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34 verbatim requirements from document (unlisted) [unlisted] JudgeMcGowanUFCOfficeProcedures.
20th Judicial Circuit. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Verbatim from https://www.ca.cjis20.org/pdf/Collier/JudgeMcGowanUFCOfficeProcedures.pdf, harvested 2026-07-25; whitespace normalised only. • Petitioners in any family case are required to file a Notice of Related Cases pursuant to Rule 2.545(d), Rules of Judicial • Related cases shall be assigned to one judge or will otherwise be coordinated in order to conserve judicial resources and to promote an efficient determination of the actions. • When submitting the proposed Order of Referral, the cover letter to Judge McGowan shall state whether the opposing party consents to the magistrate hearing the matter. • A Motion for Temporary Relief regarding children issues MUST be mediated prior to a hearing being held (See Standing Order for Domestic Relations with Children –paragraph 2). • Uncontested dissolutions include only those cases where the parties have entered into a written settlement agreement resolving all issues, a default has been entered or an answer and waiver has been filed and minimal testimony taking five minutes or less to present the matter to the Court is required relative to parental responsibility, timesharing, child support or alimony. • Any default, answer and waiver being relied upon must be docketed in the court file when presented to the judge at final hearing. • The following shall be submitted to the Court at the conclusion of the Final Hearing: Final Judgment (original and sufficient number of copies for the parties) Income Deduction Order (original and sufficient number of copies for the parties) Final Disposition Form • Uncontested adoptions and name changes MUST be scheduled with judicial assistant • HEARINGS MORE THAN 60 MINUTES must be requested in writing or email (CJohnson@ca.cjis20.org) along with a copy of the motion(s) with specific details and copying the other side. • A party/attorney scheduling a hearing must concurrently notice the matter in conformance with the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and ensure timely notice is served on all pro-se parties and counsel of record in advance of the hearing. • The original notice must be timely e-filed with the clerk of court. • A hearing notice for all hearings that will be evidentiary in nature and involving presentation of evidence (affidavits, testimony, exhibits, etc.) shall clearly indicate it is an evidentiary hearing. • All phone hearings must be set up through CourtCall at least three (3) business days in advance of the hearing. • Telephonic appearances must be approved by the Court by e-filing a • Judge McGowan’s calendar must be submitted by the attorney or party who set the hearing and the cancellation must be agreed upon by all parties, regardless of who set the hearing. • To obtain Court approval of a last minute cancellation request (7 days or less) you MUST submit a written request to Judge • The letter must state you have copied all parties and they are in full agreement of the settlement and the cancellation, and that the settlement papers will be forthcoming. • If the hearing cancellation request is on a hearing set at least 8 days from date of hearing cancellation request, you may cancel the hearing if you have obtained approval by all parties. • All matters considered to be an emergency by a party or counsel must be stated in a written motion that is filed with the clerk and served on the opposing party or counsel, if any. • A copy of the motion must be delivered to the judge’s office after the original has been filed and served. • All emergency motions must be sworn to and signed by the party. • If emergency motion relates to a children’s issue, a UCCJEA affidavit must accompany the motion. • Motions for an ex parte order must contain specific citations to the legal authority that gives the judge the authority to enter an ex parte order in the situation alleged in the motion. • Strict compliance with Rule 1.610, Rules of Civil Procedure, is required. • Case Management Conference to be held within 90 days after the filing of a petition. • We do not hold orders pending objections from opposing counsel. • If the other side is self-represented, you must state in the body of your email if you have served the self-represented a copy. • All orders must reflect the date on which the matter was heard. • The title of the order must reflect and identify the matter heard. • Continue shall be heard by the judge and not referred to the Magistrate. • Except for good cause shown, the motions to continue must be signed by the party requesting the continuance. • Brief, or Hearing Brief shall be submitted to the Judge or Judge’s Chambers at least two (2) working days prior to the date of the hearing or the first day of the trial period for which your case has been scheduled. • Full copies of all citations/cases shall be provided to the Court. • Do not submit lengthy notebooks with case law and exhibits to the judge prior to hearing or the trial.
Petitioners in any family case are required to file a Notice of Related Cases pursuant to Rule 2.545(d), Rules of Judicial
Reviewer note: Order PDF sha256: 210da80c00914a406a50bae7e7d2fdb765382ee6e2cc50544232da28a7e92ac3. Extracted from the order's own text layer.
Judge Bell caps motions and responses at 5 pages for UMC hearings and 12 pages for special-set hearings.
Judge Alijewicz requires every motion for attorney's fees and/or costs to attach a document detailing time records — no records, no fee award.
Judge Corlew bars informal contact: every communication with the Court must be in writing, filed with the Clerk, with copies furnished to all parties — and no calls to the JA to schedule or cancel UMC.