Pursuant to Thirteenth Circuit administrative orders, directives from the Florida Supreme Court contained in administrative orders, and the Governor’s declarations, the Court sets forth the following procedures for appearances and scheduled hearings in Unified Family Court, Division L.

Administrative Order: S-2025-013
Effective Date: January 20, 2026

At a Glance

• Appearance: In person is the default for all hearings. Parties may request permission to appear by Zoom. If granted, the Zoom parameters below apply.
• Exhibits and binders: Electronic only. Upload exhibits through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal Exhibit area. Do not submit paper binders or courtesy copies.
• Deadlines: For most hearings, upload exhibits no later than two business days before the hearing. For temporary relief hearings, additional requirements apply, including 72-hour exhibit exchange and a Temporary Relief Hearing Memorandum.
• Cancellations: E-file a Notice of Cancellation, email a copy to the Judicial Assistant (JA), and cancel in JAWS when more than 24 hours remain.

Appearances, Zoom Requests, and Virtual Hearing Information

Default Appearance

The default appearance for hearings is in person.

Requesting Zoom

A party may request that a hearing be conducted by Zoom by making the request in writing (for example, in the JAWS notes or by email to the JA, with all parties copied). The Court must approve any Zoom request. Unless and until the Court approves a Zoom request, all parties must plan to appear in person.

Zoom Eligibility Guidelines

• Generally approved: Non-evidentiary hearings scheduled for thirty (30) minutes or less.
• Exceptions: Pro se Case Management Conferences (CMCs) are held in person. Attorney CMCs are by Zoom until further notice.
• Generally in person: Evidentiary hearings and hearings scheduled for more than thirty (30) minutes. Evidentiary hearings must be scheduled for sixty (60) minutes and all parties shall appear in person. Evidentiary hearings noticed for Zoom without court permission may be cancelled by the Court.
• Possible by order: On written motion, agreement of the parties, and good cause shown, the Court may consider conducting hearings longer than 30 minutes or evidentiary hearings 30 minutes or less by Zoom. Parties should plan to appear in person unless the Court enters an order allowing Zoom attendance.
• Trials: All trials must be conducted in person.

Zoom Information for Division L (Judge Michael Baggé-Hernández)

• Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/5430552584
• Zoom Phone: 1-786-635-1003
• Meeting ID: 5430552584

Ways to Appear by Zoom

• Electronic device: Cellphone, tablet, or computer.
• By telephone (not recommended): If a party appears by phone instead of Zoom, the hearing may be rescheduled so the party can appear by video or in person at the courthouse.
• Courthouse Zoom computers: Once you reach the 4th floor of the courthouse, notify the bailiffs that you need to use a computer for Zoom hearing attendance.

Virtual Hearing Tips

• Activate your video and audio settings so you can see, hear, and speak during the hearing.
• Set your screen name to your actual name.
• Mute your microphone unless you are speaking.
• Use appropriate lighting and ensure you can be seen on camera.
• Wait patiently until your hearing is called.
• Do not type, eat, drink, or smoke during your hearing.
• Avoid speaking over others. The Court may not be able to hear when two people speak at the same time.

Judicial Assistant Contact

Please contact the Judicial Assistant, Yolanda Caballero DeVesta:

• Phone: (813) 276-8961
• Email: FamLawDivL@fljud13.org

Filing Motions

General Requirements

The JA cannot answer legal questions and will not explain a party’s situation to the Judge. A party’s opportunity to speak to the Judge occurs in Court only.

All motions must be typed (no handwritten motions), must include opposing parties’ contact information, and must be filed with the Clerk before requesting hearing time. Parties must serve filed motions or documents on the other parties.

Emergency Motions

No party or attorney should file an emergency motion without first studying Smith v. Crider, 31 F.L.W. D1018 (Fla. 2d DCA Apr. 7, 2006).

