As of June 1, 2020 UMC hearings shall be conducted Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 8:45 am. All UMC hearings shall be scheduled in the OLS system, and conducted via Zoom
- UMC hearings must be scheduled in OLS prior to contacting the judicial assistant.
- Once you have scheduled in OLS a Notice of Hearing must be filed and an email sent to CAD-DivisionFC@pbcgov.org to request a Zoom link with all parties copied.
- You must upload via OLS all proposed orders. If there are attachments, you must submit the proposed order with the attachment (s) via OLS. DO NOT USE E-COURTESY.
Please contact the JA via EMAIL for a Zoom ID and Zoom password. Each hearing has a new Zoom ID and password. Please include the date and time you have scheduled UMC. Include the pleading that will be heard, along with the case name. Please allow time for a response to the email. You do not have to call the office.
You will then prepare the Notice of Hearing with the Zoom ID and Password included.
Please send a copy of the Notice of Hearing to the Divisional E-Mail address. (CAD-DIVISIONFC@pbcgov.org).
Local Rule 4
Strict compliance with amended Local Rule 4. Prior to setting a matter on the motion calendar, the party or counsel noticing the motion shall attempt to resolve the matter and shall certify the good faith attempt to resolve. See amended Local Rule 4.
UNCONTESTED FINAL HEARINGS FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE
Uncontested Final Hearings for Dissolution of Marriage may be heard during UMC (please see above for instructions on scheduling UMC Hearings). You must upload any proposed order(s) via OLS. Proposed Final Judgements' must be in Word format with supporting documents (Marital Settlement Agreement, Parenting Plan, Child Support Guidelines, etc.) attached to the Proposed Final Judgement. Supporting documents may be attached in PDF format. As a reminder, please do not use e-courtesy.
In addition to the foregoing and in compliance with Florida law, you must provide a legible scanned copy of the Petitioner's photo I.D. (and the Respondent's if a Simplified Dissolution Petition was filed) demonstrating proof of Florida residency for at least six months prior to the filing of the Petition.
If appearing telephonically (without video), the testifying party must be in the presence of a notary or an attorney who can certify their identity. If appearing by Zoom video conference, the Court shall act as notary.
TRIALS
A Notice for Trial must be filed along with the Notice of Unavailability. Please be sure to include how much time is needed. For any requests for more than one day, you must set a UMC hearing after filing the Notice for Trial.
Please email a copy of Notice for Trial to the divisional inbox (CAD-DivisionFC@pbcgov.org) along with the Notice of Unavailability and how much time is needed. If you do not provide us with the trial notice, the Court is unaware it was filed. A trial date will then be set by the Court and the Order Setting Trial will be entered.
Once the trial has been set, pre-trial mediation MUST take place regardless of other mediation that may have occurred prior to the Order Setting Trial. Failure to attend pre-trial mediation absent an order waiving same shall result in the striking of the case from the trial docket and/or additional sanctions, including but not limited to dismissal of action without further notice and/or hearing.
Temporary Relief Hearings
Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 5.207 Mediation must be completed and the mediation report filed prior to requesting a hearing. Temporary relief hearings are set for thirty (30) minutes unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
Evidentiary Hearings
Evidentiary hearings cannot be handled remotely. Please contact Judge Miller's office if you desire to schedule an evidentiary hearing. If you believe that your case requires emergency action pursuant to Family Admin. Order 5.203-1/17 you should file the appropriate motion in writing.
If all parties agree, Judge Miller may rule on any motions based on the written pleadings and responses without the necessity of a hearing.
For additional information on court provided digital training resources visit the Circuit's YouTube channel, CourtHelp4U. Court Help 4 U
Request for Special Set Hearing:
Email the Judicial Assistant at CAD-DivisionFC@pbcgov.org for available dates and times. All parties should be copied in the email, ex-parte communication will not be considered.
When emailing the subject line should include the case number, parties' names, and what type of hearing you are requesting. Please be sure to include a copy of the Motion that you wish to set and indicate how much time is being requested for the hearing. The JA will respond by providing three dates and times.
The requesting party must coordinate date and with opposing counsel, please do not include the JA in the correspondence between the parties when coordinating dates. Once the parties have come to an agreement on a date please notify the JA via email with all parties copied and the time and date will be reserved. The Court will enter the order setting or will ask the moving party to prepare the notice of hearing. Please be advised that dates cannot be held and are on a first come, first serve basis. Additional dates can be provided upon request.
Please be advised that in post-judgment matters the appropriate procedures regarding an Order of Referral to the General Magistrate, pursuant to Administrative Order 5.104, must be followed when applicable before hearing dates are requested.
Exhibits:
FOR ALL REMOTE HEARINGS: All proposed Exhibits must be PREMARKED (including Exhibit Number, Case Style and Number, Date of Hearing, Judge's Name) and provided to the Court AT LEAST THREE BUSINESS DAYS prior to the hearing via U.S. mail or the Main County Courthouse drop box. If Exhibits are not received by the Court at least three business days prior to the hearing in compliance with the above requirements, they will not be accepted or considered. Emailed exhibits will not be accepted or considered.
All in person hearings and trials: please bring pre-marked exhibits with you.
Self-Represented Parties (Pro Se)
If you are a self-represented pro se party (with no attorney), you must contact the Family Court Case Manager.
Do Not Send Letters, Emails or Notes To The Court
The Court does not act on letters, notes or emails sent by either party. The Court acts on petitions or motions properly filed with the Clerk of the Court. File the appropriate petition or motion with the Clerk of the Court, send a copy to the opposing side and a courtesy copy to the Court in order for requests to be addressed by the Court. All documents emailed to the Court must state that they were emailed to the opposing side in the same email or they will be returned as ex parte communication.
QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order)
Attorneys/Pro Se Litigants are to file a QDRO Motion of Entry with the Plan Administrator pre-approval letter. In the event the Plan Administrator do not require a pre-approval, a letter will need to state this fact and filed with the motion.
FOR ATTORNEYS ALL PROPOSED ORDERS WILL NEED TO BE UPLOADED VIA THE OLS (Online Scheduling System) after the Motion and Letter of Plan Pre-approval have been filed to the case.
PRO SE LITIGANTS WIL NEED TO MAIL THE DOCUMENTS INTO THE COURT after the Motion and Letter of Plan Pre-approval have been filed to the case.
NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
Personal Correspondence
Our office CANNOT and WILL NOT accept any personal correspondence on a case. If you have a matter to bring to the Court's attention, please file the proper Motion with the Clerk of Court.
Interpreters
Interpreters are provided by the Court for Incapacity, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Repeat Violence ONLY. For all other hearings, it is the responsibility of the party needing an interpreter to bring to Court an interpreter who is certified, language skilled, provisionally approved or who is registered with the Office of State Court Administrator as required by Rule 2.560 and Rule 2.565 of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration. For further information or for assistance locating an interpreter, please visit our Court Interpreters page.