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39 verbatim requirements from Division Procedures.
Fourth Judicial Circuit (Duval, Clay, Nassau). Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Verbatim from https://www.jud4.org/getContentAsset/73af2fda-24f1-4a0b-9007-d3b795b8bce7/135b97c9-84fa-4e82-b956-0fbccec4aa1f/FM-F-Uniform-Family-Procedures-Updated-no-table-contents7-15-26.pdf?language=en, harvested 2026-07-25; whitespace normalised only. • All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to nponder1@coj.net. • The subject line of the e-mail to the judicial office must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 DR 001234 – Doe v. • All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law. • Self-represented Parties: • All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of all parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law. • E-Filing Portal Contact Information: • All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused. • Prior to an uncontested final hearing, one party must provide the following: • All hearings must be coordinated with opposing counsel or opposing party if self-represented. • An attorney requesting a hearing shall contact the Court’s Judicial Assistant with any other attorney copied on the email. • Default Final Hearings must be coordinated with the Judicial Assistant. • The party seeking the default judgment must have filed proof of service, or an affidavit of diligent search and publication, prior to the hearing. • The opposing party(s) must be noticed for all default final hearings. -- 2 of 7 -- 3 • Service by Publication: • Cases wherein the Respondent has been served by publication must include an affidavit of diligent search, pursuant to Family Law Form 12.913(b) (for dissolution cases) or • Parties shall meet and confer prior to the filing of all motions. • In the event that a hearing is required, the party filing the motion(s) shall indicate that the parties met and conferred, and no resolution was reached or that the other party was unable to be contacted after due diligence, listing all attempts to contact the opposing party(s). • Motions for Contempt: • All proceedings seeking to hold an opposing party in contempt of Court shall be held in person. • Pursuant to Rule 12.615(b), the notice of hearing must contain the following language: “FAILURE TO APPEAR AT THE HEARING MAY RESULT IN THE • Rule 1.380 or Rule 12.380, the moving party must fully comply with • Adoption hearings must be coordinated with the Judicial Assistant. • Notice of Hearing: • A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance will list the Judge’s Zoom link (except in Judge Mahon’s and Judge Healey’s divisions, where the attorneys must provide the ZOOM link to the Judicial • A request for continuance must be submitted at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled court -- 3 of 7 -- 4 date. • Except for good cause shown, the motion must be signed by the party requesting the continuance, as required by Florida Rule of • Notification of cancellation must be emailed to the Judicial • Cancellation of a hearing MUST be confirmed with and by the Judicial Assistant. • Motions to set a trial and motions to set hearings lasting more than one hour shall be set with the Court during ex parte hours. • The parties shall complete the form and submit it as an e-mail attachment to the Judicial Assistant at least 24 hours prior to the ex-parte hearing. • If the case is settled, the parties shall immediately notify the Court, in writing, so that it may be removed from the trial calendar. • Motions for rehearing and/or reconsideration must be filed with the Clerk and e-served to the Judicial Assistant. • Counsel must submit a request for remote appearance to the Court no later than five (5) days prior to the scheduled hearing. • Technology Needs: • All proposed Orders must be accompanied by a cover letter either: • All consent Orders shall include the word “Consent” or “Agreed” in the caption of the proposed Order. • The title of proposed Orders shall designate the particular motion heard, such as “Order Denying Wife’s Motion to Dismiss” or “Order Granting • ORDERED clause, along with the Court’s signature line, shall be on the same page. • Submission Method: • Unless otherwise provided by the Court, all proposed Orders must be submitted within five (5) business days of the proceeding. • Other Procedures Relating to Submission of Orders and Judgments: • If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a detailed motion setting forth the following must be filed: • All parties shall make themselves available for the hearing, barring exigent circumstances. • All such motions must be verified/sworn by the movant & signed by counsel, if applicable. • There shall be no ex parte communication outside the motion concerning this request. • Court, by dropping off documents at the 7 th floor reception area OR in the designated cart in the Courthouse lobby. • All submissions must be provided to the Court at least three (3) business days before the hearing/trial. • Attorneys and self- represented litigants must provide sufficient copies of each exhibit for the clerk, the Court, and each party to review during the hearing or trial. • All exhibits must be tabbed, Bates stamped, and pre-marked in the following format:
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to nponder1@coj.net.
Reviewer note: Document sha256: a6fe38787ca95a4750c6108598c92f4b903c2ecb9a72fd2816ae536a4c85a6e0. Extracted from the document'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.