All emergency motions must be filed with the Clerk of Court at:

• Edgecomb Courthouse
• 800 East Twiggs Street
• 1st Floor
• Tampa, FL 33602

Do not deliver a copy of an emergency motion to the Judge. The Clerk of Court will forward the motion to the Judge. After reviewing the court file and the emergency motion, the Judge will enter an Emergency Handling Order. Copies will be distributed electronically by JAWS. If a party is unrepresented, a copy of the ruling will be mailed. If a hearing is required, the JA will coordinate hearing dates and times by email.

Communication with Chambers

The JA cannot answer legal questions and will not explain a party’s situation to the Judge. A party’s opportunity to speak to the Judge occurs in Court only.

The preferred method of communication for scheduling and canceling hearings is email to FamLawDivL@fljud13.org. Phone calls are accepted, although response times may be longer than for email requests.

Emails requesting hearing time should include:

• Case number
• Case style (case name)
• What is being set (identify the motion or matter)
• How much time is requested

All correspondence to the JA must copy all attorneys on the case. If a party is not represented by counsel, copy the unrepresented party.

Hearings

Notices of Hearing

A Notice of Hearing must be filed for all hearings. The notice must be filed with a reasonable amount of time for notice prior to the scheduled hearing. In addition to what applicable law requires, the Notice of Hearing must include:

• The title of the motion to be heard
• The date the underlying motion was filed and the docket number, if available
• The time and date of the scheduled hearing
• The hearing location, or if the Court has authorized Zoom, the Zoom information including the meeting ID and the link to the Zoom meeting
• Whether the hearing is evidentiary
• Whether a court reporter has been reserved for the hearing

Case Management Conferences (CMCs)

First CMC

• All parties and attorneys are required to attend the first CMC.
• If the case is settled before the first CMC, the time may be used as a final hearing if a proper Notice of Hearing has been filed.
• If using the first CMC as a final hearing, a copy of the petitioner’s driver’s license must be uploaded to the court file prior to the hearing date.

Scheduling CMCs

• Parties may schedule a CMC in JAWS on the open docket or as a 15-minute motion.
• All attorney CMCs will take place by Zoom until further notice.
• All pro se CMCs will be held in person in Courtroom 24 (or as stated on the Notice of Hearing).
• Parties requiring interpreters must provide their own interpreter. The Court does not provide interpreters for family law hearings.
• The Court will cancel first CMCs set in post-judgment matters and refer the case to the general magistrate if no order of referral has been submitted and no objection has been filed.

Continuances (CMC Only)

First CMC

The first CMC cannot be cancelled or rescheduled. All parties and counsel must appear.

Reset CMC

• The parties must agree to a continuance of a reset CMC.
• Email the JA, copying all parties, to request a continuance of a reset CMC.
• Any agreed proposed order of continuance should include the rescheduled CMC date and time.
• All parties or attorneys must have an email address on file with the Court for service of the order. If a party does not have an email address on file, the proposed order must be submitted in hard copy to the Court with conforming copies and stamped envelopes.

Temporary Relief Hearings

• Mediation is required prior to a temporary relief hearing on matters involving children (Administrative Order S-2025-013, section 16). Mediation is recommended before hearings on all other temporary relief matters.
• To meet this requirement, mediation must be conducted after the motion for temporary relief is filed, or if temporary relief is requested in the underlying petition.
• The mediator’s report must be filed at least five (5) business days before the hearing date, or the hearing will be cancelled.
• If the opposing (or non-moving) party fails to cooperate in attending mediation, the issue will be addressed at the temporary relief hearing and sanctions may be imposed.
• Temporary relief hearings can be scheduled only for sixty (60) minutes. Requests for more than 60 minutes must be made by email explaining why additional time is needed and whether the opposing party agrees. The Court will not allow more than two (2) hours total.
• Parties shall comply with all requirements for temporary relief hearings outlined in Administrative Order S-2025-013, section 16.

Temporary Relief Hearing Materials and Exhibits

• At least 72 hours before the scheduled temporary relief hearing, the parties must exchange exhibits.
• Each party must upload its exhibits as separate PDFs to the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal Exhibit area (located where orders are uploaded).
• Each party must file and serve the uniform Temporary Relief Hearing Memorandum.
• All temporary relief hearings take place in person.

