Court Rules
Judge

Judge Hillary Ellis

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Rules last changed:
Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota)

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Case Law

  • At Least 48 Hours Before Hearing

Hearing

  • Email

Notice Of Cancellation

  • Email

Rehearing Motions, Reconsideration Motions, New Trial Motions

Filters:

Document Filing Requirements2 rules

Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory

An emergency motion must certify counsel's efforts to resolve the dispute and state opposing counsel's position before an emergency hearing is requested.

The motion shall contain certification that the attorney has personally spoken with opposing counsel, or has made diligent attempts to contact opposing counsel, in an effort to resolve the disputed issue(s) and recite opposing counsel’s position prior to requesting an emergency hearing.

DocumentEmergency Motion

Fl Twelfth:7ec5265757cfed95b62121fa · Jun 2026|SecF. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters
Filing Requirements

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?

The motion shall be accompanied by a cover letter that must include an estimate of the amount of hearing time required.

DocumentEmergency Motion

Fl Twelfth:7ec5265757cfed95b62121fa · Jun 2026|SecF. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

Proposed orders must be submitted through the statewide Portal as described in Administrative Order 2022-1.2.

All Proposed Orders shall be submitted to the statewide Portal as is described in Administrative Order 2022-1.2.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders

After the Clerk enters default, the Final Judgment of Possession may be sent through the portal to the Judicial Assistant, and no hard copy is needed.

Once the Clerk has entered the Default, the Final Judgment of Possession may be sent through the portal to the Judicial Assistant. Hard copies are not necessary.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Documents normally filed with the clerk must be filed at least 3 business days before the hearing.

Any documents that would normally be filed with the clerk shall be filed with the clerk 3 business days in advance of the hearing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | A. Remote Appearance

Motions must be filed before or at the same time hearing time is reserved.

All motions must be filed prior to or simultaneously with reserving hearing time.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures

Service and Proof of Service Rules

When filing with the Clerk or providing a copy to the Judge, send a copy to all attorneys or parties at the same time.

Whenever you file something with the Clerk or provide the Judge a copy, you must send a copy to all the attorneys or parties at the same time.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court

Courtesy Copy Requirements

Copies of case law must be provided at least 48 hours before the scheduled hearing.

Provide copies of case law at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled hearing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures

Motions for rehearing, reconsideration, or new trial must be filed with the Clerk and a copy submitted directly to the Judge.

All motions for Rehearing, Reconsideration or for New Trial must be filed with the Clerk and a copy submitted directly to the Judge.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures

Courtesy copies of Notices of Cancellation should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant; hard copies are unnecessary.

Please email courtesy copies of Notices of Cancellation to the JA. Hard copies are not necessary.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures

Courtesy copies of hearings should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant; hard copies are unnecessary.

Please email courtesy copies of hearings to the Judicial Assistant. Hard copies are not necessary.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures

Chambers Communication Rules

Do not ask the Judicial Assistant for a hearing outcome or to verify whether an order has been signed; check the Clerk's website instead.

Please do not ask the Judicial Assistant for the outcome of a hearing or verify that an order has been signed; you may review the Manatee County Clerk website for details about your case.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court

Requests for more than 60 minutes of hearing time require contacting the Judicial Assistant to specially set the hearing.

If you are requesting more than 60 minutes, please contact the Judicial Assistant to specially set it.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures

Contact the Judicial Assistant if hearing time is unavailable or obtaining it would require waiting more than two weeks.

If you find there is insufficient hearing time available or you have to wait more than two weeks to obtain hearing time, please contact the Judicial Assistant.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures

Emails to the Judicial Assistant must include the case number and style in the subject line.

Emails must include the case number and style in subject line.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 113 rules apply across Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota). Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 31
  • Applies to
    County civil complaint

    County civil complaints must be filed with the Standing Order and Case Management Report, except eviction complaints and other section 51.011 summary proceedings.

  • Applies to
    County civil complaint or petition

    The clerks must require the Standing Order and Case Management Report to be attached to county civil complaints or petitions, except eviction complaints and other section 51.011 summary proceedings.

  • Applies to
    County civil complaint or petition

    The clerk must reject a new county civil complaint or petition that omits the Standing Order or Case Management Report, except an eviction or other summary proceeding.

Adjournments

All 18

  • Attorneys should cooperate on reasonable rescheduling, cancellation, extension, and postponement requests when they will not prejudice the client or unduly delay a proceeding.

