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14 rules for “Guardianship Hearing

Judge PreferencesHernando County · Judge Daniel B. Merritt, Jr.

Chief Judge Merritt (Hernando): in-person PTC before trial; courtesy copies after e-filing; pro se files through the clerk

Attorneys may appear in person or by Zoom for many matters, but attorneys AND defendants must appear in person at the pretrial conference immediately preceding trial; courtesy copies only after e-filing; self-represented parties file through the clerk, not chambers; interpreters requested in advance; probate/guardianship dates through the clerk.

High confidence· verified July 19, 2026Daniel B. Merritt Jr. official profile (circuit5.org)
Standing OrdersHernando County · Judge Don Barbee

Judge Barbee (Hernando) Standing Order — Guardianship (eff. June 18, 2026): 10-page memos, 2-business-day evidence

Guardianship-docket standing order mirrors the civil order's core limits: 10-page legal-memorandum cap absent permission and electronic evidence at least 2 business days before hearings/trials.

High confidence· verified July 19, 2026Standing Order for Guardianship Cases — Judge Barbee (eff. June 18, 2026)
Administrative OrdersMarion County

Marion AO M-2025-62-B: Circuit Judge Assignments (eff. June 15, 2026) — Youmans becomes Administrative Judge

Controls Marion circuit assignments: felony designations W-Brigham / X-Kissner Kwatkosky / Y-Rogers / Z-McCourt; DR designations FC-Bass / FG-Jerald / FJ-Craggs / FK-Pickens; civil thirds (incl. forfeitures, bond validations, eminent domain, trust/estate litigation) to Herndon, Hodges and Youmans; King takes all probate/guardianship/Baker/Marchman/juvenile; and the Administrative Judge role passes to Judge Youmans effective June 15, 2026.

High confidence· verified July 19, 2026AO M-2025-62-B (5th Cir., Marion Cty., signed Apr. 30, 2026, eff. June 15, 2026)
Administrative OrdersSumter County

Sumter AO S-2025-58-A: Judicial Assignments (county/officers eff. June 1; circuit eff. June 29, 2026)

Controls the five Sumter benches with split effective dates — county court, general magistrate and hearing officer June 1, 2026; circuit assignments June 29, 2026. Helm: felony/delinquency/Ryce + Administrative Judge; Daly: circuit civil/guardianship/mental health/Drug Court/RPOs; Hatcher: family/dependency/UFC/probate (order supersedes her stale felony profile text); Militello: county criminal + criminal traffic; Senn: county civil/small claims/civil traffic/first appearances.

High confidence· verified July 19, 2026AO S-2025-58-A (5th Cir., Sumter Cty., eff. June 1 / June 29, 2026)
Judge PreferencesSeminole County · Judge William S. Orth

Judge William S. Orth — Practice Preferences & Procedures (18th Circuit, Seminole)

Judge William S. Orth — Practice Preferences & Procedures (18th Circuit, Seminole)

High confidence· verified July 19, 2026
Judge PreferencesLee County · Judge James Shenko

Judge James Shenko — Practice Preferences & Procedures (20th Circuit, Lee)

Judge-specific practice preferences and procedures for the 20th Judicial Circuit; verbatim key requirements with hashed source documents.

High confidence· verified July 19, 2026
Judge PreferencesLee County · Judge Alane Laboda

Judge Alane Laboda — Practice Preferences & Procedures (20th Circuit, Lee)

Judge-specific practice preferences and procedures for the 20th Judicial Circuit; verbatim key requirements with hashed source documents.

High confidence· verified July 19, 2026
Judge PreferencesCharlotte County · Judge Geoffrey H. Gentile

Judge Geoffrey H. Gentile — Practice Preferences & Procedures (20th Circuit, Charlotte)

Judge-specific practice preferences and procedures for the 20th Judicial Circuit; verbatim key requirements with hashed source documents.

High confidence· verified July 19, 2026
Judge PreferencesCollier County · Judge Christopher Brown

Judge Christopher Brown — Practice Preferences & Procedures (20th Circuit, Collier)

Judge-specific practice preferences and procedures for the 20th Judicial Circuit; verbatim key requirements with hashed source documents.

High confidence· verified July 19, 2026
Judge PreferencesLee County · Judge Joseph Bernardo

Judge Joseph Bernardo — Practice Preferences & Procedures (20th Circuit, Lee)

Judge-specific practice preferences and procedures for the 20th Judicial Circuit; verbatim key requirements with hashed source documents.

High confidence· verified July 19, 2026
Divisional InstructionsPasco County · Section C2, J, Q3 — Pasco Circuit Family (Judge Dustin Anderson) · Judge Dustin Anderson

Judge Dustin Anderson — Practice Preferences (Pasco Circuit Family, Section C2, J, Q3)

Practice preferences before Judge Dustin Anderson (Pasco Circuit Family, Section C2, J, Q3, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.

High confidence· verified July 8, 20266th Jud. Cir. (Pasco), Judge Dustin Anderson Practice Preferences (Section C2, J, Q3; official published PDF)
Case ManagementHillsborough County · Probate Division B & Risk Protection Orders N · Judge Caroline Tesche Arkin

Emergency Guardianship and Vulnerable-Adult Petitions Are In Person — Probate B / RPO N

Judge Tesche Arkin defaults to Zoom but pulls emergencies back into the courtroom: Emergency Temporary Guardianship and Vulnerable Adult petitions are heard in person with counsel and parties present; 1-hour-plus hearings are JA-set and in-person only.

High confidence· verified July 5, 202613th Jud. Cir., Judge Tesche Arkin Procedures & Preferences (Probate B / RPO N)
Case ManagementPalm Beach County · Probate Division IZ · Judge Charles E. Burton

Contested Guardianships Are Heard In Person; UMC Motions Pre-Read Online — Division IZ

Judge Burton holds all contested guardianship proceedings in person, reads every UMC motion online before the hearing, and strictly enforces Rule 1.202 and Local Rule 4 conferral; courtesy copies five business days ahead.

High confidence· verified July 5, 202615th Jud. Cir., Probate Division IZ Divisional Instructions
Case ManagementPalm Beach County · Probate Division IA · Judge Samantha Schosberg Feuer

Guardians Get Level-2 Checks and Credit Reports; Property Means a Restricted Depository — Division IA

Judge Schosberg Feuer requires every proposed guardian to submit to a level-2 criminal background check and a credit report, and mandates a Restricted Depository in every guardianship involving property.

High confidence· verified July 5, 202615th Jud. Cir., Probate Division IA Divisional Instructions