Court Rules

Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota) Electronic Filing Rules

138 rules from official source documents

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Electronic filing requirements, permitted filing channels, EFSP portals, and exceptions. This page is scoped to Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota); use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.

CRITICAL

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.

Judges and magistrates are encouraged to establish requirements and procedures for receiving proposed orders through the Portal. If a Judge’s Requirements or Magistrate’s Requirements do not specifically address proposed orders, the default is that all proposed orders shall be submitted electronically to the judge or magistrate through the Portal.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Effective May 2, 2022, attorneys must submit proposed orders through the Portal whenever feasible unless good cause is shown; the requirement excludes paper proposed orders provided to a judge during a proceeding.

Attorneys are advised that effective May 2, 2022, unless good cause is shown, proposed orders are required to be submitted to the judges and magistrates electronically as “proposed documents” through the Portal whenever feasible. This requirement does not apply to paper proposed orders provided to a judge during a court proceeding.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

The listed Guardianship and Probate proposed orders must be e-filed through the Portal to the clerk’s office for the court file.

Because the clerk’s office is required to audit certain Guardianship and Probate matters before proposed orders are entered, the following proposed orders are required to be E-Filed through the Portal to the clerk’s office into the court file: a. Guardianship • Order Approving Initial Plan • Order Approving Annual Plan • Order Approving Initial Inventory • Order Approving Annual Accounting • Order Approving Final Accounting • Order of Discharge b. Probate • Order Admitting Will • Order of Discharge

Court-level rulesOfficial source

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to
Motion to release uncharged defendant

Email motions to release uncharged defendants to the Court and the assigned Assistant State Attorney.

Motions to release uncharged defendants must be emailed to the Court and the assigned Assistant State Attorney.

Judge Andrea DeCanio

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to
Notice of cancellation

Counsel must promptly e-file a Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk and notify all parties.

Counsel shall promptly e-file a Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk of Court and notice all parties.

Judge Andrea DeCanio

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

All proposed orders must be submitted through the E-Filing Portal.

All proposed orders must be submitted through the E-Filing Portal;

Judge Andrea M. Johnson

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Attachments to proposed orders must be submitted simultaneously through the E-Filing Portal in PDF/A format.

Any attachment to a proposed order must simultaneously be submitted through the E-Filing Portal in PDF/A format.

Judge Andrea M. Johnson

CRITICAL

Most self-represented litigants and attorneys must register with the E-Filing Portal to file and receive service of court documents as required by Rule 2.516.

Most self-represented litigants (pro se) as well as attorneys must register with the E-Filing Portal to send file and receive service of court documents as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.

Judge Andrea M. Johnson

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to
Document

All documents for new Probate and Guardianship cases must be electronically filed.

All documents for new Probate and Guardianship cases shall be electronically filed in accordance with Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.525.

Judge Charles E. Williams

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to
Proposed order

The listed guardianship and probate proposed orders must be e-filed for the Clerk’s review or audit.

The following proposed orders are required to be e-filed in order for the Clerk of Circuit Court to conduct their review/audit. Guardianship Order Approving Initial Plan Order Approving Annual Plan Order Approving Initial Inventory Order Approving Annual Accounting Order Approving Final Accounting Order of Discharge Probate Order Admitting Will Order of Discharge

Judge Charles E. Williams

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

If the judge’s or magistrate’s requirements do not address proposed orders, all proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal.

If a Judge’s Requirements or Magistrate’s Requirements do not specifically address proposed orders, the default is that all proposed orders shall be submitted electronically to the judge or magistrate through the Portal.

Judge Charles Sniffen

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

The listed Guardianship and Probate orders must be e-filed through the Portal to the clerk’s office and into the court file.

Because the clerk’s office is required to audit certain Guardianship and Probate matters before proposed orders are entered, the following proposed orders are required to be E-Filed through the Portal to the clerk’s office into the court file: a. Guardianship • Order Approving Initial Plan • Order Approving Annual Plan • Order Approving Initial Inventory • Order Approving Annual Accounting • Order Approving Final Accounting • Order of Discharge b. Probate • Order Admitting Will • Order of Discharge

Judge Charles Sniffen

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Unless good cause is shown, submit proposed orders electronically through the statewide Portal whenever feasible.

Unless good cause is shown, proposed orders are required to be submitted electronically through the statewide Portal whenever feasible.

Judge Charles Sniffen

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Proposed orders must be submitted through the statewide portal or emailed to the Judicial Assistant in Word format.

Proposed orders are required to be submitted electronically through the statewide portal or via email to Judge Felix’s Judicial Assistant at CirCrimDiv1@jud12.flcourts.org in Word format.

