Judge John I. Guy
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Exhibits
Trial or Hearing Set Memo
Court-wide
Adjournments
- Continuances are disfavored and granted only for good cause, with requests due at least five days before the scheduled court date and ordinarily signed by the requesting party.
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Clerk
Document Format Requirements5 rules
Recordings must be submitted via a thumb drive.
All exhibits must be tabbed, Bates stamped, and pre-marked in the following format:
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Tabbed
- •Bates stamped
- •Pre-marked in the specified format
Documentary exhibits must be submitted in paper format.
- File type
- Paper
- Exhibits
• Format: All proposed Orders must be submitted in Word format.
Proposed order titles must identify the motion heard, the proceeding date must appear in the first paragraph, and the DONE AND ORDERED clause must share a page with the court’s signature line.
- Proposed order
Formatting
- •The title must designate the particular motion heard
Court's wording
• The title of proposed Orders shall designate the particular motion heard, such as “Order Denying Wife’s Motion to Dismiss” or “Order Granting Husband’s Motion for Contempt,” etc. The date of the proceeding should be included in the first paragraph of the proposed order. The DONE AND ORDERED clause, along with the Court’s signature line, shall be on the same page.
Document Filing Requirements32 rules
Once a hearing time is set, no party may add or notice additional matters for that time without the express consent of all parties.
Prior to an uncontested final hearing, one party must provide the following: (1) a completed checklist for entry of the Consent Final Judgment, (2) proper proof of Florida residency, and (3) a copy of the signed Consent Final Judgment.
All such motions must be verified/sworn by the movant & signed by counsel, if applicable.
A motion requesting an emergency hearing must state the issues, reasons an emergency hearing is necessary, and the time needed for each party’s presentation.
Court's wording
If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a detailed motion setting forth the following must be filed: (1) the issues to be resolved, (2) reasons why an emergency hearing is necessary, and (3) the amount of time needed for each party’s presentation.
NOTE: If the issue of personalty is not settled prior to final hearing, each party shall submit to the Court a list of assets sought by each party, stating the specific description of such asset, the nature of the party’s interest, the amount of debt encumbering any asset (i.e., lien balance), and the fair market value or present balance of such asset. ATTACH LIST TO PRE-TRIAL STIPULATION.
A. Mandatory UP-TO-DATE Financial Affidavits of each of the parties.
All parties seeking attorney’s fees at the time of final hearing or subsequent thereto must file a verified statement as to the manner of time spent, along with a detailed list of costs.
Completion of the Putting Children First is required for Dissolution and Paternity actions.
All uncontested dissolutions are heard at ex parte and MUST have a checklist fully completed before presenting your case to the Judge.
The parties shall submit a completed Trial Set Memoranda, including the desired mediator and trial date as an e-mail attachment to jennw@coj.net prior to the Case Management Conference.
UCCJEA Affidavit
Answer and Waiver
Course completion certificate for Children First in Divorce
Certificate of Counsel I, the undersigned attorney, do hereby certify that I have reviewed the above court file and the above information and the required pleadings are filed with the Clerk of Court.
- Document
- Certificate of counsel
- Placement
- Certificate section
Financial Affidavit
This form must be completed BEFORE presentation to and hearing by the Court.
Child Support Guideline Worksheet
TRIAL SET MEMORANDUM IN DIVISION FM-G (PLEASE COMPLETE BEFORE PRESENTING TO COURT)
NOTE: All parties seeking attorney’s fees at the time of final hearing or subsequent thereto must file a verified statement as to the manner of time spent, along with a detailed list of costs.
A. Mandatory UP-TO-DATE Financial Affidavits of each of the parties.
This form must be completed BEFORE presentation to and hearing by the Court.
If the issue of personalty is not settled prior to final hearing, each party shall submit to the Court a list of assets sought by each party, stating the specific description of such asset, the nature of the party’s interest, the amount of debt encumbering any asset (i.e., lien balance), and the fair market value or present balance of such asset. ATTACH LIST TO PRE-TRIAL STIPULATION.
NOTE: All parties seeking attorney’s fees at the time of final hearing or subsequent thereto must file a verified statement as to the manner of time spent, along with a detailed list of costs.
• All consent Orders shall include the word “Consent” or “Agreed” in the caption of the proposed Order.
Division forms must be used for all relevant filings.
Child Support (Attach guideline worksheet):
NOTE: All parties seeking attorney’s fees at the time of final hearing or subsequent thereto must file a verified statement as to the manner of time spent, along with a detailed list of costs.
Indicate requested structure by each party, if in controversy (attach proposed parenting plan):
A. Mandatory UP-TO-DATE Financial Affidavits of each of the parties.
C. Other real property (legal description) or tangible or intangible or marital debts. List the value of each and the proposed distribution. (Attach separate list, if necessary, and describe any dispute as to appropriate date of valuation.)
If personalty is unresolved before the final hearing, each party must attach an asset list describing the assets, ownership interests, encumbrances, and values.
Court's wording
NOTE: If the issue of personalty is not settled prior to final hearing, each party shall submit to the Court a list of assets sought by each party, stating the specific description of such asset, the nature of the party’s interest, the amount of debt encumbering any asset (i.e., lien balance), and the fair market value or present balance of such asset. ATTACH LIST TO PRE-TRIAL STIPULATION.
If the two sides are unable to agree on the contents of the proposed Order/Judgment, then each side may submit their proposed Order/Judgment to the Court.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Proposed orders generally must be filed through the e-portal, with specified orders permitted to be emailed to the judicial assistant.
