Family Law Divisions Judicial Preferences Quick Reference Chart
Judicial Practices and Procedures
Domestic Relations/Family Division “A”
(last modified 7/25/25)
Matthew L. Felix, Acting Circuit Court Judge
Ellen Courtemanche, Judicial Assistant
Contact Information
- Mailing Address: 800 E. Twiggs Street, Suite 427, Tampa, Florida 33602
- Physical Address: 800 E. Twiggs Street, Courtroom 411, Tampa, Florida 33602
- Telephone: (813) 276-2061
- E-mail: famlawdiva@fljud13.org
The judicial assistant cannot answer your legal questions and will not explain your situation to the Judge. Your opportunity to speak to the Judge happens in court only.
Family law procedural information for self-represented litigants can be found here CLICK HERE.
Table of Contents
A. Communications with the Judicial Office
B. Scheduling Procedures
C. Remote Appearance
D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
F. Emergency and Other Urgent Matters
G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
I. Setting Case for Trial
J. Forms
K. Other Division Procedures
- Method of Communication: The preferred form of communication with the Judicial Office is e-mail at FamLawDivA@Fljud13.org. All communication with the Judicial Office should include: case number, case name, which party you represent, then what you are asking to be set (with docket#), and how long you will need for the hearing.
- Ex parte Communications: All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law. All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law.
- Unsolicited Communications: Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the Court. Parties may only contact the judicial office in accordance with these practices and procedures.
- E-Filing Portal Contact Information: All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516. It is the responsibility of attorneys and self-represented litigants to update their contact information using Form 2.603 any time there is a change in the e-mail account registered for electronic service.
- Response to Inquiries: The Judicial Assistant CANNOT answer your legal questions and will not explain your situation to the Judge. Your opportunity to speak to the Judge happens in court.
- Court Schedule: Hearing times are provided on a first come first served bases, however they will not be held until all parties have agreed upon the hearing time. Do not include the Court/Judicial Assistant in your scheduling emails with the opposing party.
- Scheduling Hearings: The preferred method for scheduling is by JAWS. For any requests for hearing times more than 30 minutes, the preferred method is e-mail request rather than telephone. For any scheduling request;
- The requesting party should e-mail the Judicial Assistant for hearing time(s) and copy the opposing party.
- The Judicial Assistant will provide a minimum of two (2) available dates/times to the requesting party, also with a copy to opposing party by "replying to all."
- If the requesting party sends the dates to the opposing party or attorney (whichever is applicable) by e-mail, that responding party or the attorney's office is responsible for responding with his/her availability within two (2) business days of receiving the request.
- If the responding party or attorney fails to respond within two (2) business days of the request, the requesting party may pick the hearing date and time of his/her choice.
The ability of the requesting party to choose a hearing date of his/her choice is an option only if:
- The requesting party has attempted in good faith to clear the dates/times with the opposing (or non-requesting) party, AND
- There has been no response from the responding party or attorney within two (2) business days of the request, AND
- The requesting party has documented the scheduling attempts through e-mail.
Only after the Court confirms the hearing date in the e-mail, or if there has been no response from the other party pursuant to the above regarding the unilateral setting of a hearing, will the requesting party file and serve a Notice of Hearing.
If the parties cannot agree on the first set of proposed dates/times, they may request a second set of dates/times. If the parties cannot agree upon the second set of dates/times, the parties shall notify the Judicial Assistant of the scheduling impasse. If the parties reach a scheduling impasse, the Judge will set a case management conference or set the date/time for the hearing or other court appearance.
Please Note: The Court will not provide hearing times before a motion has been filed on the issue the party is request hearing time for.
- Notice of Hearing: Notices of hearing must include the following elements in addition to those required by the applicable rules of procedure and local administrative orders:
- The specific TITLE and docket # of the motion to be heard;
- The DATE the motion to be heard was filed;
- The LENGTH OF TIME of the hearing; and
- Zoom information if applicable (including meeting ID, password, and a copy of a link to the Zoom meeting).
