Judge Michael G. Kaplan
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Motion
Court-wide- 1 copy • Email
Motion for Rehearing
Court-wide- 1 copy • Email • Upon Filing
Notice of Change of Plea
Court-wide
Adjournments
- Motions to continue must state the scheduled hearing date/time, attach the motion and Clerk's acceptance, and counsel must consult opposing side before setting a hearing.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers3 contacts
Other Contacts1 contacts
Document Format Requirements2 rules
Exhibits must be in a physical form that can be marked and retained by the clerk, and should not be submitted in advance.
Court's wording
Exhibits must be presented in a physical form that can be marked as an exhibit and retained by the in-court clerk (e.g. paper documents, cds, or flash drives) and should not be submitted in advance of any proceedings.
When submitting proposed or agreed orders by email for the Court’s review please send them in both PDF and Word format.
- File type
Formatting
- •Also be in Word format
Document Filing Requirements7 rules
If the evidence is an audio or video recording you must provide your own equipment to play the recording.
Do not send agreed orders without filing a motion and following division procedures regarding the filing of motions.
Submit your motion to withdraw, a copy of the Clerk’s acceptance, and a proposed order via the division email at (div59@17th.flcourts.org).
- Document
- Motion to withdraw
Include
- •Proposed order
Failure to appear at scheduled and noticed hearings may result in denial of the relief sought, granting the opposing party’s motion, dismissal of the petition, or entry of a final judgment of injunction.
Exhibits to be presented at evidentiary proceedings must be brought to Court on the day of the proceeding.
Parties may not submit multiple motions in one pleading.
Evidence in the form of a digital audio or video recording shall be published at trial using the party's electronic equipment. A computer with an HDMI cable connection will allow videos to be broadcast on courtroom monitors.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Self-represented parties must file a written motion in room 2140 or e-file; if e-filing, they must follow attorney procedures.
A person seeking relief from the Court who is not represented by an attorney must file a written motion in room 2140 or e-file (See Hearing Procedures, above). If filing your motion in room 2140, the Clerk’s Office will bring your motion to the Court’s attention. If you e-file your motion, you must follow the procedures for attorneys.
Page 1 | G. SELF REPRESENTED PARTIES
Self-represented litigants must file emergency motions in room 2140 in person, by e-filing, or by US mail, and include mailing address, phone, and email.
Self represented litigants must file all emergency motions in room 2140 in person, by e-filing, or by US mail. The motion must include your mailing address, phone number, and email address.
Page 1 | E. EMERGENCY MOTIONS
If appearing remotely by court order, upload all physical evidence to CMS under supporting documents.
If you have been permitted by a court order to appear remotely you will need to upload all physical evidence to CMS under supporting documents.
Page 1 | F. EVIDENCE/EXHIBITS
Attorneys must e-file all pleadings and motions.
Attorneys must file any and all pleadings, motions etc. through e-filing.
Page 1 | B. SCHEDULING/HEARING PROCEDURES
Attorneys must e-file all emergency motions.
Attorneys must e-file all emergency motions.
Page 1 | E. EMERGENCY MOTIONS
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
After filing, the Judge will review and enter an order or set a hearing; if no response within 10 days, follow up with the Clerk.
The Judge will review the motion and either enter an order or set a hearing on the motion. You will then receive an order or a notice of hearing by US mail. If you have not heard from the Court within 10 days regarding your motion, you should follow up with the Clerk of Court, domestic violence division, room 2140, in-person or by phone (954-831-5570 or 954-831-5520).
Page 1 | G. SELF REPRESENTED PARTIES
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Bring an extra copy of every exhibit to provide to the opposing party.
Bring an extra copy of every exhibit to be provided to the opposing party.
Page 1 | F. EVIDENCE/EXHIBITS
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
All hearings are in-person; remote appearance requests must be made by written motion filed with the Clerk, not by calling or emailing the Judicial Assistant.
All division 59 hearings are in-person. All requests for appearance by Zoom or by phone must be made by written motion filed with the Clerk of Court then following the procedures to obtain a hearing. Please do not call and/or send emails asking to appear remotely or for a continuance. The Judicial Assistant does not have the authority to permit anyone to appear remotely or continue any hearings for any reasons.
Page 1 | C. REMOTE APPEARANCES
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Motions to continue must state the scheduled hearing date/time, attach the motion and Clerk's acceptance, and counsel must consult opposing side before setting a hearing.
When filing a motion to continue, please indicate in the motion the date and time of the scheduled hearing. Attach to the email a copy of your motion and a copy of the Clerk’s acceptance of your motion. Parties’ counsel must consult with the opposing side to attempt resolution of the matter prior to setting a hearing on the motion.
Page 1 | B. SCHEDULING/HEARING PROCEDURES
Chambers Communication Rules
Emergency motions are handled by the Clerk of Court, not the Judicial Assistant.
All emergency motions are handled by the Clerk of Court. The Clerk’s Office will take the emergency motion directly to a Judge. The Judicial Assistant does not handle emergency motions.
Page 1 | E. EMERGENCY MOTIONS
All parties must be copied on emails to the judicial office unless ex parte communication is authorized by law.
All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.
