Judicial Section Details

Photo of Christine Bandin

Christine Bandin

  • Division: Circuit Family
  • Section: FC 18
  • Court Location: Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse
  • Phone: (305) 349-5753
  • Room: CHC 2926
  • Judicial Assistant: Ermiz Santana
  • Bailiff: Valarie Batts

Division email:  11thfc18@jud11.flcourts.org

PLEASE NOTE THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THIS DIVISION WILL BE USING A RECURRING ZOOM MEETING ID FOR ALL MATTERS SCHEDULED ON ZOOM.  YOU WILL NO LONGER RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM COURTMAP WITH ZOOM INVITE. 

ZOOM ID: 913 5952 6882

                                          ALL ATTORNEYS AND SELF REPRESENTED LITIGANTS

                       MUST SIGN UP FOR AN ACCOUNT AT FLORIDA COURTS E-FILING PORTAL at
                                                          www.myflcourtaccess.com
                                              for filing pleadings or motions with the clerk.

Please be aware that in order to activate your portal account a pleading must be filed at the time of registration. Therefore, it is recommended that any Self Represented litigant signing up for the first time file a "Notice of Designation of Email" which can be found using this link www.flcourts.org/content/download/403113/3457012/915.pdf


and

Sign up for COURTMAP at - https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Programs-and-Services/Online-Services/courtMAP for submitting proposed orders to your assigned Judge.

The judges will be using the ZOOM platform for most hearings.  It is FREE.  If you are unfamiliar with the Zoom platform, please go to the ZOOM training page website to learn how to access the platform for use.   

Zoom training page:

support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-Video-Tutorials

 
Zoom Live Training page:

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360029527911

We ask you to assist us by learning how to utilize ZOOM and your patience with us as we learn along with you.  We are committed to the continued delivery of justice in the face of this pandemic.

Please refer to the drop-down boxes to the right of the screen for clear instructions on how to proceed for specific types of calendars. 

LINK FOR EVIDENCE PROCEDURES IN FAMILY:

https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Florida-Courts-eFiling-Portal
www.myflcourtaccess.com/authority/trainingvideos.html

Additional Instructions

File the Emergency Motion and upload your e-filed emergency motion, Request for Hearing to CourtMAP under "Emergency Motions". 

Once the motion is filed, send an e-mail to chambers at 11thfc18@jud11.flcourts.org and call our chambers at 305-349-5753 so that the matter can be dealt with. 

The Judge will read and respond to all emergencies immediately. 
Hearings will be held in court or remotely via ZOOM. 

All emergencies will be handled on a case by case basis and the parties must follow the emergency procedures listed on this website.

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Motion Calendar Information

Type: Open

Notice Before Hearing: 7 Business Days

Files at Hearing: None

DayTimeCapFromTo
Tuesday 10:00 AM 18 01/09/2023 Ongoing

Additional Instructions

REMOTE 5 MINUTE MOTION CALENDAR


Motion Calendar will be held for NON-EVIDENTIARY matters every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. 

This calendar will be heard via ZOOM.

ONLY TWO (2) motions per case will be heard.

UCD's are not set on Motion Calendar. For instructions on how to set a UCD please refer to the UCD calendar tab.

Instructions for setting:
On the E-FILING PORTAL, file the Motion with any exhibits. Include 11thFC18@jud11.flcourts.org in all filings.

On the E-FILING PORTAL, E-SERVE the opposing side with your filing.

On COURTMAP, coordinate with opposing party and select the date to have the motion heard. Once a date is agreed upon you may set the hearing using in the Motion Calendar slot. As supporting documents, attach the motion and any responses with an e-file stamp.

On COURTMAP also include as supporting documents a Notice of Hearing. The notice of hearing must be filed with the Clerk at least 7 business days prior to the hearing, not including the day of the hearing.  PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL NOTICES NOT FILED IN A TIMELY MANNER WILL BE REJECTED.


The Judge will rule on 5-minute motions without the need for a hearing when possible.  Unless you receive an order ruling on the motion, you must be available on the selected date and time for one hour as the Judge will be calling motions one at a time.

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Additional Instructions

All cases must attend mediation prior to filing a Notice of Readiness for Trial.

Notice of Readiness shall include the specific issues to be tried by the court (e.g. timesharing, alimony, child support)

Notice of Readiness for Trial must be filed through the e-filing portal or with the Clerk’s office. Please include 11thFC18@jud11.flcourts.org in the service list.

All notices of Trial will need a Case Management Conference before trial can be set.  Please contact chambers to set Case management conferences.

Motions to continue the trial must include a signature from the client agreeing to the continuance.

Please coordinate with the opposing party prior to setting the motion. Once the date is agreed, set the hearing through chambers. Be sure to include the motion and supporting documents when setting the hearing.

If the hearing is to be cancelled, submit a Notice of Cancellation through the e-filing portal and through courtMAP.

SETTLEMENT FOR FINAL HEARINGS/NON-JURY TRIALS

Parties that have reached an agreement must immediately file an MSA and/or PP (If applicable) signed by both parties and notarized
Submit a Proposed FJ through CourtMap
Contact chambers to advise of the settlement and submission to CourtMap

Please note: Unless these steps are taken, ALL PARTIES ARE EXPECTED TO APPEAR 

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Additional Instructions

ALL PROPOSED ORDERS SHALL BE SUBMITTED VIA COURTMAP
YOU MUST INCLUDE THE OPPOSING PARTY IN ALL SUBMISSIONS VIA COURTMAP

COURTMAP is ONLY for the submission of proposed orders.  Once an order is submitted, the Judge will review and sign it electronically.  The orders will then be uploaded to the court file and emailed to the parties.  
DO NOT use COURTMAP to FILE motions or any other pleading. Use EPORTAL for any filings to the court file.
ALL COURTMAP submissions MUST include a COVER LETTER.
                                The COVER LETTER MUST address the following:
                                                Whether the matter has been heard 
                                                Date of the hearing (if previously heard)
                                                Title of the motion 
                                                The proposed order has been sent to the opposing party
                                                Whether opposing party agrees with the proposed order    
ALL PROPOSED ORDERS SENT WITHOUT THE ABOVE  COVER LETTER ARE CONSIDERED EXPARTE COMMUNICATIONS AND WILL NOT BE READ BY THE JUDGE.