Judge D. Ryan Felix

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

Applies to
Stipulation to continue

The Case Management Conference continuance stipulation must be submitted electronically through the statewide portal or by email to the Judicial Assistant.

If the parties agree to continue a Case Management Conference, a Stipulation to Continue must be submitted electronically through the statewide portal or via email to Judge Felix’s Judicial Assistant at CirCrimDiv1@jud12.flcourts.org at least one business day before the hearing.

Judge D. Ryan Felix

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

Applies to
Trial stipulation

Completed trial stipulations must be submitted through the statewide portal or by email to the Judicial Assistant.

Completed stipulations must be submitted electronically through the statewide portal or via email to Judge Felix’s Judicial Assistant at CirCrimDiv1@jud12.flcourts.org.

Judge D. Ryan Felix

CRITICAL

Emails are not motions; parties must file pleadings with the clerk rather than asking the Judicial Assistant to file them.

The Court will not consider emails as motions. Parties shall file their pleadings with the clerk and not impose upon the Judicial Assistant to file for them.

Judge Dana Moss

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Proposed orders must be submitted electronically through the statewide Portal when feasible, unless good cause is shown.

Effective May 2, 2022, unless good cause is shown, proposed orders must be submitted electronically through the statewide Portal when feasible.

Judge Dana Moss

CRITICAL

Applies to
Notice of cancellation

Filing a Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk or through the e-Filing Portal does not cancel the hearing in JACS.

The filing of a Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk or via the e-Filing Portal does not cancel the hearing on JACS.

Judge Danielle Brewer

CRITICAL

Attorneys and most self-represented litigants must register with the E-Filing Portal to send and receive court documents as required by the cited rule.

Most self-represented litigants (pro se litigants) as well as attorneys must register with the Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.

Judge Danielle Brewer

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Submit all proposed orders through the Portal in Word format only.

All proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal and submitted in Word format only.

Judge Danielle Brewer

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Submit any proposed-order attachment through the Portal in PDF/A format at the same time as the proposed order.

Further, any proposed attachment to a proposed order must simultaneously be submitted through the Portal in PDF/A format.

Judge Danielle Brewer

CRITICAL

Most self-represented litigants and attorneys must register with the statewide E-filing Portal to send and receive court documents.

The Florida Courts E-Filing Authority maintains a single, statewide access point to file court documents known as the E-filing Portal. Most self-represented litigants (pro se litigants) as well as attorneys must register with the Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.

Judge Diana Moreland

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

The proposed orders identified for Clerk audit must be e-filed to notify the Clerk to conduct its review.

Matters Requiring Clerk’s Audit Must be E-Filed: However, the following is a list of proposed orders that shall be E-filed in order for the Clerk of Circuit Court to be put on notice to conduct their review/audit.

Judge Diana Moreland

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

For a proposed order requiring a Clerk audit, e-file it as a pleading rather than submitting it through the Judge’s proposed-order option.

For Clerk’s audit (See Matters Requiring Clerk’s Audit Must be E-Filed) For Judge: Select Manatee County; Select Division (Probate/Guardianship); Select Judge Moreland. For Probate and Guardianship cases, do not click on proposed orders for any order that requires an audit by the Clerk’s office. (See the section titled Matters Requiring Clerk’s Audit Must be E-Filed) E-file the proposed order as you would any other pleading.

Judge Diana Moreland

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Submit all proposed orders through the Portal in Word format only.

Proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal: All proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal and submitted in Word format only.

Judge Diana Moreland

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order attachment

Submit any proposed order attachment through the Portal at the same time as the proposed order, in PDF/A format.

Further, any proposed attachment to a proposed order must simultaneously be submitted through the Portal in PDF/A format.

Judge Diana Moreland

CRITICAL

Applies to
Checklist

Complete and e-file the applicable checklist for all cases and for all Ex Parte and JACS hearings.

The checklists shall be done and E-Filed for all cases and for all ex parte and JACS hearings.

Judge Diana Moreland

CRITICALCivil cases

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.

Judge Edward Nicholas

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to
Notice of cancellation

Counsel must promptly e-file a notice of cancellation and notify all parties.

Counsel shall promptly e-file a Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk of Court and notice all parties.

Judge Frederick P. Mercurio

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to
Motion

Motions to release uncharged defendants must be emailed to the Court and assigned prosecutor; the State’s response is due by 4:30 p.m. on receipt day, or by noon the next business day if received in the afternoon, after which a hearing will be set if no response arrives.

