Palm Beach: the plaintiff — not the clerk — must serve the DCMO with the summons (AO 3.110)

High confidence· verified September 9, 2026ServiceAO 3.110-12/24 (15th Cir.), Part 2(a) — Entry and Service

Summary

The court auto-generates and e-serves the DCMO on the initiating party only. That party must then serve it on every defendant in the same manner and at the same time as the summons and complaint.

Applies to

Circuit Civil and County Civil, Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Palm Beach County). Procedural information only — not legal advice.

Requirement

Under AO 3.110 Part 2(a): "Immediately upon the filing of a new civil case that is subject to Differentiated Case Management, a Uniform Differentiated Case Management Order and Order Setting Trial ('DCMO') … shall be automatically generated by the Court, filed, and served through the e-portal upon the party initiating the action." The service duty then shifts: "Unless exempted from DCM in Part 1, or by order of the Court, the DCMO shall be served by the party initiating the action upon each defendant/respondent in the same manner and at the same time as the summons and complaint/petition." If the automated system issues a DCMO in a case that is NOT subject to DCM, "any party may submit a proposed order vacating the DCMO with notice to all parties" — the remedy is a proposed order, not a motion.

Source of truth

Unless exempted from DCM in Part 1, or by order of the Court, the DCMO shall be served by the party initiating the action upon each defendant/respondent in the same manner and at the same time as the summons and complaint/petition.

Official source: 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger)
Source health: Healthy · checked October 3, 2026
Effective date: —
Last verified: September 9, 2026benchpath-reverify-2026-09-08 (custody hash match) | prior: benchpath-arbitration-2026-07-24

County Civil Circuit Civil

Change history

August 6, 2026Monitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.
August 5, 2026Monitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.
August 3, 2026Monitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.
August 2, 2026Monitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.
August 1, 2026Monitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.
July 31, 2026Monitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.
July 30, 2026Monitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.
July 29, 2026Monitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.
July 28, 2026Monitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.

Related rules

ServiceStatewide

Electronic Service: Consent, Mandatory E-Service, Address Changes, Completion and Proof — Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.251

A document that may be served by mail, express mail, overnight delivery or fax may be served electronically under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6; a party consents by serving and filing a notice with its electronic service address or by affirmative consent through the court's electronic filing system or service provider (form EFS-005-CV); a court may require electronic service by local rule or order, and a party required to file electronically must also serve and accept service electronically except as to parties, including self-represented parties, who are not required to; parties must promptly notify the court and all parties of a change of electronic service address; service is complete as section 1010.6 provides (on transmission or notification when a provider is used); proof of electronic service is made under section 1013b, and proof of service of moving papers must be filed at least five court days before the hearing.

High confidence· verified September 28, 2026Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.251(a)–(c), (g), (i), (j)

ServiceFifth Judicial Circuit

Palm Beach: the plaintiff — not the clerk — must serve the DCMO with the summons (AO 3.110)

Summary

Applies to

Requirement

Source of truth

Change history

Related rules

Electronic Service: Consent, Mandatory E-Service, Address Changes, Completion and Proof — Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.251

5th Cir. (Lake) — Self-Help Center Checklist: Service of Process

Palm Beach: the plaintiff — not the clerk — must serve the DCMO with the summons (AO 3.110)

Summary

Applies to

Requirement

Source of truth

Change history

Related rules

Electronic Service: Consent, Mandatory E-Service, Address Changes, Completion and Proof — Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.251

5th Cir. (Lake) — Self-Help Center Checklist: Service of Process

Orange County Superior Court — Public Notice: Electronic Service in Family Law Matters (effective July 1, 2025)

101st District Court — Rule 106 Substituted-Service Requirements and Mandated Order Form