Parties without attorney representation are encouraged but not required to file a Designation of Email Address.  By filing this form you will receive copies of all pleadings by email NOT regular U.S. Mail.  A link to a copy of the form is available here:  ( Designation of Email Address)

The completed form should be mailed to:  Clerk of the Circuit Court, ATTN:  Family Law Division, 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL  33602

1. File a Notice of Cancellation with the clerk
2. Email a copy of the Notice to JA at FamLawDivC@fljud13.org
3. If more than 24 hours to hearing time, please cancel hearing via JAWS.  If less than 24 hours, then request the JA to cancel when you send her the Notice.

1. The First CMC cannot be cancelled or rescheduled.
2. The parties must agree to a continuance of a reset CMC
3. Contact JA by email, copying all parties, and request continuance
4. Any agreed proposed order of continuance should include a blank space for new hearing date
5. 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.

1. All parties and attorneys are required to attend the First CMC.  Attendance at later CMC’s is recommended but not required if there is good cause for the absence. 
2. If the case is settled prior to the First CMC then hearing time may be used as a final hearing.
3. If the party requires a case management conference that can be scheduled in JAWS on the open docket or the motion docket – 15 minute.
4. All CMC’s will take place by Zoom until further notice

1. Mediation is required prior to attending a temporary relief hearing. (Administrative Order S-2020-052)
2. Mediator’s Report must be filed with the Court at least 5 business days prior to the hearing date or the hearing will be cancelled.
3. 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.
4. At least two (2) 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 minor child(ren).
5. All exhibits, together with an exhibit list, to be used at the hearing must be uploaded to the Florida E-Filing Portal Exhibits area (located where Orders are uploaded) no later than three (3) business days prior to the scheduled hearing.
   Helpful tips for Exhibit Portal Upload:
   • You must add a unique description (i.e. Petitioner’s Exhibit 1, Respondent’s Exhibit 1, Joint Agreed Exhibit 1, etc) to each exhibit uploaded.
   • The exhibits should have a cover page and be pre-marked with a label in the form indicated on this link (Exhibit Label).
   • Complete as much information as you can on the label.
   • All Temporary Relief Hearings shall take place in person.
   The judge does not require a hard copy of the exhibits, however, the parties must bring hard copies for use on the witness stand on the day of the hearing.
6. A copy of any document provided to the Court shall also be provided to all other Parties.
7. All Temporary Relief Hearings shall take place in person.

Temporary relief hearings shall be scheduled for no more than one hour. The Court expects the parties/attorneys to offer testimony by proffer at temporary relief hearings. Hearings may be set on JAWS without contacting chambers for a hearing date. Parties/Attorneys may request up to 2 hours of hearing time by sending a letter to the judge stating (1) that the parties are in agreement that the hearing will take 2 hours and (2) explaining why the additional time is required.

1. Effective 7/14/22, any motions 30 min or less shall occur by Zoom.    Any hearings that exceed thirty (30) minutes shall appear in person. 
2. A motion should be filed with the Clerk of Court before setting the matter for hearing in JAWS or requesting hearing time from the Judicial Assistant. Please include the docket number for the motion in the email to the Judicial Assistant, together with the name of motion.
3. Any matter requiring 60 minutes or less of hearing time is to be scheduled through JAWS. Pro se litigants (a party who is not represented by an attorney) do not have access to JAWS and accordingly, if you are pro se, please email the Judicial Assistant for available hearing times.  All parties must be copied on the email.  Available hearing times are as follows:
   
   • Motion Hearing – 15 min, 30 and 60 min
   • Open Docket (5-7 minutes, non-evidentiary hearings, uncontested final hearings)
   • Pre-Trial
   • Adoptions - Uncontested TPR
   • Adoptions – TPR
   • Adoptions – Final Hearing
   • Case Management Conference (Reset) – 7-10 minutes – status of case only
4. In the event that Open Docket hearing times are not readily available, please email the Judicial Assistant with your request for a 5 minute open docket hearing and the basis for the request.  
5. Any matters requiring more than 60 minutes of hearing time are to be scheduled through the Judicial Assistant. You may contact the Judicial Assistant via email at famlawdivc@fljud13.org to obtain available hearing times. 
6. If a Party encounters any issues in obtaining hearing times, please set a Case Management Conference (CMC) on the Open Docket so that the Court may address same.  Please include in the Notice of CMC Hearing that the nature of the CMC is to discuss obtaining hearing time. 
7. PLEASE COPY ALL ATTORNEYS ON THE CASE ON ALL CORRESPONDENCE SENT TO THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT.  If a Party is not represented by counsel, please copy the unrepresented party on all correspondence sent to the Judicial Assistant.
8. After obtaining a hearing time either through JAWS or the Judicial Assistant, a Notice of Hearing is to be e-filed. The Notice of Hearing MUST state whether the case will be heard in person or by Zoom.

1. When submitting proposed orders, if both Parties are represented by counsel, proposed orders along with a Cover Letter, both in .pdf format, are to be uploaded to the Florida E-Portal.  If a proposed order is required to be uploaded to the Portal, please do not also send a hard copy or email to the Court.  The Cover Letter needs to include whether or not the proposed order is agreed upon by all Parties and should be copied to opposing party or his/her attorney.

 

If a party objects to a proposed order, the objecting party must submit his/her own order to the JA via email within 5 days with a cover letter saying that it is a competing order and opposing counsel or other party must be copied on the cover letter.



2. If a Party is unrepresented and has no email address on file for service, then proposed orders along with copies for conforming are to be submitted to the Court via hard copy.  Please also include self-addressed envelopes with postage for each Party that needs to receive a copy of the executed order.
3. Proposed orders should include the docket number of the underlying motion in the first paragraph. 
4. Incoming Withholding Orders can now be uploaded into E-portal. If one of the parties, represents themselves, the Order MUST be submitted via hard copy with copies of the Order and self-addressed envelopes for all parties.

1. Please provide case law and any legal authority to the Court via email no later than three (3) business days prior to a scheduled hearing. 

Emergency Hearings shall occur by Zoom.

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.

Any hearings or trials that exceed thirty (30) minutes shall appear in person.  

Any hearings that do not exceed thirty (30) minutes shall occur by Zoom, except for PTC which shall be in person.

Effective August 1, 2021 all Trials and Pre-Trials shall be held in person in Courtroom 403.

All cases ready for trial must be set for Case Management Conference. The parties can schedule CMC on JAWS on the open docket or in a 15 minute hearing time. At this Case Management Conference, the Court will enter an order allowing the parties to set pre-trial conference and trial date with the Judicial Assistant. The parties shall send an email to the Judicial Assistant with a copy of the order attached requesting trial and pre-trial dates. The email shall also include the amount of time needed for the trial.
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 emailed to the Judge, 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.

1. All exhibits, together with an exhibit list (Exhibit List), to be used at the hearing must be uploaded to the Florida E-Filing Portal Exhibit area (located where Orders are uploaded) no later than three (3) business days prior to the scheduled hearing.
   Helpful tips for Exhibit Portal Upload:
   • You must add a unique description (i.e. Petitioner’s Exhibit 1, Respondent’s Exhibit 1, Joint Agreed Exhibit 1, etc) to each exhibit uploaded
   • The exhibits should have a cover page and be pre-marked with a label in the form indicated on this link (Exhibit Label).
   • Complete as much information as you can on the label.
   The judge does not require a hard copy of the exhibits, however, the parties must bring hard copies for use on the witness stand on the day of the hearing.
2. A copy of any document provided to the Court shall also be provided to all other Parties.

At least 2 days prior to trial, the unrepresented parties and attorneys shall provide the court with an equitable distribution chart in Excel format by e-mail to the judicial assistant. The chart should list all assets and debts, whether the assets are marital or non-marital, and the value each party has for the asset or debt. The chart shall have additional columns for the court’s determination of the value of each asset or debt, and a column for each party for the court to complete. A sample of the headings for the chart may be accessed here. This is an example of the headings and form only, and should be completed based on the assets and debts of each case.

1. All post judgment matters must have an Order of Referral to the General Magistrate filed at the same time the petition or motion is filed.
2. All post judgment matters MUST be mediated prior to the scheduling of any hearings.
3. You must schedule post judgment hearings via JAWS.

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 in Family Law Division “C”.

All exhibits, together with an exhibit list, to be used at any type of hearing must be uploaded to the Florida E-Filing Portal Exhibits area (located where Orders are uploaded) no later than three (3) business days prior to the scheduled hearing.

Helpful tips for Exhibit Portal Upload:

• You must add a unique description (i.e. Petitioner’s Exhibit 1, Respondent’s Exhibit 1, Joint Agreed Exhibit 1, etc) to each exhibit uploaded.
• The exhibits should have a cover page and be pre-marked with a label in the form indicated on this link (Exhibit Label).
• Complete as much information as you can on the label.