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128 verbatim mandatory provisions from S-2024-046.
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Check the order's own effective and rescission dates before relying on it. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Verbatim from the order's own text layer, harvested 2026-07-24; whitespace normalised only. No OCR was used. Only sentences containing mandatory language (shall, must, may not, no later than, within N) are reproduced — the full document is in custody and is the controlling text. • Tobacco The clerk will assign all civil actions concerning allegations of personal injury or wrongful death arising out of the use of or exposure to tobacco products to Circuit Civil Division "Y ." Counsel must mark all co mplaints with the Division "Y" designation prior to filing. • Asbestos The clerk will assign all civil actions concerning allegations of personal injury or wrongful death arising out of exposure to asbestos to Circuit Civil Division "Z." Counsel must mark all comp laints with the Division "Z" designation prior to filing. • Extraordinary Writ Petitions If a petition is civil in nature, any petition filed with the clerk for writ of mandamus, quo warranto, certiorari, prohibition, or all writs necessary or proper to complete the exercise of the court's jurisdiction must be identified as an extraordinary writ petition in the caption of the petition. • In addition to filing with the clerk through the Florida Courts E- Filing Portal (Portal) , the petitioner must immediately hand deliver, mail or e-mail a copy of the extraordinary writ petition to the judge of the assigned division. • A courtesy copy of all subsequent written submissions must be immediately hand delivered or mailed to the judge of the assigned division by the party filing the original subsequent written submission with the clerk. 4. • The seizing agency must then (A) contact the court to set a hearing date and time for the adversarial preliminary hearing , (B) serve a copy of the notice of hearing on the claimant(s) and provide a copy of the notice to th e court, and (C) file the original notice of hearing with the clerk. • Approval of Settlement of Minors' and Incapacitated Persons' Claims A petition seeking court approval of the settlement of a claim on behalf of a minor or an incapacitated person must comply with Florida Probate Rule 5.636 and sections 744.301, 744.3025, and 744.387, Florida Statutes. • Unless excused by the court, the minor or incapacitated person must be present at the hearing as well as the parent, next friend or guardian. • The attorney must have the most recent medical report of the treating physician available for the court. • If court approval is requested of a settlement for less than the actual value of the claim because of policy limits, evidence indicating the amount of insurance coverage must be produced at the hearing. 6. • After consolidation, each pleading, paper or order filed in a consolidated action must show in the caption, the style and case number of all of the transferred cases, actions, or appeals that have been consolidated. 8. • The party re-filing the case must identify in writing to the clerk the division to which the case was originally assigned. • Conference prior to Filing Motion Except for a motion (i) for injunctive relief; • A certification to the effect that opposing party or opposing party's counsel was unavailable for a conference before filing a motion should describe , with particularity , all of the efforts undertaken to accomplish dialogue with the opposing party or opposing party's counsel prior to filing the subject motion. • Motions to Compel - Order Without Hearing When a motion to compel that complies with the good faith certification in Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.380(a)(2) - motion " must include a certification that the movant, in good faith, has conferred or attempted to confer with the person or party failing to make the discovery in an effort to secure the information or material without court action" - alleges the absence of a response or objection to discovery and there has been no request for an extension of time to respond, the court, without a hearing, may enter an order requiring compliance with the original discovery request within 10 days of the signing of the order, provided no written showing of good cause has been filed by the non-moving party. • The movant must submit to the court a proposed order in accordance with section 13 of this administrative order. • The attorney must copy all parties or counsel for the parties on the request . • If no objection is filed within 10 days of the r e quest stating good cause why a hearing on the motion should be granted, the court will rule on the motion without a hearing or direct that a hearing be scheduled . • The movant must submit to the court a proposed order in accordance with section 13 of this administrative order. 12. • Each attorney setting any appropriate motion for hearing on the UMC must ascertain the presiding judge's UMC calendar availability prior to serving notice. 