Judge Holly Derenthal
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Case Law, Other Non Exhibit Document
- Email • At Least 3 Business Days Before Hearing or Trial
Exhibits
- Email • At Least 3 Business Days Before Hearing or Trial
Motion for Rehearing
Memoranda, Case Law, Other Hearing Materials
Court-wide- Before Hearing
Adjournments
- Continuances are disfavored and require a showing of good cause; the request must be submitted at least five days before the scheduled court date and ordinarily must be signed by the requesting party.
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Phone
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Document Format Requirements6 rules
The proposed Final Judgment should be emailed to the Court in both Microsoft Word and PDF formats.
- File type
- Word
In addition to being submitted electronically, video or audio recording files must be provided in the form of a flash drive on the day of the hearing.
If files are too large to send by email, provide the files to the Court via a file sharing link such as Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive.
The name of the file must state the Party offering the exhibit, the word “Exhibit”, the exhibit letter for identification, and a short description of the exhibit
Each exhibit should be sent as an individual PDF file, unless the file is a video or other file that cannot be provided in PDF format.
- File type
- Exhibits
(2) All exhibits must be pre-labeled.
Document Filing Requirements25 rules
The Parenting Plan and any Marital Settlement Agreement must be incorporated into the Final Judgment by reference to the date they were filed.
Uncontested Final Hearings may also be conducted in writing without the need for attorneys or parties to appear by filing a Motion/Waiver for Written Final Hearing in the Court’s approved format.
- Document
- Motion or waiver for written final hearing
Include
- •The Court’s approved format
The Written Final Hearing checklist must be submitted to the Court by email along with all applicable agreements and the proposed Final Judgment in Word and PDF formats.
Please remember ===== PAGE 4 ===== that any Final Judgement in a case with children must include full names and dates of birth of the child and all child support details.
Please provide an email copy to the Judicial Assistant and include a cover letter stating whether the Final Judgment is agreed upon.
Except for hearings described above, parties requesting a virtual hearing must file a motion showing good cause for the need.
Court's wording
With the exception of the hearings described above that may be held virtually without prior permission from the Court, all requests for hearings to be conducted virtually must be submitted by motion showing good cause for the need for virtual hearing.
If you wish to have your case heard by the General Magistrate, file a Motion for Referral to the General Magistrate and provide the Court an email copy, including the motion/issues you wish to have referred to the General Magistrate.
Every hearing request must include a copy of the motion to be heard, the case number, party names and attorneys, requested hearing date and time, hearing length, motion title, whether the hearing is evidentiary, and the dates of the required mediation and meet and confer.
- Document
- Notice of hearing
Must include
- •Case number
Court's wording
All requests for hearings must include a copy of the motion to be heard and the following information: (1) The Case Number: (2) Petitioner’s name and attorney: (3) Respondent’s name and attorney: (4) Hearing date and time requested: (5) Length of hearing: (6) Title of the Motion to be heard: (7) whether the hearing is evidentiary: (8) Date of the mandatory mediation conducted per Administrative Order No. 2004-14-02: (9)Date the mandatory meet and confer was conducted per Administrative Order No. 2014-19:
A Certificate of Compliance must be attached to the Notice of Hearing.
- Document
- Notice of hearing
Must include
- •Local rule certificate
A Notice of Hearing must include judicial Zoom credentials for remote appearances and the required ADA notification, and should identify the motion and filing date, hearing length, and required Certificate of Compliance.
Court's wording
A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the judicial Zoom credentials. All notices of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540. Notice of Hearing should include the full name of the motion and filing date, the length of the hearing, and a Certificate of Compliance per Administrative Order No. 2014-19.
Requests to use communication technology for an appearance must be made by motion.
A party requesting emergency action must include the words “Emergency Motion” in the title of the motion
An expedited motion must include the words “Expedited Motion” in the title
3. UCCJEA affidavit (if applicable)
5. A mediation report or certificate from the past 12 months.
4. Social Security Notice (F.S. 61.052(7) or 742.032)
2. Certificates of mandatory disclosure (12.285)
If mediation is not appropriate, counsel or pro se litigants shall file a Motion to Dispense with Mediation and set it for hearing at ex parte/short matters.
If either party believes their case is ready for trial, they may file a Notice of Trial (in compliance with Family Rule of Procedure 12.440) and Case at Issue Cover Sheet.
1. Financial affidavits within the past 12 months.
The Court may set the case for a Case Management Conference upon receiving the notice if the parties have filed:
7. Any other filings required by law.
6. If the case is a dissolution of marriage with children or a paternity case, parenting class certificates must be filed with the Clerk’s Office pursuant to state law and the circuit’s administrative order.
Pursuant to Administrative Order 2004-14 entered on June 29, 2004, counsel or pro se litigants shall attach Form 51 to their Notice of Trial. Form 51 is available on the Court’s website.
All Orders should be titled with the name of the Motion and include a complete certificate of service.
- Document
- Order
Should include
- •Certificate of service
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The Attorney Uncontested Dissolution Checklist, proposed final judgment, and all agreements must be emailed to the court at least three business days before the hearing.
The Attorney Uncontested Dissolution Checklist must be completed and emailed to the Court, along with the proposed Final Judgement and all agreements, at least three business days before the hearing.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
An email copy of any motion related to the final judgment must be provided to the court at least three business days before the hearing.
If there are any Motions related to the Final Judgement (i.e., motions to deviate), please provide an email copy to the Court at least three business days before the hearing.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A motion requesting remote appearance by an individual party, attorney, or witness at an in-person hearing must be filed at least seven days before the hearing.