Page 1 | A. COMMUNICATION WITH THE JUDICIAL OFFCE
All parties, and only parties, must be copied on all written communications with the Court.
ALL parties, and only parties, must be copied on ALL/ANY written communications with the Court.
Page 1 | B. SCHEDULING/HEARING PROCEDURES
Parties must notify chambers via division email of the family case number and special set trial date/time.
Parties must notify the Judge’s chambers via the division email of the family case number and the date and time of the special set trial.
Page 1 | H. OTHER DIVISION PROCEDURES
Only the Court can schedule or cancel hearings; parties and attorneys cannot.
Hearings in this division are scheduled and canceled only by the Court. Neither self represented parties nor attorneys can schedule or cancel hearings.
Page 1 | B. SCHEDULING/HEARING PROCEDURES
If a scheduled hearing becomes unnecessary, the moving party must immediately email the Judicial Assistant to cancel and explain why.
Should a previously scheduled hearing become unnecessary, the moving party shall immediately notify the Judicial Assistant by email (div59@17th.flcourts.org) requesting cancellation and explaining the reason for cancellation.
Page 1 | B. SCHEDULING/HEARING PROCEDURES
For voluntary dismissal, provide a copy of the notice and e-filing acceptance via division email with hearing date/time and dismissal/cancellation request.
A copy of the notice of voluntary dismissal and a copy of the e-filing acceptance shall be provided for the judge’s review via the division email at (div59@17th.flcourts.org) with a statement indicating the date and time of the scheduled hearing and, if a temporary injunction was entered, a request that the matter be dismissed by an order of dismissal and hearing canceled or, if an order setting was entered, a request that the hearing be canceled.
Page 1 | H. OTHER DIVISION PROCEDURES
All communications to chambers must be by email to div59@17th.flcourts.org with a subject line containing case number, case name, and matter.
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to div59@17th.flcourts.org. The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter.
Page 1 | A. COMMUNICATION WITH THE JUDICIAL OFFCE
To request a hearing, email the Judicial Assistant with case number, party names, requested hearing time, copy of motion, and Clerk's acceptance.
To request a motion be set for a hearing, contact the Court’s Judicial Assistant by email: div59@17th.flcourts.org. Your email must include the court case number, the names of all parties, and a statement for the time requested for the hearing, copy of the motion and copy of the Clerk’s acceptance of your motion.
Page 1 | B. SCHEDULING/HEARING PROCEDURES
To check status of an emergency motion, contact the Clerk's Office in person or by phone.
If you filed an emergency motion and are trying to find out the status, you will need to contact the Clerk’s Office in person or by phone (954-831-5570 or 954-831-5520).
Page 1 | E. EMERGENCY MOTIONS
The Judicial Assistant does not process petitions, amended petitions, or supplemental affidavits, or set first hearings.
The Judicial Assistant does not process any petition, amended petition, or supplemental affidavit in support of a petition, or the setting of first hearings upon the filing of petitions, amended petitions, or supplemental affidavit in support of petitions.
Page 1 | H. OTHER DIVISION PROCEDURES
Attorneys should send a copy of the motion and Clerk's acceptance via division email.
Attorneys should send a copy of the motion and a copy of the Clerk’s acceptance via the division email at (div59@17th.flcourts.org).
Page 1 | H. OTHER DIVISION PROCEDURES
If you filed a petition for injunction and didn't wait for decision, follow up with the Clerk's Office in room 2140 or by phone.
If you filed a petition for an injunction in person at the Clerk’s Office, room 2140, and did not wait for the decision/paperwork, or if you e-filed a petition for an injunction, you will need to follow up with the Clerk’s Office in room 2140 or by phone.
Page 1 | H. OTHER DIVISION PROCEDURES
Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered; parties may only contact the judicial office per these procedures.
Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the court. Parties may only contact the judicial office in accordance with these practices and procedures.
Page 1 | A. COMMUNICATION WITH THE JUDICIAL OFFCE
Pro se voluntary dismissal notices are forwarded to chambers by the Clerk.
Notices of voluntary dismissal filed by a pro se litigant will be forwarded to chambers by the Clerk of Court, domestic violence division.
Page 1 | H. OTHER DIVISION PROCEDURES
Petitioners may allege violations of injunctions at the domestic violence Clerk's Office room 2140 by filling out paperwork.
The Petitioner may allege violations of a temporary injunction or a final injunction at the domestic violence Clerk’s Office room 2140 by filling out the appropriate paperwork.
Page 1 | H. OTHER DIVISION PROCEDURES
Questions about court-ordered programs should be directed to the compliance monitor via email or phone, not the Judicial Assistant.
A party’s compliance with court ordered programs is monitored by the Court’s compliance monitor. The Judicial Assistant will have no knowledge of the program that was ordered by the Court. Questions regarding any court ordered program may be submitted by email to the case manager at (compliancemonitor@17th.flcourts.org) and/or by phone at 954-831-7278.
Page 1 | H. OTHER DIVISION PROCEDURES
Self-represented litigants' filings will be brought by the Clerk's Office to the Judge's chambers.
Self represented litigants’ fillings will be brought by the Clerk’s Office to the Judge’s chambers.
Page 1 | H. OTHER DIVISION PROCEDURES