11. • Types of Matters Matters may only be scheduled on the Uniform Motion Calendar if they can be heard within 10 minutes. • All counsel and parties must be present at the commencement of the docket. • Filing Prior to Setting Hearing Motions must be e-filed through the Portal prior to setting a hearing on the Uniform Motion Calendar. viii. • Documents Submitted to the Court Any documents to be considered by the court must be received by the court at l east three business days prior to the Uniform Motion Calendar hearing unless otherwise directed by the court. • Documents must not exceed 10 pages and they may be e-mailed to the judicial assistant. • Motions must be e-filed through the Portal prior to setting a hearing on the JAWS. • For any multi-party te l ephonic hearings, all parties must be conferenced into the call prior to the call being placed to the presiding judge's office or courtroom. • Documents Submitted to the Court Any documents to be considered by the court must be received by the court at least three business days prior to the hearing unless otherwise directed by the court. • Documents that are more than 10 pages must be delivered to the court via mail or hand delivery. • Scheduling Hearings for More Than 30 Minutes Attorneys and self-represented litigants who wish to schedule a hearing for more than 30 minutes must have their request approve d by the court prior to setting the hearing on the judge's calendar . • E-Mail Request Attorneys and self-represented litigants must e-mail the respective judicial assistant at the court's divisional e-mail address accessed via the judicial directory posted on the court's webpage and copy all associated parties or their counsel on the e-mail. • The requesting e-mail must have the following information included in the body of the e-mail: a. • Selection of Date and Time Only one responsive e-mail is required which states that all sides are available on the mutually agreeable date and time. • In the body of the responsive e-mail, the following information must be repeated to avoid lengthy searches through multiple e-mails: a. • The moving party must prepare, file, and serve on all parties affiliated with the case a Notice of Hearing . v. • Courtesy Copy of Documents Delivered to the Court The moving party must mail or hand deliver (no e-mail) to the judicial assistant a courtesy copy of the notice of hearing and motion(s), response(s), and any other documentation to be considered by the court. • These documents must be received at least three business days prior to the hearing unle ss otherwise directed by the court. • Notice of Hearing All notices of hearing must specify the specific matters being heard and must state: • Counsel and self-represented parties are not Page 11 of 31 - Administrative Order S- 2024-046 (Circuit Civil Division) -- 11 of 31 -- authorized to indicate that the hearing will be on "all pending motions;" rather, the matter(s) being heard must be set out with particularity. • A good faith effort to clear all hearing dates with opposing counsel or a self-represented party is required prior to notices of hearing being filed. • Cancellation If any hearing is canceled or rescheduled, the attorney or self- represented party setting the hearing must notify the judge's judicial assistant and the opposing counsel or opposing party as soon as possible after discovering the need for the cancellation. • Providing notice of the cancellation must occur by the following methods: i. • Cancelling within 24 Hours of the Hearing If cancelling a hearing within 24 hours of the scheduled hearing, it is imperative to notify the judicial assistant by e- mailing a copy of the Notice of Cancellation. • Cancelling with more than 24 Hours' Notice If a hearing was scheduled on JAWS and it is being cancelled with more than 24 hours of the scheduled hearing, the scheduling party must cancel their own hearing through JAWS. • If a hearing was scheduled via the court's divisional e-mail address, the scheduling party must cancel their own hearing by submitting a Notice of Cancellation via the court's divisional e-mail address. 1u. • Consultation with Opposing Counsel or Opposing Self- Represented Party Prior to submitting a proposed order or final judgment for the court's consideration after a hearing, the counsel or self-represented party directed to submit the proposed order or final judgment must consult with opposing counsel or the opposing self- represented party within three business days after the court's decision and make a genuine effort to agree on the language of the proposed order or final judgment. • Timely Submission Proposed orders on motions scheduled on the Uniform Motion Calendar must be submitted to the judge within five days of the judge's ruling. • Unless the presiding judge directs otherwise, proposed orders on all other motions and proposed final judgments must be submitted to the judge by the attorney or self-represented party directed to prepare the order or final judgment within 10 business days after the judge's ruling. • Orders The title of every submitted proposed order must contain the title of the pleading or motion upon which the ruling is made and must fairly apprise the reader of the action being ordered. • Final Judgments The title of every proposed final judgment must state whether it is entered against plaintiff(s) or defendant(s). • Form The first paragraph of all proposed orders and final judgments must state the date or dates on which the hearing or trial took place. • No proposed order or final judgment may contain an "orphan" signature page, in other words, the page containing the court's signature must also contain substantive language of the proposed order or final judgment so that a proposed order or final judgment does not contain a signature page consisting only of the court's signature. • Cover Letter Whether or not the language of a proposed order or final judgment has been agreed to, all proposed orders and final judgments must be submitted to the court with a cover letter. • The cover letter must state that ( 1) a copy of the proposed order or final judgment has been provided to all other parties or their counsel; and (2) the form and content of the order or judgment has been agreed to, or that no Page 14 of 31 - Administrative Order S-2024-046 (Circuit Civil Division) -- 14 of 31 -- objection was raised within five business days, or that an opposed order