A. Proposed orders for all matters that have previously been heard must include the following SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
1. A cover letter that complies with the above requirements, in PDF format.
2. A copy of the motion in PDF format.
3. A proposed order in WORD format. Please do not use preset templates or fillable forms as some do not allow for electronic signature. Any order which cannot be electronically signed will be rejected.
* Both parties shall make every effort to agree and submit ONE order that conforms with the Court’s ruling. If you cannot agree, then both parties may send competing orders.

B. Proposed orders for matters that have not been heard must include the following SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
 1. A cover letter that complies with the above requirements, in PDF format.  
 2. A copy of the motion in PDF format.
 3. A proposed order in WORD format.  Please do not use preset templates or fillable forms as some do not allow for electronic signature.  Any order which cannot be electronically signed will be rejected.

* Proposed IWOs and QDROs: If you have difficulty uploading to courtMAP, please email it to chambers so it can be signed via Adobe by the Court.

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Additional Instructions

SPECIAL SET HEARINGS AND CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES
 
Instructions for setting hearings for SPECIAL SET MOTIONS:

1. On the E-FILING EPORTAL, file the Motion and a Request for Hearing, with the Clerk's Office.  Add 11thFC18@jud11.flcourts.org to the courtesy copy email list.   

2. Once these documents are filed, you may use COURTMAP to coordinate a hearing date with opposing counsel DATES AVAILABLE ON courtMAP ARE RESERVED FOR NO MORE THAN 30 MINUTES PER CASE.    Any hearing over 30 min. you must efile your request for hearing with amount of time needed, once the judge reviews request office will contact you with available dates.

3. Once the date has been selected please be sure to add your case to the calendar and attach as supporting documents the filed Motion and request for hearing (with an e-file stamp). Any settings that do not include the motion and request for hearing with the e-file stamp will be rejected. Any settings that do not have any supporting documents will be rejected.
Please note that if you are scheduling an EVIDENTIARY special set hearing, you must indicate that it is EVIDENTIARY by typing the word "EVIDENTIARY" after the title of your motion.  Also please note that if you are scheduling an EVIDENTIARY special set hearing, you must follow the procedures for submission of electronic evidence at least seven days in advance of the hearing.

4. Once a date has been accepted by the JA, you will receive a notice of hearing generated and sent by COURTMAP that will serve as confirmation that your hearing is set. 

5. PLEASE DO NOT NOTICE YOUR HEARINGS UNLESS YOU HAVE RECEIEVED THE CONFIRMATION THAT THE HEARING IS SET. IF THE OPPOSING PARTY IS NOT REGISTERED FOR COURTMAP YOU MUST GENERATE YOUR OWN NOTICE WITH AN APPROPRAITE CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE AND MAIL IT TO THE OPPOSING PARTY.


Please DO NOT MAIL COPIES OF THE MOTION TO CHAMBERS.

Hearings WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM.


IMPORTANT:

If you reach a resolution after a hearing has been scheduled, the party that requested the hearing must, IMMEDIATELY UPON REACHING A RESOLUTION, file a Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk or thru E-Portal  AND CALL CHAMBERS to remove the matter from calendar.

If a Notice of Cancellation is not filed AND a phone call is not placed to chambers, the Judge will expect the Parties to appear in Court via ZOOM or phone conference on the scheduled date. 

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UCD Calendar Information

Type: Closed

Notice Before Hearing: 7 Business Days

Files at Hearing: None

DayTimeCapFromTo
Thursday 9:00 AM 30 10/31/2012 Ongoing

Additional Instructions

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL UCD HEARINGS ARE HANDLED ADMINISTRATIVELY.  THIS MEANS THAT THERE IS NO IN PERSON OR ZOOM HEARING AND THE JUDGE WILL SIGN THE FINAL JUDGMENT IF ALL DOCUMENTS LISTED BELOW HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED

Once your case is resolved, you may set your case on the Uncontested Calendar on courtMAP. Judge Bandin's UCD calendar can be found under the "Special Set" section on courtMAP.

Once your case has been properly calendared on a UCD slot, please be sure to submit a Final Judgment as a "proposed order" through courtMAP, NO SOONER THAN 48 HOURS of the hearing date you selected.  Please upload the following and attach as supporting documents to the Final Judgement with a cover letter. 

Please be sure to attach the following supporting documents with an e-file stamp: 
1. Petition or Counter Petition
2. Answer or Answer/Waiver
3. Marital Settlement Agreement and/or Parenting Plan.
4. If the Petition has been defaulted please attach the Order of Default.
5. A copy of the Petitioner's and/or Counter Petitioner’s Valid Driver's License, Florida State ID or Voter’s Registration card. 
6. Affidavit that MSA and/or PP in best interest of child, signed by both parties.   
7. Financial Affidavits
8. UCCJEA Affidavit
9. Special Affidavit for Remote Uncontested/No Hearing
10. Certificate of Completion of Parenting Class for both Petitioner and Respondent

All requests for Uncontested hearings without these supporting documents with an e-file stamp will be rejected.

Your request for UCD will be reviewed.   

Self-Represented Litigants:  You will not have to appear in court. The Judge will prepare a final judgment and send it to you electronically. 

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