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Which general magistrate hears a family case, keyed to the party's surname initial, with the scheduling number for each, plus the circuit's prerequisites for setting a magistrate hearing.
Fourth Judicial Circuit (Duval). Family Law. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Magistrate assignment is by the surname initial of the party, as published by the circuit: • Surnames A, B, C, D — call 904-255-1195 — Magistrate Frank Akel • Surnames Db-Dz, E, F, G, H — call 904-255-1214 — Magistrate Amber Donley • Surnames I, J, K, L, M, N — call 904-255-1175 — Magistrate Natalie Tuttle • Surnames O, P, Q, R, S — call 904-255-1188 — Magistrate Joanna Houser • Surnames T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z — call 904-255-1192 — Magistrate Autumn Graham Before calling to schedule a hearing on temporary needs, the attorney MUST have: filed an appropriate pleading or motion requesting relief; served the opposing party; filed a financial affidavit on behalf of the client if any financial relief is sought; the opposing party's attorney office on the phone; and his or her calendar at hand. Hearings limited to one motion may be scheduled for a maximum of 1 hour; hearings involving cross motions for a maximum of 2 hours. Final Hearings and Post-Judgment Hearings are not to be scheduled on the Magistrates' Temporary Needs Calendars. A HEARING WILL NOT BE HELD WITHOUT AN APPROPRIATE ORDER OF REFERRAL. The Circuit Judge must enter an Order of Referral to the Magistrate, which vests the magistrate with jurisdiction. A referral to a general magistrate requires the consent of all parties; a party is entitled to have the matter heard before a Circuit Judge.
A, B, C, D — dial 904-255-1195 — Magistrate Frank Akel
Reviewer note: Transcribed from the circuit's own Order of Referral document at https://www.jud4.org/getContentAsset/4d13c672-c992-4fd2-9d6f-53b0a9cab585/135b97c9-84fa-4e82-b956-0fbccec4aa1f/New-OOR_5-2024.docx?language=en, sha256 77714b9d3254a6ae4136fc2b01803ccdb6a24ce93198f49274cee783c291071b, re-fetched and re-hashed 2026-07-25. All five magistrates named here already existed in BenchPath; no officer was invented from this document.
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.