or judgment is being submitted and the specific objection of the opposing party. • Format All proposed orders and final judgments submitted through the Portal must be in in Portable Document Format (PDF) or PDF/ A (Portable Document Format for Archiving) unless specifically directed otherwise by the court so that the court may make specific findings of fact or conclusions of law. • Paper Copies If any party is represented by an attorney who has been excused from e-mail service by the court under Rule 2.516, the movant's attorney must submit to the presiding judge sufficient paper copies of the proposed order along with stamped, addressed envelopes. • Only One Submission Proposed orders and final judgments must only be submitted to the presiding judge one time. • If an attorney or party submits a proposed order or final judgment to the presiding judge via the Portal in accordance with this provision, then the attorney or party must not also submit the proposed order or final judgment in paper copies . • If an attorney or party submits a proposed order or final judgment to the presiding judge via paper copies in accordance with this provision, then the attorney or party must not also submit the proposed order or final judgment via the Portal. ii. • Opposed Proposed Orders and Final Judgments When a proposed order or final judgment has not been agreed to, the proposed order or final judgment must be served on the opposing party and submitted to the judicial assistant by United States Mail, courier delivery service or hand delivery. • Sufficient conformed copies of the proposed order or final judgment along with stamped, addressed envelopes must also be submitted to the judicial assistant. • The proposed order or final judgment must include a cover letter indicating the specific objection of the opposing party and a copy of the opposing party's proposed order or final judgment, if available. • If a copy of the opposing party's proposed order or final judgment is not available at the time the proposed order or judgment is submitted to the court, the opposing party must submit a copy of their proposed order or final judgment along with a cover letter within five business days after the other party submitted the original opposed proposed order or final judgment to the court. 14. • Request for Clerk's Statement of Available Registry Funds When a party seeks an order directing the clerk to disburse funds from the court registry, prior to filing a motion, the party must request the clerk to provide a statement showing available funds in the court registry. • Motion for Disbursement of Registry Funds The party must attach a copy of the clerk's Statement of Available Registry Funds to the motion for disbursement of funds, file and serve the motion on all parties and legal counsel for the clerk. • If the party seeking disbursement objects to the amount listed in the clerk's Statement of Available Registry Funds, the motion must identify the basis for the objection, and set the motion for hearing. • If the party seeking disbursement does not object to the amount listed in the clerk's Statement of Available Registry Funds, the motion must confirm the stated amount is the proper amount of disbursement and request the entry of an order, without a hearing, if no other party files and serves a written objection within five days after service of the motion. • Change in Registry Balance If any party becomes aware of any change to the court registry balance after the issuance of the initial clerk's Statement of Available Registry Funds, that party must obtain an updated clerk's Statement of Available Registry Funds and provide copies to the other party and to the court prior to the hearing on the motion seeking disbursement. • Disbursement Orders to Account for Clerk Fees All proposed orders submitted to the court for disbursement from the court registry must contain the phrase "less clerk fees" immediately after the total requested disbursement amount (for example, Total: $12,000, less clerk fees). • Uniform Order Uniform orders setting pretrial and trial for jury cases and uniform orders setting pretrial and trial for non-jury cases must be used. • Uniform orders can be found on the court's website at www .fljud13 .org under "FORMS." After the case has been scheduled on the JAWS, Plaintiffs counsel must prepare the uniform order. • Once the uniform order is prepared, it must be uploaded in PDF or PDF/ A to the Portal for electronic signature in the judge's queue in the "Proposed Order" section. • If one or more persons entitled to receive a copy cannot be served by e-mail or is a self-represented litigant, the moving party must serve a copy of the uniform order upon the self- represented litigant. • Pretrial Conference At least one trial counsel who serves as lead counsel per party must be physically present at the pretrial conference. • Counsel must be prepared to negotiate settlement at the pretrial conference and have available at the conference a party or representative who has full authority to settle. • Settlement Notification If the case has settled, one of the parties or counsel must contact the judicial assistant by e-mail with documentation so that the case can be removed from the trial or pretrial conference docket. • Generally Each exhibit must be identified numerically, starting with number 1. • Each exhibit must be preceded by a cover sheet indicating the exhibit number and the party submitting the exhibit. • All exhibits must be listed, in numerical order, on a separate paper that sets forth the case caption, identifies the party submitting the exhibits and includes columns with the following headings: • Each party must provide a paper copy of the Exhibit List to the courtroom clerk before the start of the evidentiary hearing or trial. • Submission Each numbered and marked exhibit must include an Exhibit Cover Sheet and be electronically stored in an individual PDF or PDF/ A file. • Each PDF or PDF/ A file must have a unique identification name and number (e.g. • The party submitting the exhibits must e-file them with the Exhibit List as a separate attachment to a submission titled "Notice of Filing [Party's Name]'s Exhibit List for [Trial or Evidentiary Hearing]." The e-fi.ling of the Exhibit List and exhibits via the Portal will effectuate a party's delivery of exhibits to the opposing party or parties. 