProposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
Please do not submit a proposed order until all parties have reviewed and approved the proposed order.
DocumentProposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
The Court expects that you will only submit a proposed order when all attorneys or parties agree on the form.
DocumentProposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
Proposed orders should conclude with the following language: “done and ordered in Chambers, Manatee County, Florida.”
DocumentProposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
Motions and proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal as separate documents. Combined motion/proposed orders in the same document are not permitted.
DocumentMotion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
If the agreement is not evident in the Motion and proposed Order, the party must submit documentation establishing the agreement.
DocumentProposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
The Notice of Hearing for hearings by Zoom must contain the correct Zoom credentials and specific language which can be found on Judge Nicholas’ Zoom Information page.
DocumentNotice Of Hearing
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
If there is a disagreement on the form, or an attorney does not respond within a reasonable period of time, you may then file the proposed order through the Portal with a cover letter concisely stating the disagreement or steps you took to confer with the opposing attorney.
DocumentProposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
All Stipulations (once e-filed) shall be submitted with the proposed order as its own document.
DocumentProposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
If there is a disagreement on the form, or an attorney does not respond within a reasonable period of time, you may then send the proposed order with a concise statement identifying the disagreement and the steps you took.
DocumentProposed Order
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Pro se litigants are required to provide an email address pursuant to Rule 2.516, Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration, to receive signed orders electronically.
DocumentProposed Order
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
If a cover letter is not included, it will be rejected.
DocumentProposed Order
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Unless good cause is shown, proposed orders must be submitted electronically through the statewide Portal whenever feasible.
Effective May 2, 2022, unless good cause is shown, proposed orders are required to be submitted electronically through the statewide Portal whenever feasible.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders — Proposed Orders - Through the Portal
Quadro, IRS Transfer, and WIO/IWO documents should be sent to the Family Division 3 email address.
The following items should be sent to FamilyDiv3@jud12.flcourts.org: Quadro IRS Transfer WIO/IWO
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders — Exceptions
Pro se litigants and attorneys who have shown good cause may email proposed orders to the Family Division 3 address in Word format only.
Pro se litigants or attorneys whom have shown good cause, may submit proposed orders electronically in Word format only to FamilyDiv3@jud12.flcourts.org.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders — Exceptions
Pro se litigants are encouraged but not required to submit proposed orders through the Portal.
Pro se litigants are encouraged, but not required, to submit proposed orders through the Portal.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders — Exceptions
Service and Proof of Service Rules
When an order is submitted electronically, the Judicial Assistant will serve it on the parties by email.
If an order is submitted electronically, the Judicial Assistant will serve the Order on the parties via email.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders — ‘Do Nots’
Chambers Communication Rules
Communications to the Family Law Division 3 email must comply with all court-contact rules, including rules governing ex parte communication.
Communications sent to the Family Law Division 3 email shall comply with all rules and requirements governing contact with the Court including ex parte communication.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court
All parties must be copied on the email submitting the document for review.
All parties must be cc’d for the document to be reviewed.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders
To schedule a hearing requiring more than 60 minutes, email Family Division 3, copy opposing counsel or party, and include the case number, motion title, requested time, and relevant details.
A hearing, including a hearing for Temporary Relief or Contempt, that requires more than 60 minutes, is considered an Extended Hearing. In order to schedule an Extended Hearing, send an email to Family Division 3, copy opposing counsel/party. The email should contain: the case number, title of the motion, how much time is being requested, and any specific details (issues, evidence, witnesses, etc.).
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Extended Hearings (Over 60 minutes)
The specified email address may be used only for the permitted proposed-order submissions, and the judicial assistant must not be copied.
Please do not use this email for any other purpose and please do not copy the judicial assistant on the email.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders — Exceptions
Email may be used to seek hearing time or send documents, but not to argue or persuade the Court on substantive or procedural matters.
Email is strictly a method of communicating seeking hearing time or sending documents and is not a medium to state a position, make an argument, or attempt to persuade the Court on a substantive or procedural matter.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court