All notices of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
- Submission Deadlines: Exhibits, responses to motions and copies of case law must be delivered or mailed to the Judge's chambers (copies of any documents provided to the Judge must be provided to all parties to the case) three (3) business days before the hearing. Any exhibits, responses to motions and copies of case law received by the Court less than three (3) business days before the hearing will not be reviewed or considered at the hearing.
- Order of Proceedings: Matters will be heard in the order they appear on the docket.
- Continuance Procedure: Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown. Except for good cause shown, the motion must be signed by the party requesting the continuance, as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.545(e).
- Cancelling Hearings: Only the party whose motion is being heard can cancel a hearing on that matter after it has been properly scheduled for a hearing. If the hearing time has multiple issues crossed noticed, a party can only cancel their motions set at that hearing time. DO NOT CANCEL A HEARING WITHOUT NOTIFICATION TO ALL PARTIES. When the parties agree that a hearing or other court appearance needs to be cancelled or that the parties have reached a settlement in the case, a notice of Cancellation MUST be immediately e-filed with the Clerk of Court AND a courtesy copy of the Notice of Cancellation sent to the division e-mail address at FamLawDivA@fliud13.org.
- Other hearing types/matters:
Zoom Hearings - All matters will be in-person with the exception of the following: Adoption/TPR Hearings, Initial Case Management Conference's, Dismissal Docket Hearings, Uniform Motion Calendar, Non-Evidentiary Hearings, Uncontested Hearings and any hearing requiring less than thirty (30) minutes.
All evidentiary hearings set for thirty (30) minutes or more will be held in-person. Either party may file a motion to appear remotely.
Available Scheduling On Jaws
- Uniform Motion Calendar (UMC) - multi-case docket, five (5) to seven (7) minutes per case.
- Attorney CMC Hearings - multi-case docket, seven (7) to ten (10) minutes per case.
- Hearing time slots listed as:
- MOTION DOCKET 15, or
- MOTION DOCKET 30.
Evidentiary Hearings - If you intend to introduce evidence, you must file a notice that clearly indicates your intent. Moreover, exhibit notebooks must be provided in hard copy to the Court (and the opposing party) at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing. If you fail to follow these requirements, you may not be able to introduce your exhibits or the matter may be continued.
Case Management Conferences – See below.
Motion Docket - The motion docket is for non-post-judgment cases. If your motion is post-judgment, IT MUST be referred to the General Magistrate and not scheduled on this Motion Docket. This docket will be available on-line through JAWS (similar to our Open Docket) for you to schedule hearings up to 30 minutes in length. The Motion Docket is for fifteen (15) - or thirty (30) - minute hearings. If you are unable to clear time on an available Motion Docket, you may e-mail (all parties must be copied) the Judicial Assistant to obtain alternative hearing times.
Attorney CMC Docket - This docket is used for Status Conferences. This is a multi-case docket; each case is allowed seven (7) to ten (10) minute per case.
UMC (Uniform Motion Calendar)/ Uncontested Final Hearings - This Docket is a multi-case docket and designed for any uncontested matters taking five (5) minutes per case.
Temporary Relief Hearings - Will be held pursuant to Administrative Order S-2025-013. The parties are directed to review and comply with Administrative Order S-2025-013 – Link.
Mediation is mandatory prior to attending temporary relief hearing. If the moving party fails to schedule and/or cooperate in attending mediation prior to the temporary relief hearing, the hearing WILL BE CANCELLED by the Judge.
If the opposing (or non-moving) party fails to cooperate in attending mediation, the issue shall be addressed by the Judge at the temporary relief hearing where possible sanctions could be imposed.
At least two business days prior to the scheduled temporary relief hearing, the moving party shall file the original Temporary Relief Hearing Memorandum with the Clerk of the Court and serve a copy on all parties, as well as deliver a copy to the Judge. A proposed Parenting Plan is also required if the case involves a minor child(ren).
Emergency Motions – See below.
Final Hearing/Non-Jury Trials – See below.