  • Attorneys should ordinarily grant a first reasonable extension to respond to a litigation deadline when it will not prejudice the client, unduly delay a proceeding, or when time is not of the essence.

  • Additional extension requests should be evaluated by balancing expediency, deference to the adversary, and the likelihood that the court would grant the extension.

Service

All 15

  • Plaintiffs must serve the Standing Order and Case Management Report on all defendants with the initial process.

  • Service
    Email to all parties

    When the Case Management Report is filed, the parties must email a copy to the assigned judge’s designated email and copy all parties.

  • Applies to
    Complaint

    For all small claims PIP cases, serve a copy of the Civil Cover Sheet and the Addendum with the Complaint.

E-Filing

All 12
  • Applies to
    Proposed order

    Judges and magistrates may accept proposed orders through the Portal for review and signature without filing them in the court file.

  • Applies to
    Proposed order

    Judges and magistrates are encouraged to set Portal procedures, and proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal if their requirements do not address them.

  • Applies to
    Proposed order

    The court allowed a three-month transition period before requiring attorneys to submit proposed orders through the Portal whenever feasible.

More categories

View all Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota) rules
About Judge Hillary Ellis

- **Judicial Service:** County Court Bench, May 2026 - **Education:** JD, Faulkner University, Jones School of Law

- **Division Assignment(s):** County Civil/Small Claims Division 2 - Manatee County - **Judicial Assistant:** Stephanie Flores - **Email:** codivision2@jud12.flcourts.org - **Phone:** (941) 749‐3629 - **Physical Address:** 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205 - **Mailing Address:** P.O. Box 3000, Bradenton, FL 34206 - **Courtroom:** Proceedings are held in multiple courtrooms at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205 or by Zoom technology. The specific courtroom will be designated on the daily docket.

Common questions about Judge Hillary Ellis's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Hillary Ellis?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for rehearing, reconsideration, and new trial. Motions for rehearing, reconsideration, or new trial must be filed with the Clerk and a copy submitted directly to the Judge.

View ruleSource: page 1, section B. Hearing Procedures

What must be included with emergency motion filings before Judge Hillary Ellis?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. An emergency motion must certify counsel's efforts to resolve the dispute and state opposing counsel's position before an emergency hearing is requested.

View ruleSource: page 1, section F. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters

How may parties contact Judge Hillary Ellis' chambers?

Requests for more than 60 minutes of hearing time require contacting the Judicial Assistant to specially set the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section B. Hearing Procedures

Is electronic filing required before Judge Hillary Ellis?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Proposed orders must be submitted through the statewide Portal as described in Administrative Order 2022-1.2.

View ruleSource: page 1, section D. Submission of Orders

What filing deadlines does Judge Hillary Ellis set?

Documents normally filed with the clerk must be filed at least 3 business days before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section A. Remote Appearance

What rule applies to serving all parties before Judge Hillary Ellis?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: all parties, timing: at filing. When filing with the Clerk or providing a copy to the Judge, send a copy to all attorneys or parties at the same time.

View ruleSource: page 1, section C. Communications with the Court
Complete rules summary for Judge Hillary Ellis

Documents normally filed with the clerk must be filed at least 3 business days before the hearing.

Motions must be filed before or at the same time hearing time is reserved.

Courtesy copies of hearings should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant; hard copies are unnecessary.

Requests for more than 60 minutes of hearing time require contacting the Judicial Assistant to specially set the hearing.

Contact the Judicial Assistant if hearing time is unavailable or obtaining it would require waiting more than two weeks.

Courtesy copies of Notices of Cancellation should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant; hard copies are unnecessary.

Motions for rehearing, reconsideration, or new trial must be filed with the Clerk and a copy submitted directly to the Judge.

Copies of case law must be provided at least 48 hours before the scheduled hearing.

When filing with the Clerk or providing a copy to the Judge, send a copy to all attorneys or parties at the same time.

Emails to the Judicial Assistant must include the case number and style in the subject line.

Do not ask the Judicial Assistant for a hearing outcome or to verify whether an order has been signed; check the Clerk's website instead.

Proposed orders must be submitted through the statewide Portal as described in Administrative Order 2022-1.2.

After the Clerk enters default, the Final Judgment of Possession may be sent through the portal to the Judicial Assistant, and no hard copy is needed.

An emergency motion must certify counsel's efforts to resolve the dispute and state opposing counsel's position before an emergency hearing is requested.

An emergency motion must be accompanied by a cover letter estimating the hearing time required.

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