11. • A USB flash drive or CD file containing the Exhibit List and the electronically stored exhibits must be delivered to the courtroom clerk before the start of the trial or evidentiary hearing. 111. • However, a party using exhibits during the examination of a witness must, at the commencement of the party's questioning of the witness, provide paper copies of the exhibits to be used during the examination of the witness to the witness, opposing counsel or party, and unless the presiding judge directs otherwise, the presiding judge. • Additional Exhibits If additional exhibits are offered or introduced during the course of the evidentiary hearing or trial that were not either e-filed or included on the USB flash drive or CD furnished to the courtroom clerk, a complete set of the additional exhibits introduced into evidence must be e-filed as separate attachments to a submission titled "Notice of Filing [Party's Name]'s Additional Exhibits" within seven days following the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing or trial. • Submission At the commencement of an evidentiary hearing or trial, each party must deliver to the courtroom clerk the original and one copy of the Exhibit List and all exhibits to be introduced into evidence in paper format. • Additional copies of the exhibits, either stapled or in binders or folders must be provided for use by witnesses, opposing counsel or party, and unless the presiding judge directs otherwise, the presiding judge. • Large Exhibits or Non-Paper Exhibits Items other than paper documents to be introduced into evidence must be photographed, accompanied by an Exhibit Cover Sheet, and listed on the Exhibit List. • Paper documents larger than 8 ½ x 11 inches must be listed on the Exhibit List and accompanied by a reduced 8½ x 11-inch copy and an Exhibit Cover Sheet. • Counsel must attach Exhibit Cover Sheets to both the original physical exhibit and the photograph or reduced copy of the exhibit (substitutes), identifying the exhibits and corresponding substitutes with the same exhibit number. • Rehearing/ Reconsideration / Clarification/ New Trial Motions for Rehearing, Motions for Reconsideration, Motions for Clarification and Motions for New Trial will not be set for hearing without the court's authorization . • Once the motion is filed, parties or counsel must e-mail, mail, hand deliver, or use a courier service to deliver a paper copy of the motion, proposed order and a cover letter to the judge's office for consideration by the court. 18. • Temporary Injunctions Applications for temporary injunctions without notice must comply with Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1. 610. • Emergency Matters in an Assigned Case Application for emergency relief in an assigned case must be filed with the clerk with the term " Emergency'' in its title. • When filing through the Portal, the moving party must also take the following two actions. • First , the moving party must indicate on the Portal interface 's "Document" tab that the motion is an "Emergency Motion." Second, the moving party must indicate on the Portal interface's "Review and Submit" tab that the document being filed is deemed an "E mergency Filing." After the motion is filed, the moving party must e-mail the judicial assistant, advising of the filing of the emergency motion. • The e-mail must include the style of the case, case number , title of the motion , the date it was filed and the length of time requested for a hearing. • If the clerk makes the notification and presentation via e-mail, the clerk must verify that the judge is actually aware of the pending emergency matter . • Any judge assigned to the Circuit Civil Division who issu es an ex parte order must personally conduct the return hearing unless the judge of the division in which the case is pending agrees to conduct the hearing . • All emergency motion handling orders must be served to the parties by e-mail, facsimile, or regular United States mail. • If the reviewing judge determines that an emergency does not Page 23 of 31 - Administrative Order S- 2024 - 046 (Circuit Civil Division) -- 23 of 31 -- exist or denies the emergency request without a hearing, the requesting party is prohibited from presenting the emergency request to any other judge except the judge presiding in the division to which the case is assigned. ii. • If a duty judge determines that an emergency does not exist or denies the emergency request without a hearing, the requesting party must not present the emergency request to any other judge except the judge presiding in the division to which the case is assigned. 