Judge Edward A. Pace
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- At Least 10 Days Before Return Date
Adjournments
- Adjournment requests for preliminary conferences are considered only when submitted within three days of notice.
Communication
Chambers
Document Format Requirements4 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
Stipulated exhibits must be submitted as PDFs, Bates-stamped when voluminous, marked for identification with an exhibit number and “EVD” notation, and uploaded to NYSCEF at least one week before trial unless the court directs otherwise.
All stipulated exhibits must be made into a PDF, Bates stamped, if voluminous, and marked for identification (e.g., “Exh. 1”), and the notation “EVD”, and submitted to NYSCEF at least one week before the commencement of the trial, unless otherwise directed by the Court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Important
Video exhibits must either be shortened to the pertinent portions or identify the pertinent beginning and ending time markers.
Video exhibits must be cut to pertinent length or, alternatively, cite the pertinent beginning and ending time markers on the video clip.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Important
When filing any listed motion papers, filers must email Word-formatted copies, excluding exhibits, to pzalocha@nycourts.gov and must not send additional paper copies.
At the time of the NYSCEF or paper filings of all Notices of Motion, Orders to Show Cause, Affirmations, Affidavits, and Memorandums of Law (but not exhibits) email Microsoft Word formatted copies to pzalocha@nycourts.gov. Do not send additional paper copies to the Court.
DOCX
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Important
Proposed jury charges and verdict sheets must be emailed in Word document format to the judge and law clerk, with the secretary copied.
The proposed Jury Charges and Verdict Sheets are to be emailed in a Word Document Format to the judge, the law clerk, and copied to the secretary as follows: epace@nycourts.gov, pbannist@nycourts.gov, pzalocha@nycourts.gov
DOCX
Document Filing Requirements16 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
An attorney or party using a defined AI tool to prepare a paper must independently review it for fabricated or fictitious authority and certify that review by signing the paper.
Accordingly, any attorney or party who uses an artificial intelligence tool, as defined in 22 NYCRR 161.2(a), in preparing any paper, as defined in 22 NYCRR 161.2(b), filed in or submitted to this court or served on another party in a case before this court is required to carefully review the paper and independently ensure that it contains no fabricated or fictitious cases, statutes, or other material. By signing such paper, an attorney or party certifies that such a review has been conducted and that the paper contains no such fabricated or fictitious content.
Document Type
Paper
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
A motion to resolve a discovery dispute must include an affidavit describing a good-faith attempt to resolve the dispute.
Motions to resolve discovery disputes shall be accompanied by an affidavit of good faith attempt at resolution.
Document Type
Discovery Dispute Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
Post-trial motions and responding papers must cite each transcript’s NYSCEF document number, page, and line before the court considers the motion.
all post-trial motion(s) and responding papers must refer to the NYSCEF Document Number assigned to each transcript with page(s) and line(s) cited in all papers in support or in opposition to the motion(s) prior to the Court’s consideration of the motion(s).
Document Type
Post Trial Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
A motion seeking financial relief must be accompanied by the movant’s DRL§236(B) affidavit.
Motions seeking financial relief - must be accompanied by the movants DRL§236(B) affidavit.
Document Type
Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
A modification expanding the rights set forth in the written agreement must be signed and notarized by the parties.
If expand on rights: Modification to agreement must be signed & notarized by parties.
Document Type
Agreement Modification
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
For a case older than one year from entry of judgment, the (Q)DRO must be submitted by motion filed in NYSCEF or the ECCO and then brought before the judge who signed the divorce judgment.
Any case that is older than one year from entry of judgment: (Q)DRO must be submitted on motion filed in NYSCEF or the ECCO and then taken to the judge who signed the judgment of divorce with the following documents:
Document Type
Qdro
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
A modification to an agreement must be signed and notarized by the parties.
Modification to agreement must be signed & notarized by parties.
Document Type
Agreement Modification
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Important
Both parties should review the proposed agreement before the settlement conference, and all litigants and attorneys must attend in person.
It is expected that both parties will have reviewed the proposed agreement prior to the settlement conference, and all litigants and attorneys are required to attend Settlement Conferences In Person.
Document Type
Settlement Conference
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Important
For a case less than one year from entry of judgment, the (Q)DRO should be submitted to the signing divorce judge, or to the Chief Clerk’s Office if that judge is no longer on the bench or the matter is uncontested.
Any case that is less than one year away from entry of judgment: (Q)DRO should be submitted to the judge who signed the judgment of divorce (if no longer on the bench or if it originates as an uncontested matter, go directly to the Chief Clerk’s Office) with the following:
Document Type
Qdro
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Important
The Adjournment Request Form is mandatory when clients are unavailable.
The Adjournment Request Form must be used if the clients are not available.
Document Type
Adjournment Request
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
If counsel does not receive an email, both attorneys and clients must appear.
Summary: If counsel does not receive the dispensation email, both attorneys and clients must appear for the final judgment roll.
Document Type
Judgment Roll
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Counsel must bring the most recent proposed agreement in paper and electronic form.
Summary: Counsel must bring the most recent proposed agreement to the settlement conference in both paper and electronic form.
Document Type
Proposed Agreement
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Quantum meruit applications – the following documents MUST be submitted, or the application will be denied:
Summary: A quantum meruit application must include the listed agreement or transcript, fully executed retainer agreement and client-rights statement, current DRL§236(B) affidavit, and itemized billing statements including 60-day invoices.
Document Type
Quantum Meruit Application
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
In all written or verbal submissions, use NYSCEF Document Numbers when referring to a filed document instead of or in addition to, for example, an exhibit letter or just the name of the document.
Summary: Written and verbal submissions must identify filed documents by their NYSCEF document number when referring to them.