Motions to release uncharged defendants must be emailed to the Court and the assigned assistant state attorney. The State will have until 4:30 p.m. of the day a motion was received to respond regarding the State’s intention to file an Information, a Notice of Case Action or no objection to a ROR Order. If the motion is received in the afternoon the State shall respond by the following business day by 12:00 noon. If the JA does not receive a response from the State Attorney by the specified deadline a hearing will be set on the next available hearing date.

Judge Frederick P. Mercurio

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Judges in the Twelfth Circuit must accept proposed orders submitted through the Florida e-Portal.

Pursuant to Administrative Order 2022-1.2, judges in the Twelfth Circuit must accept submission of proposed Orders through the Florida e-Portal.

Judge Guy A. Flowers

CRITICAL

Applies to
Plea form

A defendant pleading by Zoom must submit and e-file the plea form before the plea.

If a defendant is pleading by Zoom, please submit and e-file the plea form prior to the plea.

Judge Heather Doyle

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Proposed orders must be submitted through the statewide Portal.

All Proposed Orders shall be submitted to the statewide Portal as is described in Administrative Order 2022-1.2, as it will result in the quickest turnaround time by the Court.

Judge Heather Doyle

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

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.

Judge Hillary Ellis

CRITICAL

Most self-represented litigants and attorneys must register with the E-Filing Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Rule 2.516.

The Florida Courts E-Filing Authority maintains a single, statewide access point to file court documents known as the E-Filing Portal. Most self-represented litigants (pro se litigants) as well as attorneys must register with the Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.

Judge Hunter W. Carroll

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal in Word format.

All proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal and submitted in Word format only.

Judge Hunter W. Carroll

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Attachments to proposed orders must be submitted simultaneously through the Portal in PDF/A format.

Further, any proposed attachment to a proposed order must simultaneously be submitted through the Portal in PDF/A format.

Judge Hunter W. Carroll

CRITICAL

Applies to
Plea form

For a Zoom plea, the plea form must be submitted and e-filed before the plea.

If a defendant is pleading by Zoom, please submit and e-file the plea form prior to the plea.

Judge Jacqueline B. Steele

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

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.

Judge Kennedy Legler

CRITICAL

Applies to
Motion and proposed order

Motions and proposed orders must be submitted as separate Portal documents; combining them is prohibited.

Motions and proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal as separate documents. Combined motion/proposed orders in the same document are not permitted.

Judge Kennedy Legler

CRITICAL

Applies to
Notice of cancellation

Filing a Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk or through the e-Filing Portal does not itself cancel the JACS hearing.

The filing of a Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk or via the e-Filing Portal does not cancel the hearing on JACS.

Judge Kevin Bruning

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Unless good cause is shown, submit proposed orders 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. See AO: 2022-1.2.

Judge Kevin Bruning

CRITICAL

Applies to
Motion

Submit motions and proposed orders as separate Portal documents; combined motion and proposed-order documents are prohibited.

Motions and proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal as separate documents. Combined motion/proposed orders in the same document are not permitted.

Judge Kevin Bruning

CRITICAL

Applies to
Case management report

Do not send Case Management Reports or Pretrial Orders to the Judicial Assistant or Case Manager; file Case Management Reports in the court file, not the signing portal.

Please do not send a copy of the Case Management Report or Pre-trial Order to the Judicial Assistant or Case Manager. All Case Management Reports (whether agreed or not) need to be filed in the Court file and not sent to the signing portal.

Judge Kevin Bruning

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Submit proposed orders and judgments through the ePortal.

Effectively immediately, proposed orders/judgments are required to be submitted through the ePortal. See Administrative Order 22-1.2.

Judge Maria Ruhl

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

First provide covered juvenile requests to the State Attorney’s Office; then file the documentation with the Clerk and submit a proposed order through the ePortal.

All requests for juvenile release from commitment programs, requests to terminate supervision and/or jurisdiction, and requests related to a youth’s home pass status must be provided to the State Attorney’s Office first. The requesting party shall file all documentation with the clerk, then submit a proposed order through the ePortal.

Judge Maria Ruhl

CRITICAL

Unless excused by court order, every attorney and self-represented litigant must register with the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and use it to serve and receive case documents.

Unless excused by court order, every attorney and self-represented litigant shall be a “registered user” with the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (“Portal”) and shall use the Portal for service and receipt of documents in this case.

Judge Matt Whyte

CRITICAL

Applies to
Final judgment of possession

After the Clerk enters default, the Final Judgment of Possession must be submitted through the ePortal.

Once the Clerk has entered the Default, the Final Judgment of Possession must be submitted through the ePortal.

Judge Megan Leaf

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

Attorneys must submit proposed orders through the ePortal directly to Judge Leaf, complying with Administrative Order 22-1.2; they must not file them on the Progress Docket or submit them by email.