20 . • Parties wishing to utilize mediation services other than those provided through the Hillsborough County Bar Foundation must follow the provisions set out in the order of referral. • Entry of Foreclosure Judgments Plaintiffs must upload an electronic Proposed Uniform Final Judgment of Foreclosure (sale date will be inserted by the court at the time of the hearing) and a Final Disposition Form at least three business days prior to the scheduled hearing date for the motion for summary judgment. • The most current Uniform Final Judgment form, which must be used, may be accessed at www.fljudl3 .org . • Prerequisites to Scheduling Hearing Prior to selecting a mortgage foreclosure summary judgment hearing date on the JAWS, attorneys of record for plaintiffs must file with the clerk the motion for summary judgment and a uniform affidavit titled "Affidavit of Compliance with Foreclosure Procedures." The uniform affidavit form may be accessed at www .fljudl3.org . • Hearings scheduled on the JAWS prior to the filing of the summary judgment motion and the affidavit may be cancelled by the court without notice . 11. • Original Note or Lost Instrument Affidavit Required If an affidavit of lost instrument is filed with the clerk , the affidavit must contain an agreement to indemnify the maker(s) or provide other adequate consideration. • ("The court may not enter judgment in favor of the person seeking enforcement unless it finds that the person required to pay the instrument is adequately protected ... "); see also § 702.11, Fla. • Non - Evidentiazy Pretrial Motions Unless the presiding judge directs otherwise, a copy of all non- evidentiary motions must be served on the presiding judge when the original motion is filed with the clerk. • The presiding judge may decide to rule on a non-evidentiary motion without a hearing unless a hearing is required under section 702.10, Florida Statutes . • Unless the presiding judge directs otherwise, a party may not set a non- evidentiary motion for hearing until at least 30 days have elapsed from the date of service of a copy of the motion on the presiding judge. • Any materials that the parties wish to deliver to the court are to be received at least two business days prior to hearing. • Scheduling H earings on Non-Summary Judgment Matters Attorneys and self-represe nted litigants must schedule hearings in accordance with section 12 of this administrative order. • All counsel and parties must be present before the court at the pretrial conference and trial. • The parties must comp let e the Residential Foreclosure Order Setting Non-Jury Trial and Directing Pretrial Procedures form available under the "FORMS" tab on the circuit's website and submit the completed form to the presiding judge. • Notice of Sale and Proof of Publication The original Notice of Sale and Proof of Publication must be filed with the clerk at l east 24 hours prior to the scheduled sale date. ii. • Bidding Increments All tendered bids must be in increments of at least $100.00 . iv. • Deadline The deadline for cancellation of a judicial sale and for payment of the clerk's sale fee is no later than 8:00 a.m. on the day of the scheduled sale. b. • Upon Plaintiffs Notice of Cancellation The clerk will cancel any scheduled foreclosure sale at least two hours before the scheduled foreclosure sale date and time upon receipt of a Notice of Cancellation of Foreclosure Sale filed electronically by plaintiffs counsel no later than 8:00 a.m. on the day of the scheduled sale. • A Motion to Reset Sale must be filed and a proposed order submitted to the court in order to obtain a new sale date . c. • Upon Defendant's Motion and Court Order If the Defendant is the party requesting the cancellation, a Motion to Cancel Sale must be filed with the clerk. • Upon Suggestion of Bankruptcy Unless otherwise directed by the presiding judge or a judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court, the clerk will cancel any scheduled foreclosure sale upon receipt of a suggestion of bankruptcy on behalf of a named defendant in a pending foreclosure action no later than 8:00 a.m . on the day of the scheduled sale. e. • Upon Plaintiffs Failure to Pay Clerk Fees ( 1) Additional Filing Fee If any difference betwee n the estimated amount in controversy of the claim and the actual value of the claim causes there to be an additional filing fee owed by the plaintiff under section 28.241 (1) (a) , Florida Statutes, the plaintiff must pay the additional fee prior to the judicial sale . • If any additional filing fee owed is not paid prior to the judicial sale, the clerk will cancel the judicial sale. • (2) Judicial Sales Fee If the plaintiff fails to pay the clerk's judicial sale fee in accordance with sections 45 .035(1) and 45.035(3) , Florida Statutes , no later than 8:00 a.m. on the day of the schedule sale, the clerk will cancel the judicial sale. • Verification of Compliance with Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act A successor in interest seeking an order directing the clerk to issue a writ of possession must verify compliance with, or the inapplicability of, the notice requirements of either the federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act5 or the Florida Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act(§ 83.5615, Florida Statutes) , whichever is currently in effect.
Tobacco The clerk will assign all civil actions concerning allegations of personal injury or wrongful death arising out of the use of or exposure to tobacco products to Circuit Civil Division "Y ." Counsel must mark all co mplaints with the Division "Y" designation prior to filing.
Reviewer note: Document sha256: f763f078b724c828519a9f6fa9c15f22ed9ce6a0a8b7fb8a3e151a7047ad3023 (15298005 bytes). BenchPath harvested this circuit itself because no research corpus existed for it. Extraction is conservative: mandatory-language sentences only, so this rule is a faithful subset of the order, never a summary of it.
The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit (Seminole and Brevard) requires cover letters in PDF format and proposed orders in .docx format using DJMCA formatting codes, submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
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.
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.