Judge Teresa Dees
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- Hand Delivery • A Minimum Of 2 Business Days Before The Hearing
Communication
Chambers
Document Filing Requirements5 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
For emergency consideration, provide the Emergency Motion and a cover letter stating the time needed as soon as possible; the motion should be verified and certify that it is an emergency sought in good faith, and the cover letter must expressly request emergency consideration.
If a matter needs to be heard on an emergency basis, a copy of the Emergency Motion, along with a cover letter advising how much time is needed, must be provided to the Court as soon as possible. The Emergency Motion should be verified and include a certification by the lawyer or party filing such motion that the motion is an emergency and that the lawyer or party is acting in good faith in seeking such relief. The cover letter must note that the matter is requested to be heard on an emergency basis, or it will not receive expedited consideration and review.
DocumentMotion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
An unagreed motion must end with counsel’s certification describing the good-faith conferral or specific reasonable efforts to confer, including contact methods and attempted-contact dates and times, and identifying resolved and unresolved issues.
At the end of any motion not agreed upon by the parties, counsel for the moving party shall certify either: (A) that counsel for the movant has conferred with all parties or non-parties who may be affected by the relief sought in the motion in a good faith effort to resolve the issues raised in the motion and has been unable to do so; or (B) that counsel for the movant has made reasonable efforts to confer with all parties or non-parties who may be affected by the relief sought in the motion, which efforts shall be identified with specificity in the statement,[1] but has been unable to reach the other parties or non-parties whose input is necessary. If certain issues have been resolved by agreement, the certification shall specify the issues resolved and the issues that remain unresolved. 1. Such specificity must include the method of contact with each individual with whom you were trying to confer as well as the date and time of the attempted contact(s).
DocumentMotion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
Before submitting an agreed order, the preparing office must send an advance copy to all parties and confirm no objection to its form; the submission must notify the Judge of the opposing side’s agreement or lack of objection, in the order title or accompanying cover letter or email.
Before submitting an order to the Court as an “agreed order,” the office preparing the agreed order must provide an advance copy to all parties and confirm there is no objection to the form of the order prior to submitting it to the Judge. When submitting such an order, notification shall be given to the judge that the opposing side either agrees to the order and/ or has no objection/position to the relief being ordered. Such agreement can be indicated in either the title of the order and/or the cover letter or email accompanying the submission.
DocumentProposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
To request a hearing, file a motion with the clerk and deliver a courtesy copy to the Judicial Assistant with a cover letter stating the hearing time needed and whether evidence will be considered.
The Dependency Division is not part of the on-line automated scheduling system (JACS). All hearings are set by the Court, the Judicial Assistant, or the Clerk of Court. If you need to set a hearing, a motion must be filed with the clerk and a courtesy copy delivered to the Judicial Assistant with a cover letter indicating how much time is necessary for the hearing and whether evidence will need to be considered.
DocumentMotion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
An issue for court consideration should be raised by a motion filed with the Clerk and copied to all parties; a separate copy must be provided to the Judge with a cover letter or email stating the time needed and whether evidence or testimony will be considered.
As a result, any issue to be considered by the Court should be in the form of a motion filed with the Clerk of Court - with copies provided to all parties of record. Please note - the mere filing of a motion with the Clerk’s Office does not bring the matter before the Judge. A copy of the motion must be provided to the Judge with a cover letter or email explaining how much time is necessary to have the motion considered in Court. The letter or email must include information regarding whether evidence (to include witness testimony) will need to be considered at the time of the hearing.
DocumentMotion
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
When an attorney appears remotely, materials for the Court’s consideration must be filed at least 2 business days before the hearing.
Not only is a party required to disclose materials to opposing counsel and all interested parties, but filings and supplemental material that Judge Dees is to consider must also be provided to the Court in advance of any hearing if the attorney is appearing remotely. While the Court makes every effort to review all filings prior to hearings, courtesy copies of any materials including, but not limited to, motions, provider reports, and home studies, that are to be considered by the Court, must be filed a minimum 2 business days before the hearing, with courtesy copies hand-delivered to Judge Dees’ chambers, a minimum of 2 business days before the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
Provide the Emergency Motion and a cover letter stating the time needed to the Court as soon as possible.
If a matter needs to be heard on an emergency basis, a copy of the Emergency Motion, along with a cover letter advising how much time is needed, must be provided to the Court as soon as possible.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | F. Emergency & Other Matters
Motions and objections concerning remote appearance must be filed at least 3 business days before the hearing.
All motions and objections should be filed no less than 3 business days prior to the hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | A. Remote Appearance
Courtesy Copy Requirements
When an attorney appears remotely, materials the Court will consider must be filed and courtesy copies hand-delivered to chambers at least 2 business days before the hearing.
Not only is a party required to disclose materials to opposing counsel and all interested parties, but filings and supplemental material that Judge Dees is to consider must also be provided to the Court in advance of any hearing if the attorney is appearing remotely. While the Court makes every effort to review all filings prior to hearings, courtesy copies of any materials including, but not limited to, motions, provider reports, and home studies, that are to be considered by the Court, must be filed a minimum 2 business days before the hearing, with courtesy copies hand-delivered to Judge Dees’ chambers, a minimum of 2 business days before the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances require good cause and a written request; stipulated requests may be considered in chambers, while other motions to continue must be heard at a hearing set by the moving party.
Once a matter is set by the Court, it will not be continued unless good cause is shown. All requests for continuance must be made in writing. If all parties agree to a continuance, the Court will consider stipulated requests for continuance in chambers, but otherwise all such motions to continue will be considered at a hearing that must be set by the moving party.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
Judicial Assistants and courtroom staff may not discuss substantive case matters with parties.
The Code of Judicial Conduct precludes Judicial Assistants and other courtroom staff from speaking to parties about substantive matters in any case.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court
Correspondence should be sent to Judicial Assistant Carla at the listed email address.
All correspondence should be sent to the Judge’s Judicial Assistant, Carla, at JuvDivJ@jud12.flcourts.org.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court
Judges may not consider ex parte or one-sided communications.
In addition, the Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits judges from considering ex-parte (or one-sided) communications.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court