Wm. Bruce Smith

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.610; § 741.30, Fla. Stat.

A DV injunction petition is reviewed promptly; the court may issue a temporary injunction ex parte, and when it does, a full evidentiary hearing is generally set within 15 days. There is no filing fee.

• File the petition on the approved form — no filing fee.
• A temporary injunction may issue ex parte on the verified petition.
• Calendar the final hearing — generally within 15 days when a temporary injunction issues.
• Appear with evidence and witnesses; non-appearance can end the case.

Florida Courts E-Filing Portal; Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.525

Florida attorneys must file court documents electronically through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com). Self-represented litigants may e-file through the same portal. Local circuits layer their own formatting and routing quirks on top.

• Register a Portal account at myflcourtaccess.com.
• Attorneys: e-file every document through the Portal.
• Check the destination circuit's e-filing instructions for format quirks before filing.

Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516

Service of pleadings and documents after the initial pleading is made by e-mail — in practice through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal's e-service feature — to the designated service addresses on file.

• Serve by e-mail to every designated e-mail service address (via Portal e-service in ordinary practice).
• Confirm all parties' designated service addresses are current before serving.
• Include a certificate of service reflecting method and date.

BenchPath statewide AI stale-publication audit, July 22, 2026 (53 sources re-fetched and sha256-hashed; evidence in repo docs/handoff/ai-audit-2026-07/)

Only Rule 2.515(d)(2) binds you statewide. Five circuits rescinded their AI orders outright — but the SEVENTH CIRCUIT's G-2026-045-SC has never been rescinded and is still posted with sanctions language. It is preempted and unenforceable, yet it remains the circuit's most recent general administrative order. Dozens of judge pages statewide also still publish AI mandates.

Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.285

Parties in dissolution and most family financial cases must exchange a financial affidavit and specified financial documents within 45 days of service of the initial pleading, file a certificate of compliance, and supplement as circumstances change.

• Serve the financial affidavit within 45 days of service of the initial pleading.
• Exchange the documents required by rule 12.285.
• File the certificate of compliance.
• Supplement disclosure as circumstances change — the duty is continuing.

Fla. R. App. P. 9.110

An appeal of a final order must be commenced by filing a notice of appeal within 30 days of rendition of the order. This deadline is jurisdictional — missing it generally ends the appeal.

• Calendar 30 days from rendition of the final order.
• Confirm the rendition date — timely authorized post-judgment motions suspend rendition.
• File the notice of appeal with the lower tribunal's clerk with the filing fee.

Fla. Sm. Cl. R. 7.090

Small claims cases (up to $8,000) begin with a mandatory pretrial conference where the court narrows issues and typically orders mediation. Failure to appear can result in default or dismissal.

• Confirm the claim is within the $8,000 small-claims limit (exclusive of costs, interest, and fees).
• File the Statement of Claim on the approved form.
• Attend the pretrial conference — appearance is mandatory.
• Come prepared to mediate.

In re: Amends. to Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.515, No. SC2026-0673 (Fla. May 28, 2026); Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.515(d)(2); AOSC26-12

Effective June 15, 2026, every signer of a Florida court filing — attorney or self-represented — represents that "the legal authorities identified exist and are accurately cited," with express sanctions (reprimand, contempt, striking, dismissal, costs, fees) for violations. Companion order AOSC26-12 preempts ALL circuit- and judge-level AI disclosure/certification requirements.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.510

Florida follows the federal summary-judgment standard. The motion must be served at least 40 days before the hearing; the nonmovant's response is due no later than 20 days before the hearing.

• Serve the motion at least 40 days before the hearing date.
• Support factual positions with record citations.
• Calendar the nonmovant's response deadline — no later than 20 days before the hearing.
• Special-set the hearing per the division's procedure and confirm courtesy-copy requirements.