Effective immediately, all proposed orders submitted by attorneys to Judge Leaf must be submitted in compliance with Administrative Order 22-1.2, through the ePortal directly to Judge Leaf, and not filed on the Progress Docket or submitted via email.

Judge Megan Leaf

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to
Plea form

For a defendant pleading by Zoom, the plea form must be submitted and e-filed before the plea.

If a defendant is pleading by Zoom, please submit and e-file the plea form prior to the plea.

Judge Melissa Gould

CRITICAL

Most self-represented litigants and attorneys must register with the E-Filing Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Rule 2.516.

Most self-represented litigants (pro se litigants) as well as attorneys must register with the Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.

Judge Parker Hall

CRITICAL

Most self-represented litigants and attorneys must register with the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Rule 2.516.

Most self-represented litigants (pro se litigants) as well as attorneys must register with the Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.

Judge Shannon Hankin

CRITICAL

Applies to
Pleading

Emails are not motions; pleadings must be filed in the electronic court file.

The Court will not consider emails as motions. All pleadings must be filed into the electronic court file.

Judge Stephen Walker

CRITICAL

Applies to
Proposed order

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.

Judge Stephen Walker

WARNING

Applies to
Proposed order

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

To allow everyone adequate transition time, the court is allowing a three-month grace period before requiring that attorneys submit proposed orders electronically through the Portal whenever feasible.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

WARNING

Applies to
Proposed order

A proposed order submitted to a judge or magistrate is not filed in the court file.

Proposed orders submitted to a judge or magistrate will not be filed in the court file.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

WARNING

Applies to
Unsigned order

Except for the proposed orders listed above, Clerks of Court may establish protocols to reject and return unsigned orders e-filed without proper submission as Proposed Documents through the Portal.

Except for the proposed orders listed above, the Clerks of Court are authorized to enact necessary protocols to reject and return all unsigned orders received via E-Filing that were not properly submitted as Proposed Documents through the Portal.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

WARNING

Applies to
Proposed order

The Manatee and Sarasota County Clerks may reject and destroy paper proposed orders intended for a judge without notice; this provision does not apply in DeSoto County.

The Manatee and Sarasota County Clerks of Court have different mailing addresses and physical addresses than the judges in those counties. If these Clerks receive any paper proposed orders intended for signature by a judge, the Clerks are not responsible for delivery of the proposed orders to the presiding judge. If the Manatee or Sarasota County Clerks receive a proposed order intended for signature by a judge, the Clerk is authorized to reject and destroy the proposed order without notice. The Desoto County Clerk of Court and judges share a mailing address and physical address, so this provision does not apply to Desoto County.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to
Proposed order

Proposed orders for Manatee County cases may be emailed in Word or PDF format to the designated address; encrypted email submissions are not accepted.

The court has created designated email addresses for the purpose of transmitting proposed orders. These orders may be sent via email in Word or .PDF format to: Manatee County cases ProbateOrdersMAN@jud12.flcourts.org (encrypted email submissions are not accepted)

Judge Charles E. Williams

WARNING

Applies to
Proposed order

Pro se litigants are encouraged but not required to submit proposed orders through the Portal and must provide an email address to receive signed orders electronically.

Pro se litigants are encouraged, but not required, to submit proposed orders through the Portal, however, they are required to provide an email address pursuant to Rule 2.516, Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin., to receive signed orders electronically.

Judge Charles Sniffen

WARNING

Applies to
Proposed order

Except for the listed orders, clerks may establish protocols to reject and return unsigned orders e-filed without proper Portal submission as Proposed Documents.

Except for the proposed orders listed above, the Clerks of Court are authorized to enact necessary protocols to reject and return all unsigned orders received via E-Filing that were not properly submitted as Proposed Documents through the Portal.

Judge Charles Sniffen

WARNING

Applies to
Proposed order

Manatee and Sarasota County Clerks may reject and destroy paper proposed orders intended for a judge without notice, and are not responsible for delivering them; this provision does not apply in Desoto County.

The Manatee and Sarasota County Clerks of Court have different mailing addresses and physical addresses than the judges in those counties. If these Clerks receive any paper proposed orders intended for signature by a judge, the Clerks are not responsible for delivery of the proposed orders to the presiding judge. If the Manatee or Sarasota County Clerks receive a proposed order intended for signature by a judge, the Clerk is authorized to reject and destroy the proposed order without notice. The Desoto County Clerk of Court and judges share a mailing address and physical address, so this provision does not apply to Desoto County.