Post-Judgment Hearings

• All post-judgment matters must have an Order of Referral to the General Magistrate submitted at the same time the petition or motion is filed.
• All post-judgment matters must be mediated prior to scheduling any hearings.
• Post-judgment hearings must be scheduled via JAWS.

Scheduling Hearings

By default, motions and hearings are set in person. Parties may request Zoom for eligible non-evidentiary matters scheduled for thirty (30) minutes or less, except pro se CMCs, subject to Court approval and the Zoom parameters above. Hearings that exceed thirty (30) minutes or that are evidentiary in nature shall be conducted in person unless allowed by the Court.

Scheduling Through JAWS

• Any matter requiring 60 minutes or less of hearing time must be scheduled through JAWS.
• Pro se litigants should email the JA for available hearing times, stating that they are self-represented and including the case number. All parties must be copied.

Available Hearing Types

• Motion Hearing, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes
• Open Docket (5 to 7 minutes, non-evidentiary hearings, uncontested final hearings)
• Pretrial
• Adoptions, uncontested termination of parental rights
• Adoptions

If open docket hearing times are not readily available, email the JA requesting a 5-minute open docket hearing and state the basis for the request.

Matters Requiring More Than 60 Minutes

• Matters requiring more than 60 minutes must be scheduled through the JA. Email FamLawDivL@fljud13.org to obtain available hearing times.
• If a party encounters issues obtaining hearing times, set a CMC on the open docket so the Court may address it. The Notice of CMC should state that the purpose is to discuss obtaining hearing time.

After obtaining hearing time through JAWS or the JA, a Notice of Hearing must be e-filed. The Notice of Hearing must state whether the hearing will be held in person, or by Zoom only if the Court has authorized Zoom. Do not notice a hearing as a Zoom hearing unless the Court has approved Zoom.

If an uncontested final hearing is scheduled on the open docket or 15-minute motion docket, a copy of the petitioner’s driver’s license must be uploaded to the court file prior to the hearing date.

Canceling a Hearing

• Hearings set by court order must be cancelled by court order.
• Hearings set by parties and counsel may be cancelled by agreement of all parties.
• A Notice of Cancellation must be filed with the Clerk.
• Email a copy of the Notice of Cancellation to the JA at FamLawDivL@fljud13.org.
• If more than 24 hours remain, cancel the hearing in JAWS. If less than 24 hours remain, request the JA to cancel when sending the Notice.

Exhibits and Case Law

Paperless Chambers

Paperless chambers: the Court accepts electronic exhibits and hearing materials only. Do not deliver paper binders, courtesy copies, or notebooks to chambers unless the Court specifically orders otherwise.

Exhibits

Exhibits must be submitted electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal Exhibit area. Paper exhibit binders or courtesy binders will not be accepted.

Unless otherwise ordered, exhibits must be uploaded no later than two (2) business days prior to the hearing. Temporary relief hearing deadlines and requirements are addressed above.

Exhibit Portal Upload Tips

• Each exhibit must be filed as a separate PDF document with a cover page.
• Add a unique description for each exhibit (for example, Petitioner’s Exhibit 1, Respondent’s Exhibit 1, Joint Agreed Exhibit 1). The file name does not appear in the exhibit portal.
• Exhibits should have a cover page or be pre-marked with a label in the form indicated by the Exhibit Label link. Complete as much information as possible on the label.
• The Court does not have the capability to separate exhibits combined in one file to mark them as evidence.
• If a paper copy is needed for use at the witness stand, the parties should bring that paper copy on the day of the hearing.
• A copy of any document provided to the Court must also be provided to all other parties.

Case Law and Legal Authority

Provide case law and other legal authority to the Court by email no later than three (3) business days prior to the scheduled hearing, and state in the email the date and time of the hearing. Failure to do so may result in a delay in receiving a ruling while the Court reviews late-submitted authority, and may result in sanctions.

Trials and Pretrial Conferences

Pretrial Conferences (PTC)

All pretrial conferences will be held by Zoom, and trial will be held in person in Courtroom 24 (or as stated on the Order Setting Trial and Pretrial Conference). The PTC will be scheduled for 30 minutes.

Required Uploads Before the PTC

• In dissolution cases, upload an agreed equitable distribution chart prior to the PTC (Equitable Distribution Worksheet).
• In cases involving children, upload a Certificate of Completion of the Parenting Course and a proposed Parenting Plan prior to the PTC.

Failure to file required documents may result in cancellation of the PTC and trial.

Setting a Case for Trial

Cases ready for trial must be set for a Case Management Conference through JAWS. At the CMC, the Court will enter an order allowing the parties to obtain pretrial and trial dates from the JA. The parties must email the JA with a copy of the order attached, requesting trial and pretrial dates, and stating the amount of time needed for trial. Once all parties agree to a trial date, the uniform Order Setting Trial and Pretrial must be uploaded within three (3) days.

Pretrial Memorandum

A Pretrial Memorandum must be electronically filed and served, and a copy must be emailed to the Judge, at least three (3) business days prior to the Pretrial Conference. The parties should be prepared to discuss the provisions of the Pretrial Memorandums and the Pretrial Conference Order.

Trial Exhibits

Each exhibit, together with an exhibit list (Exhibit List), to be used at trial must be uploaded to the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal Exhibit area no later than two (2) business days prior to the scheduled hearing. Each exhibit must be uploaded separately as an individual PDF file. The exhibit upload requirements above apply.

Submitting Proposed Orders

Attorneys

Proposed orders must be submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal along with a cover letter, both in PDF format. Do not also send a hard copy or email to the Court. The cover letter must state whether the proposed order is agreed and must be copied to opposing counsel or the opposing party.

If a party objects to a proposed order, the objecting party must submit a competing proposed order to the JA by email within five (5) days, with a cover letter stating it is a competing order. Opposing counsel or the opposing party must be copied. The cover letter must state the objections.

Unrepresented Parties

In most cases, the Court will prepare orders to be entered. If a party is required to prepare an order, it may be uploaded through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal or provided in hard copy, with copies and addressed, stamped envelopes for all parties and one extra envelope for the clerk’s file.

Order Drafting Requirements

Proposed orders should:

• Identify the name and docket number of the underlying motion and the date of the hearing (if held) in the first paragraph.
• Include a cover letter stating whether all counsel and or pro se parties agree to the form and content of the order, and copying all counsel and or pro se parties.
• If submitting due to no response from the opposing side, state in the cover letter when the proposed order was sent to opposing counsel or the opposing party.

The Court will not sign orders that have the Judge’s signature line on a separate page from the rest of the order, pursuant to administrative order.

Competing Orders Docket

If the parties do not agree to the form and content of the order, the parties must schedule an in-person hearing via JAWS by searching “Competing Orders Docket.” These hearings are set at 4:30 PM every other week. Each case is set for 5 minutes. These hearings may not be set on any other docket or as any other type of hearing in JAWS.

No exception is made to the requirement to appear in person, although parties represented by counsel may be excused from attendance.

Each party must upload its proposed order through the E-Filing Portal as a proposed order with a cover letter detailing the differences between the competing orders. Orders must be uploaded no later than two (2) days prior to the scheduled hearing.

Final Disposition Forms

A Final Disposition Form must be submitted at the time a proposed Final Order or Final Judgment is submitted, in order to close the case in Family Law Division L.

Designation of Email Address

Parties without attorney representation are required to file a Designation of Email Address. By filing this form, the party will receive copies of pleadings by email instead of regular U.S. Mail.

Form 12.915, Designation of Current Mailing and Email Address (link): [insert link]

Mail the completed form to:

• Clerk of the Circuit Court, ATTN: Family Law Division
• 800 E. Twiggs Street
• Tampa, FL 33602