Judicial Section Details

Nikki Sanders, JA (nsanders@jud11.flcourts.org)
Jose Benitez, Bailiff (jbenitez@jud11.flcourts.org)

REQUIRED CHECKLIST CERTIFICATION FORMS

 
As of September 1, 2020, filings of petitions with proposed orders in courtMap must include established checklist certification forms as supporting documents with your submissions.   A list of existing checklists can be found on our circuit website in the Probate Corner, along with the corresponding Administrative Memorandum.  See https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Probate-Checklists. This procedure has been enacted to prevent frequently defective submissions and the resulting repeated rejections which cause unnecessary labor by the court.

The checklist certification forms must be filed through the e-filing portal and also uploaded as a supporting document to the petition through CourtMap. Failure to include the checklist certification form will result in summary rejection of your submission. 
Please be aware that the checklist contains a certification of compliance which must be signed by the lawyer.  If you cannot certify compliance with the requirements listed on the checklist, set the matter for a special set hearing. Call chambers if you have any questions related to this matter. Read the certification carefully.  You will be held accountable under the law if the court finds that your certification was inaccurate.

INSTRUCTIONS ON HEARINGS

Please note:  Division 05 does not have a Motion Calendar, all hearings are set in the Special Set folder.  Please follow the rubric below to determine which calendar type in-person or Virtual/Zoom is appropriate.

5 – 10 minute motions shall be conducted by Zoom (only the judge can change the format).
All non-evidentiary hearing less than 30 minutes will be conducted by Zoom, unless all parties wish to have the hearing held in-person AND the Judge agrees.

All evidentiary hearings and Bench Trials will be conducted in-person, unless all parties wish to have the hearing held on Zoom AND the Judge agrees.

All Jury Trials will be conducted in-person.

In-Person Evidentiary Hearings:

All parties shall appear 30 minutes before the hearing to have evidence marked for identification.
Do not upload evidence onto the docket.
Advise chambers 24 hours in advance if courtroom technology will be required, so we can ensure that the technology is working and available for the hearing time.

Zoom Hearings:

Please download the Zoom application, which you may use for free, at https://zoom.us/.  
Once your request for a hearing via Zoom is received and approved, you will receive an Outlook invitation for your scheduled hearing.  Please do not call the Judicial Assistant. This information will be sent to you automatically.  If you do not receive an invitation for the hearing via Outlook within 24 hours prior to your hearing start time, do contact chambers.
Store the link provided in the invitation on your computer calendar and log in at the appointed time.  You must also share the link with your clients, opposing counsel, or any interested parties who do not appear on the service list.
You may appear telephonically or via video on Zoom.
If you are aware that an interested party, or someone who is required to appear does not have access to necessary technologies, please cancel the hearing so necessary arrangements can be made for that interested party.
You are expected and required to observe proper decorum and procedure as in any other court appearance.

Evidentiary Hearings via Zoom: 
All parties must follow the Administrative Memorandum, dated June 28, 2021, for INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE IN REMOTE VIRTUAL EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS.