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