The only exceptions to filing in the e-portal, and that may be emailed to the judicial assistant, nponder1@coj.net, are as follows: 1. If Judge Cox specifically instructs a party to email the order; 2. Orders that contain Exhibits that are in pdf format; 3. Orders/Judgments to be reviewed and entered during ex parte.
Page 5 | F. Submission of Orders and Judgments
For Zoom hearings, submissions of 25 pages or fewer should be submitted by email.
Any submissions 25 pages or less should be submitted via email for hearings being conducted via Zoom.
Page 5 | H. Exhibits and Courtesy Copies
Submissions exceeding 25 pages should be hand-delivered to the Court at the seventh-floor reception area or designated lobby cart.
Any submissions exceeding 25 pages should be hand-delivered to the Court, by dropping off documents at the 7th floor reception area OR in the designated cart in the Courthouse lobby.
Page 5 | H. Exhibits and Courtesy Copies
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A hearing date or time is not secured until the Court sends confirmation.
Hearing dates/times are not secured until confirmation is sent from the Court.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A hearing will be set only for a motion that has already been filed with the Clerk.
Hearings will only be set on motions already filed with the Clerk.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Proposed orders must be submitted within five business days of the proceeding unless the Court provides otherwise.
Unless otherwise provided by the Court, all proposed Orders must be submitted within five (5) business days of the proceeding.
Page 5 | F. Submission of Orders and Judgments
All submissions must reach the Court at least three business days before the hearing or trial.
All submissions must be provided to the Court at least three (3) business days before the hearing/trial.
Page 5 | H. Exhibits and Courtesy Copies
Hearing dates and times tentatively provided by the Judicial Assistant are not reserved and may be assigned to other cases.
The dates and times provided by the Judicial Assistant for hearings are not held open and may be used for other cases.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Cases in which the respondent is served by publication must include an affidavit of diligent search under the applicable Family Law Form 12.913 provision.
Cases wherein the Respondent has been served by publication must include an affidavit of diligent search, pursuant to Family Law Form 12.913(b) (for dissolution cases) or 12.913(c) (for paternity cases).
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Default final hearings must be coordinated with the Judicial Assistant, are not heard during ex parte, require proof of service or an affidavit of diligent search and publication before the hearing, and require notice to the opposing parties.
Default Final Hearings must be coordinated with the Judicial Assistant. Default Final Hearings will not be heard during ex parte. The party seeking the default judgment must have filed proof of service, or an affidavit of diligent search and publication, prior to the hearing. The opposing party(s) must be noticed for all default final hearings.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Motions for rehearing or reconsideration must be filed with the Clerk and electronically served on the Judicial Assistant.
• Motions for Rehearing: Motions for rehearing and/or reconsideration must be filed with the Clerk and e-served to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 4 | E. Motions for Rehearing
The opposing party or counsel should receive anything provided to the Court.
The opposing party or counsel should receive anything provided to the Court.
Page 6 | H. Exhibits and Courtesy Copies
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide enough copies of each exhibit for the clerk, the Court, and every party.
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide sufficient copies of each exhibit for the clerk, the Court, and each party to review during the hearing or trial.
Page 6 | H. Exhibits and Courtesy Copies
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Parties must meet and confer before filing all motions, and if a hearing is requested, the filing party must state that the parties met and conferred without reaching a resolution.
Parties shall meet and confer prior to the filing of all motions. In the event that a hearing is required, the party filing the motion(s) shall indicate that the parties met and conferred, and no resolution was reached
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances are disfavored and granted only for good cause, with requests due at least five days before the scheduled court date and ordinarily signed by the requesting party.
• Continuance Procedure: Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown. A request for continuance must be submitted at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled court date. Except for good cause shown, the motion must be signed by the party requesting the continuance, as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.545(e).
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
Communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3, which generally prohibits communications outside the presence of all parties unless authorized by law.
All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of all parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Communications to the judicial office must be sent by email with the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line, and all parties must be copied unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to Jennw@coj.net. The subject line of the email must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 DR 001234 – Doe v. Doe - 2-Hour Hearing Requested). 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. Communications with the Judicial Office
An attorney requesting a hearing must email the Court’s Judicial Assistant and copy any other attorney on the email.
An attorney requesting a hearing shall contact the Court’s Judicial Assistant with any other attorney copied on the email.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
An ex parte hearing must be scheduled by emailing the Court’s Judicial Assistant.
Please contact the Court’s Judicial Assistant via email to schedule an ex-parte hearing.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Temporary-needs and post-judgment hearings before the Magistrates may be scheduled by calling (904) 255-1180 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
You may call the dedicated number (904) 255-1180 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to schedule temporary needs and/or post judgment hearings before the Magistrates.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A hearing lasting one hour or less may be scheduled by emailing the Judicial Assistant, copying the opposing side and including the case number, motion title, and requested hearing duration.
Hearings lasting one hour or less may be set by contacting the Judicial Assistant. Please copy the opposing side on the email and include the case number, the title of the motion to be heard, and the amount of time necessary for the hearing.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Emergency motions should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant or delivered to the Judge’s chambers for review.
Emergency motions should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant or delivered to the Judge’s chambers for review.
Page 5 | G. Emergency Matters
Counsel and self-represented parties should promptly respond to the moving party’s attorney when coordinating a hearing.
All counsel and self-represented parties should promptly respond to the moving party’s attorney to facilitate this process.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Contact the Judicial Assistant to obtain available ex parte hearing dates and times.
EX PARTE: Ex-Parte hearings are scheduled as a time certain. Contact the Judicial Assistant for available dates/times.
Civil cases
Page 1 | EX PARTE