Judge Charles Sniffen

WARNING

Applies to
Notice of cancellation

Filing a Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk or through the e-Filing Portal does not cancel the JACS hearing.

The filing of a Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk or via the e-Filing Portal does not cancel the hearing on JACS.

Judge Charles Sniffen

WARNING

Applies to
Proposed order

Self-represented litigants and attorneys who show good cause may email proposed orders in Word format to the division address.

Pro se litigants or attorneys who have shown good cause, may submit proposed orders electronically in Word format only to CirCivDivB@jud12.flcourts.org.

Judge Charles Sniffen

WARNING

Applies to
Emergency filing

Selecting the Portal’s Emergency Filing option does not make a filing an emergency; send a copy directly to the court for consideration.

The “Emergency Filing” radio button on Florida’s E-Filing Portal does not cause the filing to be treated as an Emergency for e-filing purposes, and parties should send a copy of the “emergency” filing directly to the Court for consideration.

Judge Charles Sniffen

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to
Quadro, IRS Transfer, or WIO/IWO

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

Judge Edward Nicholas

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to
Proposed order

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.

Judge Edward Nicholas

WARNING

Applies to
Proposed order

Pro se litigants and attorneys who have shown good cause may email proposed orders to Family Division 4 in Word format only, and must not use that email for other purposes or copy the Judicial Assistant.

Pro se litigants or attorneys whom have shown good cause, may submit proposed orders electronically in Word format only to Family Division 4. Please do not use this email for any other purpose and please do not copy the judicial assistant on the email.

Judge Kennedy Legler

WARNING

Applies to
Emergency filing

Selecting the Portal’s Emergency Filing button does not make a filing an emergency; parties should send a copy directly to the Court for consideration.

The “Emergency Filing” radio button on Florida’s E-Filing Portal does not cause the filing to be treated as an Emergency for e-filing purposes, and parties should send a copy of the “emergency” filing directly to the Court for consideration.

Judge Kennedy Legler

WARNING

Applies to
Proposed order

The Court encourages electronic submission of proposed orders and related documents; dissolution judgments should be emailed in Word format with all parties copied.

The Court encourages all proposed orders (and relevant documents) be sent electronically to the ePortal system. Final Judgments of Dissolution send in Word format to ltroxell@jud12.flcourts.org. All parties must be cc’d for the document to be reviewed.

Judge Kevin Bruning

WARNING

Applies to
Proposed order

Proposed orders may be submitted through the Sarasota Clerk of Court’s e-filing portal under the cited administrative order.

Proposed orders may be submitted through the Sarasota Clerk of Court via e-filing through the portal, pursuant to the Twelfth Circuit Administrative Order 2022-1.2.

Judge Maryann Olson Uzabel

INFO

Applies to
Proposed order

Self-represented 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.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

INFO

Applies to
Proposed order

The Portal’s Proposed Documents feature electronically transmits proposed orders to the appropriate judge or magistrate.

Proposed Orders submitted through the “Proposed Documents” feature of the Portal are electronically transmitted to the appropriate judge or magistrate.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

INFO

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, however, they are required to provide an email address pursuant to Rule 2.516, Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin., to receive signed orders electronically.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

INFO

Applies to
Proposed order

An opposing attorney may submit an alternate proposed order through the Portal at the same time.

The opposing attorney may submit at the same time an alternate proposed order through the Portal.

Judge Andrea M. Johnson

INFO

Applies to
Proposed order

Judges and magistrates are encouraged to establish procedures for receiving proposed orders through the Portal.

Judges and magistrates are encouraged to establish requirements and procedures for receiving proposed orders through the Portal.

Judge Charles Sniffen

INFO

Applies to
Proposed order

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.

Judge Charles Sniffen

INFO

Applies to
Proposed order

The Portal’s Proposed Documents feature electronically transmits proposed orders to the appropriate judge or magistrate.

Proposed Orders submitted through the “Proposed Documents” feature of the Portal are electronically transmitted to the appropriate judge or magistrate.

Judge Charles Sniffen

INFO

Applies to
Proposed order

The court encourages electronic submission of proposed orders and relevant documents through the ePortal.

The Court encourages all proposed orders (and relevant documents) be sent electronically via the ePortal system.

Judge Charles Sniffen

INFOCriminal cases

Applies to
Stipulations and listed orders

The listed stipulations and proposed orders, restitution and transport orders, JAC filings, and timely Zoom-appearance requests and orders may be sent by email.

The following may be sent by email: All stipulations with separate proposed orders, including stipulation for substitution of counsel, credit for time, probation, SPR, etc.; also orders for restitution, order to transport defendant, JAC filings (to include motion, correspondence between attorney and JAC with order), and timely received motion requests for zoom appearance and orders.

