
Judge Elisabeth Espinosa
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Document Filing Requirements8 rules
When temporary support is alleged, both parties must complete a Short Form Financial Affidavit.
Court's wording
In cases where temporary support issues have been alleged in the pleadings, both parties must fill out a Short Form Financial Affidavit and email the form to the case manager at dliberal@jud11.flcourts.org. Please include your case number and your name in the subject line of the email.
Please copy opposing counsel on the email and attach the Motion and a proposed Order.
- Document
- Hearing request email
Include
- •Proposed order
Respondents must fill out a Firearm Affidavit form describing any and all firearms and ammunition in their possession and email the form to cahernandez@jud11.flcourts.org
Fathers seeking temporary visitation without legally established paternity must complete an Acknowledgment of Paternity form.
Court's wording
Any father seeking an order for temporary visitation, who has not had paternity legally established or who was not married to the child’s mother at the time of the child’s birth, must fill out an Acknowledgment of Paternity form and email the form to the case manager at dliberal@jud11.flcourts.org. Please include your case number and your name in the subject line of the email.
Children are NOT permitted to testify UNLESS a motion is filed pursuant to Fla.Fam.L.R.P.12.407, and an order allowing the testimony is granted, prior to the hearing.
A special set hearing request must state the current sounding and trial dates, defendant custody status, speedy trial waiver status, number of witnesses, and time requested.
Court's wording
Include the following information with your request for a special set date: The sounding and trial date currently set, whether the defendant is in physical custody, whether speedy trial has been waived, how many witnesses will be called, and how much time you are requesting the court to reserve for the motion.
Any pre-trial motions may be filed with the Domestic Violence Clerk of Courts, or via fax to (305)349-5559, prior to the hearing date, include your case number in the subject line of this email.
- Document
- Pretrial motion fax
Include
- •Case number
IN PERSON Hearings: You should bring with you to the courthouse, any evidence you intend to present during the hearing.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Pre-trial motions may be filed with the Domestic Violence Clerk of Courts or by fax to (305) 349-5559.
Any pre-trial motions may be filed with the Domestic Violence Clerk of Courts, or via fax to (305)349-5559, prior to the hearing date, include your case number in the subject line of this email.
Page 1 | CIVIL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION 51 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
Parties may e-file through the Florida eFiling Portal at myflcourtaccess.com by creating an account and following the prompts, using their case number.
Visit the Florida eFiling Portal at https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/authority/ Create an account and follow the prompts. You will need your case number. For additional instructions and video tutorials please visit https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Florida-Courts-eFiling-Portal
Page 1 | CIVIL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION 51 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Pre-trial motions must be filed prior to the hearing date.
Any pre-trial motions may be filed with the Domestic Violence Clerk of Courts, or via fax to (305)349-5559, prior to the hearing date, include your case number in the subject line of this email.
Page 1 | CIVIL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION 51 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Opposing counsel must be copied on the email requesting a hearing date for a non-emergency motion.
Please copy opposing counsel on the email and attach the Motion and a proposed Order.
Page 1 | CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION M88 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
Opposing counsel must be copied on the email requesting a special set hearing date.
Please copy opposing counsel on the email and attach the Motion.
Page 1 | CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION M88 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
Notice of Hearing for final injunction hearings is served by personal service or mail, and the notice's instructions stating whether the hearing is in person or on Zoom must be followed.
You will receive a Notice of Hearing either by personal service or in the mail. FOLLOW THE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR NOTICE OF HEARING, WHICH STATE whether your hearing is IN PERSON at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse, OR on ZOOM.
Page 1 | CIVIL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION 51 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
Chambers Communication Rules
Non-emergency motions that can be heard in five minutes or less are set on the Tuesday 10:00 a.m. motion calendar by emailing the judicial assistant, who will respond confirming the hearing date.
Motion Calendar Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m. To request a hearing for a non-emergency motion that can be heard in five minutes or less, please email Judicial Assistant - kcastellonherrera@jud11.flcourts.org to request a hearing date. Please copy opposing counsel on the email and attach the Motion and a proposed Order. You will receive a response confirming the date on which your motion is set.
Page 1 | CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION M88 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
Special set evidentiary motions requiring more than five minutes are set by emailing the judicial assistant to request a hearing date.
To request a hearing on a motion that will require more than 5 minutes, please email Judicial Assistant at kcastellonherrera@jud11.flcourts.org to request a hearing date. Please copy opposing counsel on the email and attach the Motion. Include the following information with your request for a special set date: The sounding and trial date currently set, whether the defendant is in physical custody, whether speedy trial has been waived, how many witnesses will be called, and how much time you are requesting the court to reserve for the motion.
Page 1 | CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION M88 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
The completed Firearm Affidavit must be emailed to the bailiff with the case number and name in the subject line.
Respondents must fill out a Firearm Affidavit form describing any and all firearms and ammunition in their possession and email the form to cahernandez@jud11.flcourts.org Include your case number and your name in the subject line of the email.
Page 1 | CIVIL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION 51 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
The Acknowledgment of Paternity form must be emailed to the case manager at dliberal@jud11.flcourts.org with the case number and name in the subject line.
Please include your case number and your name in the subject line of the email.
Page 1 | CIVIL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION 51 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
Chambers can be reached by phone at 305-349-5700.
Chambers Phone: 305-349-5700
Page 1 | Judge Elisabeth Espinosa Contact Information
The bailiff, Camilo Hernandez, can be reached at cahernandez@jud11.flcourts.org.
Bailiff – Camilo Hernandez cahernandez@jud11.flcourts.org
Page 1 | Judge Elisabeth Espinosa Contact Information
Hearing and scheduling requests go to Judicial Assistant Katerin Castellon Herrera at kcastellonherrera@jud11.flcourts.org.
Judicial Assistant – Katerin Castellon Herrera kcastellonherrera@jud11.flcourts.org
Page 1 | Judge Elisabeth Espinosa Contact Information