Post Judgment Hearings - All post judgment matters must be referred to the General Magistrate. All post judgment matters MUST be mediated prior to the scheduling of any hearings. You must e-mail the judicial assistant to schedule post judgment hearings.
Remote Appearance
- Remote Appearance Procedure: The Court maintains a hybrid virtual courtroom, allowing parties and/or witnesses to appear either in person or remotely, as provided by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.530. Requests to use communication technology for an appearance must be made by motion, no less than ten (10) days prior to the hearing.
- Platform Used: The Court uses Zoom for remote appearances. If a telephonic appearance is approved, the party appearing telephonically will call the courtroom phone line at the designated date/time at: (813) 307-3228.
- Requirements: It is the responsibility of the party who is appearing remotely, or the responsibility of the party who is calling the remote witness to ensure that the individual appearing remotely has any and all exhibits that may be referenced at the hearing.
- Other Remote Appearance Procedures:
- Individuals/parties appearing remotely must clearly indicate their name on screen.
- All parties are to remain muted until their matter is called or it is their turn to address the Court.
- Format: Proposed Orders that are agreed upon by the parties should be submitted to the Judge in Family Law Division "A" electronically through the E-portal as a "PDF" formatted document or as a last resort via email. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT BOTH WAYS.
All proposed orders should include a cover letter containing explanatory information, specifically when the issue that is the subject of the proposed order was heard, the docket number of the motion, if the proposed order was provided to the opposing party, if an objection was received, if no response was received, and when the proposed order was provided to the opposing party.
Proposed Orders that are NOT agreed upon by the parties, in other words, competing Orders, should be submitted to the Judicial Assistant by e-mail and attached as a "WORD" formatted document, which will be forwarded to the Judge upon receipt of both proposed competing Orders or with a cover letter indicated the objected to portions of the proposed order.
Incoming Withholding Orders can now be uploaded into E-portal. However, if one of the parties to the case is representing themselves and does not have an email address associated with the case; the individual submitting the proposed order through the E-portal must send a copy of the proposed order to the party that is self-represented and without an email address via mail.
- Submission Method: Proposed Orders that are agreed upon by the parties should be submitted to the Judge in Family Law Division "A" electronically through the E-portal.
- Deadline for Submissions: Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, proposed orders must be submitted within ten (10) days after any hearing.
- Other Procedures Relating to Submission of Orders and Judgments:
Final Disposition Forms
A Final Disposition Form must be submitted at the time of submission of a proposed Final Order or Final Judgment in order to close the case.
Signature Block
Recent changes to JAWS regarding the judicial signature block added additional language and made the signature block larger. Proposed Orders should have sufficient space in the signature area for the Court to sign (with the larger signature block) and not cover any of the proposed Order’s text. If there is insufficient space for the signature block, the Court may place the signature block in a location that does not cover any text on the proposed Order.
Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
- When Required: Prior to any proceeding in which the case law/evidence is to be used.
- Format: Physical/paper/hard copies of the case law and/or exhibits must be submitted to the Court.
- Submission Method: Physical/paper/hard copies of the case law and/or exhibits may be submitted to the Court via U.S. mail or hand delivery.
- Deadline for Submissions: Courtesy copies of case law and/or exhibits must be submitted to the Court no less than three (3) days prior to any proceeding in which the case law/evidence is to be used.
Emergency and Other Urgent Matters
- Requirements: No party should file an emergency motion without first reviewing Smith v. Crider, 31 F.L.W. D1018 (2d DCA April 7, 2006). The moving party should file the original Emergency Motion with the Clerk of the Court, Edgecomb Courthouse, First Floor, 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, Florida 33602.
Please Note: Do not hand-deliver a copy of the Emergency Motion to the Judge's chambers. A Deputy Clerk provides the Emergency Motion to the Judge for review.
- Scheduling: Once the Judge has reviewed the court file and the Emergency Motion, the Judge will issue an Emergency Motion Handling Order to both parties. If a hearing is required, the Judicial Assistant will coordinate by email hearing dates/times with the parties.
Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
- Submission Method: Physical/paper/hard copies of the case law and/or exhibits may be submitted to the Court via mail or hand delivery.
- Format: Exhibits must be submitted to the Court in paper format. All attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the Court and each party to review during the hearing or trial. Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: ‘Petitioner/Plaintiff 1’ or ‘Respondent/Defendant A.’
- Deadline for Submissions: Courtesy copies of case law and/or exhibits must be submitted to the Court no less than three (3) days prior to any proceeding in which the case law/evidence is to be used.
- Other Procedures Relating to Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings: All exhibits must be Bates numbered.
- Submitting Documents Previously Filed with the Clerk: If a Party chooses to submit copies of pleadings or other documents that have previously been filed with the Clerk’s office, only copies of such filed documents (with the Clerk’s filing number on the first page and the date and time of filing inscribed on each page thereafter) should be submitted to the Court
Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
- Case Management Conference: All new dissolution of marriage and paternity cases will, at the time of the filing of the actions, get scheduled by the Clerk of Court an initial Case Management Conference.
Either party may move the Court for entry of an Order continuing the first Case Management Conference. The moving party shall submit his/her motion for continuance through the Judicial Assistant by e-mail no later than two (2) business days before the scheduled Case Management Conference. The motion shall include the reason(s) for the continuance as well as a proposed Order ratifying same.
Please Note: The new Case Management Conference date/time will be provided by the Judicial Assistant and must be cleared by both parties. The new Case Management Conference shall occur within sixty (60) days of the originally-scheduled Case Management Conference.
Any party may request a case management conference (CMC) when a case requires.
- Status Conference: Any party may request a status conference when a case requires.
- Requirements: Any request for a CMC or status conference must articulate the reasons for the necessity of the conference.
- Scheduling: The moving party may schedule the CMC or status conference through the online scheduling platform (JAWS).
- Other Procedures Relating to Pretrial Procedures and Conferences: Pre-trial conferences shall be via Zoom and be scheduled at the same time as the final hearing to take place approximately one month prior the final hearing.
Setting Case for Trial
- Procedure: Any trial request for over one (1) day must be set for a Case Management Conference. The parties can schedule a Case Management Conference on JAWS under the dropdown of "Case Management Conference". After the Case Management Conference is scheduled, a copy of the Notice of Hearing will be e-mailed to the Judicial Assistant at FamLawDivA@fljud13.org.
Once a pre-trial/trial date has been agreed upon, it is the responsibility of the party(s) to prepare an Order setting trial and upload it through E-portal for the Judge's signature. The trial Order form can be found on this website under "forms".
NOTE: A Pre-Trial Memorandum SHALL be electronically filed and served on each party by the other party, as well as a copy of both delivered to the Court, at least three (3) business days prior to the Pre-Trial Conference. The parties should be prepared to discuss provisions set forth in the Pre-Trial Memorandums and Pre-Trial Conference Order.
- Notice Period: The Court sets date-certain trials. Attorneys, self-represented litigants, parties, and witnesses are expected to be available.
- Other Procedures for Setting Case for Trial: Trial exhibits and other deadlines will be governed by the order setting trial and/or pretrial conference order.
Forms
- Access: Division forms are available at Link .
- Usage: Division forms may be used for all relevant filings.
- ADA Accommodations: If you need an ADA accommodation, please contact the ADA Coordinator, Hillsborough County Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs St., Room 604, Tampa, Florida 33602, (813) 272-7040. If you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.
- Interpreter Requests: If an interpreter is needed for a hearing or trial, it is the responsibility of the party needing the interpreter to provide one.
- Other Division Procedures:
Artificial Intelligence (“AI”)
If any attorney for a Party or an unrepresented Party uses AI in the preparation of any document, materials, or exhibits (collectively “Document”), filed with the Clerk or submitted to the Court, said Document must, in a clear and plain statement: Disclose that AI has been used in the preparation of the Document and Certify that each and every citation or reference to any case law, rule, statute, or other authority in the Document has been verified as accurate.