If a party requests that an individual party, attorney, or witness be permitted to appear remotely at an in-person hearing, a motion for the individual to appear remotely must be submitted at least 7 days prior to the hearing.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A Notice of Hearing must be filed and served immediately after the hearing time is reserved.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 6 | Notice of Hearing
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Case law and other non-exhibit documents submitted for the Court's review must be emailed separately to the Court and opposing party at least three business days before the hearing or trial.
(1) All case law and other non-exhibit documents that a party wishes the Court to review must be provided to the Court and the opposing party by email at least three business days prior to the hearing or trial. Each case or document should be provided as a separate file.
Page 9 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Copies of all exhibits must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at 47Orange@ninthcircuit.org at least three business days before the hearing or trial.
Parties must email 47Orange@ninthcircuit.org copies of all exhibits to the Judicial Assistant at least three business days prior to the hearing or trial.
Page 10 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Courtesy copies of motions for rehearing should be emailed to the Court for review.
Courtesy copies of Motions for Rehearing should be emailed to the Court for review.
Page 7 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances are disfavored and require a showing of good cause; the request must be submitted at least five days before the scheduled court date and ordinarily must be signed by the requesting party.
Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown. A request for continuance must be submitted at least five 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 6 | Continuance Procedure
Chambers Communication Rules
Communications to the judicial office must comply with Canon 3, and all parties must be copied on judicial-office emails unless law authorizes an ex parte communication.
Ex parte Communications: 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 the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless 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 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must use Form 2.603 whenever their registered electronic-service email account changes.
It is the responsibility of attorneys and self-represented litigants to update their contact information using Form 2.603 any time there is a change in the e-mail account registered for electronic service.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
All communications to the judicial office must be emailed to 47Orange@ninthcircuit.org with the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.
Method of Communication: All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to 47Orange@ninthcircuit.org. The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 DR 001234 SC – Doe v. Doe - Hearing Requested/Proposed Order/Notice of hearing/Exhibits/Case Law/Emergency).
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for electronic receipt of signed orders unless excused.
E-Filing Portal Contact Information: All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The hearing time must first be coordinated with the opposing counsel or pro se litigant, then confirmed by email with the Judicial Assistant, including the opposing participant; hearings cannot be set by phone.
You must coordinate the hearing time with opposing counsel/pro se litigant PRIOR to emailing the Judicial Assistant. Once a date/time has been confirmed by both parties, you must email the Judicial Assistant, include opposing counsel or pro-se litigant, in order to secure hearing time. No hearings are set via phone.
Page 5 | Scheduling Hearings
A mandatory meet and confer under Administrative Order 2014-19 is required before requesting a hearing, including in matters involving pro se litigants; a hearing may be requested afterward only if the issues remain unresolved.
Before requesting a hearing, the mandatory “meet and confer” must be held per administrative order 2014-19. This includes matters with pro se litigants. If the issue(s) are still unresolved then a hearing may be requested.
Page 5 | Scheduling Hearings
A Notice of Cancellation should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at the time the Notice of Cancellation is filed with the Clerk.
A Notice of Cancellation should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at the time the Notice of Cancellation is filed with the Clerk.
Page 7 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The Court must receive cancellation notice at least 24 hours before the scheduled hearing.
Please notify the Court at least 24 hours in advance of any cancellations so that the hearing time can be offered to other parties.
Page 7 | B. Scheduling Procedures
When the Court requests an order at a hearing, counsel must prepare it and email it to the Court within seven days unless the Court sets another deadline.
If the Court requests counsel to prepare an order at a hearing, counsel will prepare and submit the order to the Court via email within 7 days unless a different deadline is set by the Court at the hearing.
Page 8 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Emergency motions must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant for the Court's review.
Emergency motions must be e-mailed to the Judicial Assistant for the Court’s review.
Page 9 | F. Emergency and Other Urgent Matters
Once the pleadings are closed, the parties must expeditiously file a notice for trial and email it to the judicial assistant after filing.
When the case is at issue (the pleadings are closed), the parties are instructed to expeditiously file a notice for trial. The notice for trial must be emailed to the Court’s judicial assistant after filing.
Page 11 | H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
A request for ADA accommodations must be made at least seven days before the court appearance, or immediately if fewer than seven days’ notice is received.
Please contact: in Orange County, ADA Coordinator, Human Resources, Orange County Courthouse, 425 N. Orange Avenue, Suite 510, Orlando, Florida, (407) 836-2303, fax: 407- 836-2204; and in Osceola County: ADA Coordinator, Court Administration, Osceola County Courthouse, 2 Courthouse Square, Suite 6300, Kissimmee, FL 34741, (407) 742-2417, fax 407-835-5079 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately if you receive less than a 7 day notice to appear.
Page 12 | Other Division Procedures — ADA Accommodations
The judicial assistant may not provide legal advice in response to inquiries.
Response to Inquiries: The judicial assistant is not authorized to provide legal advice.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties, and parties may contact the judicial office only as permitted by the division's practices and procedures.
Unsolicited Communications: 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 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The judge and judicial assistant cannot provide legal advice to pro se litigants regarding their cases.
Pro se litigants may review Administrative Order 2017-08-01, which establishes procedures for self-represented litigants in the Domestic Relations Division. The Judge and the JA cannot provide legal advice to you regarding your case.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
A party needing courtroom audio or visual assistance must contact the IT Department or Help Desk at the listed telephone number or submit an online request.
If assistance with audio/visual equipment is needed, contact the IT Department/Help Desk Line at (407) 836-0522 or by online request.
Page 12 | Other Division Procedures — AUDIO/VISUAL EQUIPMENT IN THE COURTROOM