Document Type
Written Or Verbal Submission
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
Partial submissions will not excuse the appearance.
Summary: A partial submission of the required final judgment roll documents does not excuse the appearance.
Document Type
Judgment Roll
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Note?
If all of the necessary documents are submitted, you will receive an email dispensing with your appearance.
Summary: If all necessary final judgment roll documents are submitted, the court will send an email dispensing with the appearance.
Document Type
Judgment Roll
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Post-trial motions must include a simultaneous NYSCEF upload of the relevant trial testimony transcripts and exhibits.
All Post-Trial Motions including those made pursuant to the CPLR and/or GOL, etc. require a simultaneous upload of the trial testimony transcript(s) of each relevant witness to the motion(s) and exhibit(s)
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 3 | MOTIONS
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The required transcript citations must be included before the court considers the post-trial motion.
all post-trial motion(s) and responding papers must refer to the NYSCEF Document Number assigned to each transcript with page(s) and line(s) cited in all papers in support or in opposition to the motion(s) prior to the Court’s consideration of the motion(s).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 3 | MOTIONS
Each party must submit requests for prior and after-trial jury charges and proposed verdict sheets no later than the day before the final pretrial conference.
The Court requires each party to submit Requests for Prior to and After Trial Jury Charges and Proposed Verdict Sheets to the Court no later than the day before the Final Pre-Trial Conference, which will be set by the trial judge.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 3 | PRE-TRIAL RULES
Deadlines may not be extended without a further court order.
Deadlines may not be extended without further order of the Court.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 4 | PRE-TRIAL RULES
The final judgment roll submission ordinarily requires an in-person appearance with clients, but the appearance is avoided only if all checklist documents from both sides are provided to chambers 48 hours before the return date.
The submission date is an in-person appearance with clients. In order to avoid the appearance, you must provide all necessary documents listed on the Judgment Roll Checklist, from both sides, to chambers 48 hours prior to the return date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 5
Counsel has 30 days after the court receives a fully executed agreement or written ratification to submit the final judgment roll.
Once a fully executed agreement or written ratification has been received by the Court, counsel will have 30 days to submit the final judgment roll.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 5
Unless the court directs otherwise, the prevailing party must submit orders within 30 days.
Unless otherwise directed by the Court, Orders are to be submitted within 30 days by the prevailing party.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 4 | ORDERS
Stipulated exhibits must be submitted to NYSCEF at least one week before trial unless the court directs otherwise.
All stipulated exhibits must be made into a PDF, Bates stamped, if voluminous, and marked for identification (e.g., “Exh. 1”), and the notation “EVD”, and submitted to NYSCEF at least one week before the commencement of the trial, unless otherwise directed by the Court.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 4 | PRE-TRIAL RULES
Filing Fees and Waivers
All motion and cross-motion papers must be filed and the filing fees paid before the hearing can be scheduled, which requires contacting court clerk Cornelius Hart.
All motions and cross-motion papers must be filed and filing fees paid before scheduling of the hearing. Contact Court Clerk, Cornelius Hart, to schedule the motion hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 2 | MOTIONS
No filing fee is required for this motion.
Note: there is no filing fee for this motion.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 7
Courtesy Copy Requirements
In non-e-filed cases, a working paper copy for the judge must accompany the moving papers and be filed no later than 10 days before the return date.
For non-e-filed cases, all moving papers must be filed with a working paper copy for the Judge no later than 10 days in advance of the return date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 2 | MOTIONS
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
An order to show cause or TRO in a case assigned to another judge requires prior written approval from the IAS judge or the IAS judge's law clerk before signature.
Orders to Show Cause/TROs on a case assigned to another judge will be signed only upon prior written approval of IAS judge or his/her law clerk.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 2 | MOTIONS
Temporary injunctive relief requires compliance with the cited rules and prior notice to opposing counsel and pro se parties, absent a significant-prejudice showing; testimony may also be required for an order to show cause.
Temporary injunctive relief requests must comply with 22NYCRR 202.8(e) and will not be granted in the absence of prior notice to the opposing counsel and pro se parties, as required by 22 NYCRR § 202.7(f), unless the moving party can demonstrate significant prejudice. Live MS Teams or in-person testimony of the moving party may be required where an order to show cause requests temporary injunctive relief.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 2 | MOTIONS
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Every adjournment request must be copied to all parties and the identified court personnel before court approval.
All requests for adjournment must be copied to all parties and to PATRICK BANNISTER, PETER ZALOCHA, and NEIL HART (and for all correspondence with chambers) before approval by the Court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 1 | ADJOURNMENTS
An adjournment request requires the prior consent of every counsel or pro se party.
Parties requesting an adjournment must first seek consent of each counsel or pro se party.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 1 | ADJOURNMENTS
Conference adjournment requests go to the court secretary, while motion adjournment requests go to the court clerk.
Requests for adjournment of conferences must be directed to the court secretary. Requests for adjournment of motions must be directed to the court clerk.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 1 | ADJOURNMENTS
Adjournment requests for preliminary conferences are considered only when submitted within three days of notice.
Preliminary conferences adjournments – because of the limited time to hold a Preliminary Conference, adjournment requests will only be considered within 3 days of notice.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 5
The court will notify each counsel or pro se party of the new adjourned date.
The Court will notify each counsel or pro se party of the adjourned date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 1 | ADJOURNMENTS
Consent to an adjournment must be acknowledged in writing by email to the court.
The consent must be acknowledged in writing via email to the Court.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | ADJOURNMENTS
Chambers Communication Rules
A case summary must be emailed to the court secretary at least one week before the first conference.
A brief summary of the case shall be emailed to the Court’s secretary at least one week in advance of the first scheduled conference.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 2 | CONFERENCES