Judge Donna Marie Padar

INFOCriminal cases

Applies to
Order

After a hearing, attorneys may bring orders to Court or submit them electronically through the e-portal or by email to the Felony2 Division.

Attorneys are welcome to bring orders to Court or may submit to the Court electronically through e-portal or by email to Felony2 Division email following a hearing.

Judge Donna Marie Padar

INFOCivil cases

Applies to
Proposed order

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.

Judge Edward Nicholas

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

Criminal cases

Applies to
Proposed order

Proposed orders may be submitted through the Florida ePortal, but ePortal submission does not expedite their processing in this division.

Pursuant to Administrative Order 2022-1.2, judges in the Twelfth Circuit must accept submission of proposed Orders through the Florida ePortal. However, the submission of Orders through the ePortal will not result in counsel receiving orders any faster in this division.

Judge Frederick P. Mercurio

INFO

Applies to
Final judgment of possession

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.

Judge Hillary Ellis

INFO

Applies to
Proposed order

Proposed orders may be submitted through the Clerk’s electronic portal, by email, or by U.S. mail.

Proposed orders may be submitted through the Clerk’s electronic portal, via email or U.S. mail.

Judge Kaylin Humerickhouse

INFO

Applies to
Proposed order

The Court encourages electronic submission of proposed orders and relevant documents through the ePortal.

The Court encourages all proposed orders (and relevant documents) be sent electronically to the ePortal system.

Judge Kennedy Legler

INFO

Applies to
Proposed order

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.

Judge Kennedy Legler

INFO

Applies to
Proposed order

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.

Judge Kevin Bruning

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

Civil cases

Applies to
Initiating document

All initiating documents to establish the Probate or Guardianship case have been electronically filed, and

Judge Charles E. Williams

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

Civil cases

Applies to
Original will ?

Prior to submitting the original paper Will with the Clerk, the Will shall be electronically filed with the Clerk. Upon request, the Clerk shall make the original paper Will available to the court in its original form, pursuant to Florida Statute 732.901.

Judge Charles E. Williams

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

Civil cases

Applies to
Proposed order

Pursuant to administrative order 2022-1.2 (rescinds and replaces A.O. 2015-9.2) the e-filing of proposed orders with the Clerk of Circuit Court in Probate & Guardianship cases is prohibited with the exception of certain orders, which are required to be e-filed:

Summary: E-filing proposed orders with the Clerk is prohibited in Probate and Guardianship cases except for specified orders that must be e-filed.

Judge Charles E. Williams

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Effective January 2, 2026, the court requires that commissions be sent in hard copy format to the court’s physical mailing address for review and entrance by the court. Counsel shall provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Machine summary

Beginning January 2, 2026, commissions must be sent in hard copy to the court’s physical mailing address, accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Attorneys are advised that effective May 2, 2022, unless good cause is shown, proposed orders are required to be submitted to the judges and magistrates electronically as “proposed documents” through the Portal whenever feasible. This requirement does not apply to paper proposed orders provided to a judge during a court proceeding.

Summary: Effective May 2, 2022, attorneys must submit proposed orders through the Portal whenever feasible unless good cause is shown; the requirement excludes paper orders provided during a proceeding.

Judge Charles Sniffen

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

Applies to
Proposed case management order

Proposed Case Management Orders, whether agreed or not agreed, must be filed with the Clerk and sent to the case management team at MANCivilCaseMgmt@jud12.flcourts.org.

Judge Charles Sniffen

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Pursuant to Administrative Order 2022-1.2, effective January 24, 2022, the e-filing of proposed orders with the Clerk of Circuit Court in Probate cases is prohibited.

Judge Diana Moreland

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

Criminal cases

Applies to
Notice of cancellation

As soon as the scheduling attorney/assistant is aware that the time reserved is no longer needed, Counsel shall promptly e-file a Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk of Court and notice all parties after they have cancelled through JACS.

Judge Donna Marie Padar

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

Criminal cases

Applies to
Motion to continue

A motion to continue shall be timely filed and be calendared through JACS.

Judge Donna Marie Padar

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

Criminal cases

Applies to
Motion to modify or terminate probation ?

All motions to terminate or modify community control or probation must be filed with the Clerk of Court.

Judge Donna Marie Padar

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

Submission of orders and other documents shall be done by regular mail, overnight services, or hand-delivery absent an emergency or unless given permission by Judge Flowers.

Judge Guy A. Flowers

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

Applies to
Proposed order ?

All ePortal submissions must include a cover letter and are limited to uncontested/stipulated Orders. All other orders will be rejected by the judicial assistant.

Judge Guy A. Flowers

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

Civil cases

Applies to
Notice of appearance

d. The aforementioned Notice of Appearance shall be deemed timely filed when it is hand delivered, e-filed, or provided by mail for filing to the Clerk of the Sarasota County Court, Civil Division and served by hand delivery, email or facsimile to the Plaintiffs counsel, no later than 4:00 p.m., one business day prior to the date of the Pre-trial Conference/Mediation; and

Summary: For the notice to be timely filed, it may be hand delivered, e-filed, or mailed for filing to the Clerk, no later than 4:00 p.m. one business day before the conference.

Judge Kaylin Humerickhouse

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

Applies to
Emergency motion ?

The “Emergency Filing” radio button on Florida’s E-Filing Portal does not cause the filing to be treated as an Emergency for e-filing purposes, and parties should send a copy of the “emergency” filing directly to the Court for consideration.

Summary: Selecting the Portal’s Emergency Filing button does not make a filing an emergency; send a copy directly to the Court for consideration.

Judge Kevin Bruning

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Do not file your proposed Order with the Clerk of Court

Judge Maria Ruhl

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Do not email your proposed order to the Court.

Judge Maria Ruhl

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

Applies to
Exhibits

Please remember that the Court cannot electronically file your exhibits, and they must be either filed in the Court file or you must send a hard copy in advance of the hearing or trial.

Judge Maryann Olson Uzabel

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

Applies to
Motion for rehearing reconsideration or new trial ?

All Motions for Rehearing, Reconsideration or for New Trial shall be filed and submitted directly to the judge. The judge will review the motion to determine whether a hearing is warranted.

Judge Maryann Olson Uzabel

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

Most self-represented litigants (pro se litigants) as well as attorneys must register with the Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.

Judge Megan Leaf

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

File your documents on line, using Florida’s E-Portal https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/

Judge Rochelle Curley

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

Criminal cases

Applies to
Pretrial conference request form ?

*** Please efile this form with the Clerk or hand it to the Clerk at the scheduled hearing. Please do NOT email it to the Judicial Assistant.

Judge Shannon Hankin

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Effectively immediately, all proposed orders submitted by attorneys in Family Division 2 must be submitted in compliance with Administrative Order 22-1.2 through the ePortal directly to the assigned Judge, and not filed on the “Progress Docket”.

Summary: Attorneys must submit proposed orders through the ePortal directly to the assigned judge, not through the Progress Docket.

Judge Thomas Krug

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

Applies to
Emergency motion ?

The original motion shall be filed with the clerk, and a copy hand-delivered or emailed to the court and a phone call placed to the judicial assistant advising of the motion.

Judge Thomas Krug

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

Civil cases

Applies to
Proposed order

The court has created designated email addresses for the purpose of transmitting proposed orders. These orders may be sent via email in Word or .PDF format to: Manatee County cases ProbateOrdersMAN@jud12.flcourts.org (encrypted email submissions are not accepted)

Judge Charles E. Williams

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.WARNING?

Civil cases

Ex Parte proposed Orders may be sent via email, hand delivery, or via U.S. Mail to be entered without a hearing.

Machine summary

Ex parte proposed orders that do not require a Clerk’s audit or hearing may be sent by email, hand delivery, or U.S. Mail for entry without a hearing.

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Proposed orders submitted to a judge or magistrate will not be filed in the court file.

Judge Charles Sniffen

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Proposed orders submitted through the “Proposed Documents” feature of the Portal are electronically transmitted to Judge Sniffen. Proposed orders submitted to the judge or magistrate will not be filed in the court file.

Summary: Proposed orders sent through the Portal’s Proposed Documents feature go to the judge but are not filed in the court file.

Judge Charles Sniffen

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Please do not send proposed orders to both the portal and Judge Felix’s Judicial Assistant.

Judge D. Ryan Felix

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

Applies to
Motion

Because motions filed often do not reach the court file for upwards of a week, if the proposed order relates to a motion recently filed, the motion must be uploaded to the portal or sent to Judge Felix’s Judicial Assistant for review.

Judge D. Ryan Felix

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

Applies to
Proposed order ?

Do not submit the same order via the portal and email.

Judge Dana Moss

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

Applies to
Proposed order

In the alternative you can mail in the Proposed Order with courtesy copies and stamped envelopes or drop off the Proposed Order on the 8th floor to Court Administration at the Silvertooth Courthouse.

Judge Danielle Brewer

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

Criminal cases

The Court does not accept email submission of documents absent Court approval.

Judge Frederick P. Mercurio

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

Criminal cases

Applies to
Proposed order

Following a hearing counsel may submit proposed orders via email only if instructed by Judge Mercurio to do so. Submission of orders and other documents shall be done by regular mail, overnight services or hand-delivery absent an emergency or unless given permission by Judge Mercurio.

Judge Frederick P. Mercurio

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

Criminal cases

Applies to
Proposed order ?

Any ePortal submissions must include a cover letter and are limited to uncontested/stipulated Orders. All other orders will be rejected by the judicial assistant.

Judge Frederick P. Mercurio

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

Applies to
QDRO IRA transfer WIO IWO ?

the following should be sent to Family Division 4 QDRO/”QUADRO” IRA Transfer WIO/IWO.

Judge Kennedy Legler

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Pro se litigants or attorneys whom have shown good cause, may submit proposed orders electronically in Word format only to ltroxell@jud12.flcourts.org.

Judge Kevin Bruning

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

Applies to
Trial setting stipulation ?

The first option: select a case management date from the Court’s website, download and fill out the Case Management Order, and submit it to Judge Bruning like any proposed Order. The second option: if all parties/counsel agree on the trial date, download and fill out the appropriate Stipulation and Order Setting Case for Jury/Nonjury Trial, have all counsel sign it, and submit it to the Court through e-file.

Summary: When the case is at issue and no trial date was set with the Case Management Report, parties may submit a completed Case Management Order or, if all agree on the date, a signed trial-setting stipulation and order through e-filing.

Judge Kevin Bruning

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Unless otherwise noted in these Requirements, proposed orders should be sent to the Judge’s chambers using one of the following methods (in the order of preference): Florida Courts E-Filing Portal Division email U.S. Mail or other standard delivery/courier service Hand delivery

Judge Matt Whyte

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Attorneys are strongly encouraged to use the statewide Portal as is described in Administrative Order 2022-1.2, as it will result in the quickest turnaround time by the Court. The Portal maintains many “how-to” videos. However, attorneys may send proposed orders to the Judicial Assistant by hard copy. Do not sent orders in more than one way. For example, if you use the portal, do not also send in a hard copy to the Judicial Assistant.

Summary: Attorneys are encouraged to submit proposed orders through the Portal, may instead send a hard copy to the Judicial Assistant, and must not submit an order by both methods.

Judge Parker Hall

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

Applies to
Proposed order

However, attorneys may send proposed orders to the Judicial Assistant by hard copy. Do not sent orders in more than one way. For example, if you use the portal, do not also send in a hard copy to the Judicial Assistant.

Judge Shannon Hankin

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Please do not Email “Proposed Orders” unless instructed to by the Court. Do not mail or email orders if they have been submitted via the portal as it can result in duplicate orders or errors.

Judge Stephen Walker

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

Attorneys must separately remove themselves, and staff, from the ePortal. If this step is not completed, they will continue to receive notices.

Judge Thomas Krug

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

Applies to
Proposed order

All Judges and magistrates in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit can accept proposed orders submitted electronically through the Portal for review and signature without the proposed orders being filed directly into the court file.

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

Court-level rulesOfficial source

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

The requirement to submit proposed orders through the Portal does not take away a judge’s right to receive or sign any paper orders provided to him/her at their request or discretion.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

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

Applies to
Proposed order

All Judges and magistrates in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit can accept proposed orders submitted electronically through the Portal for review and signature without the proposed orders being filed directly into the court file.

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

Judge Charles Sniffen

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

Applies to
Proposed order

The requirement to submit proposed orders through the Portal does not take away a judge’s right to receive or sign any paper orders provided to him/her at their request or discretion.

Judge Charles Sniffen

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

Applies to
Proposed order

Pro se litigants are encouraged, but not required, to submit proposed orders through the Portal.

Judge Charles Sniffen

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

Applies to
Legal authority

Parties may also submit third copies of the legal authority in-person at the hearing.

Judge Heather Doyle

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

Applies to
Proposed order ?

Attorneys are strongly encouraged to use the statewide Portal as is described in Administrative Order 2022-1.2, as it will result in the quickest turnaround time by the Court.

Judge Shannon Hankin
Common questions about Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota) electronic filing rules

Is electronic filing required in Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota)?

Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota): Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. 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.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 1, section Proposed Orders E-Filed Through the Portal

Judge Kennedy Legler and Judge Edward Nicholas: Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Unless good cause is shown, proposed orders must be submitted electronically through the statewide Portal whenever feasible.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 1, section D. Submission of Orders

Judge Maria Ruhl: Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Submit proposed orders and judgments through the ePortal.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 1, section D. Submission of Orders

134 more rules answer this question in the list above.