Judge Matthew L. Felix
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- At Least 3 Business Days Before Hearing
Exhibits
- At Least 3 Business Days Before Hearing
- At Least 3 Days Before Proceeding
Notice of Cancellation
- Email • Immediately Upon Filing
Pretrial Memorandum
- At Least 3 Business Days Before Pretrial Conference
Adjournments
- A motion to continue the first case-management conference must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant no later than two business days before the conference.
Communication
Chambers
Clerk
Clerk
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Document Format Requirements7 rules
Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: ‘Petitioner/Plaintiff 1’ or ‘Respondent/Defendant A.’
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Label each exhibit ‘Petitioner/Plaintiff 1’ or ‘Respondent/Defendant A.’
A competing proposed order must be submitted as a Word-formatted document.
- File type
- Word
- Proposed order
Court's wording
Proposed Orders that are NOT agreed upon by the parties, in other words, competing Orders, should be submitted to the Judicial Assistant by e-mail and attached as a "WORD" formatted document, which will be forwarded to the Judge upon receipt of both proposed competing Orders or with a cover letter indicated the objected to portions of the proposed order.
Physical/paper/hard copies of the case law and/or exhibits must be submitted to the Court.
- File type
- Paper
- Exhibits
Exhibits must be submitted in paper format, and filers must provide enough copies for the court and every party.
- File type
- Paper
- Exhibits
Court's wording
Exhibits must be submitted to the Court in paper format. All attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the Court and each party to review during the hearing or trial.
An agreed proposed order must be formatted as a PDF when submitted through the E-portal.
- File type
- Proposed order
Court's wording
Proposed Orders that are agreed upon by the parties should be submitted to the Judge in Family Law Division "A" electronically through the E-portal as a "PDF" formatted document or as a last resort via email. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT BOTH WAYS.
All exhibits must be Bates numbered.
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •All exhibits must be Bates numbered
Proposed Orders should have sufficient space in the signature area for the Court to sign (with the larger signature block) and not cover any of the proposed Order’s text.
Document Filing Requirements16 rules
The following, when applicable, MUST be attached to this Memorandum or your hearing SHALL be continued: A. Child Support Guidelines calculations
The following, when applicable, MUST be attached to this Memorandum or your hearing SHALL be continued: D. Attorney’s Fees Affidavit
The following, when applicable, MUST be attached to this Memorandum or your hearing SHALL be continued: B. Proposed Temporary Alimony/Support calculations
The following, when applicable, MUST be attached to this Memorandum or your hearing SHALL be continued: C. Current Financial Affidavit with the last three payroll stubs or W-2 and K-1 for the immediately- preceding year.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Include
- •Certificate of service
The following, when applicable, MUST be attached to this Memorandum or your hearing SHALL be continued: E. Proposed Parenting Plan
A proposed Parenting Plan is also required if the case involves a minor child(ren).
A party or unrepresented filer using AI must disclose that use and certify that every legal citation or authority reference has been verified as accurate.
- Document
- AI assisted document
Must include
- •AI disclosure
Court's wording
If any attorney for a Party or an unrepresented Party uses AI in the preparation of any document, materials, or exhibits (collectively “Document”), filed with the Clerk or submitted to the Court, said Document must, in a clear and plain statement: Disclose that AI has been used in the preparation of the Document and Certify that each and every citation or reference to any case law, rule, statute, or other authority in the Document has been verified as accurate.
If you intend to introduce evidence, you must file a notice that clearly indicates your intent. Moreover, exhibit notebooks must be provided in hard copy to the Court (and the opposing party) at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
The motion shall include the reason(s) for the continuance as well as a proposed Order ratifying same.
- Document
- Continuance motion
Must include
- •Proposed order
A notice of hearing must state the motion title and docket number, filing date, hearing length, and applicable Zoom information.
Court's wording
Notices of hearing must include the following elements in addition to those required by the applicable rules of procedure and local administrative orders:The specific TITLE and docket # of the motion to be heard; The DATE the motion to be heard was filed; The LENGTH OF TIME of the hearing; and Zoom information if applicable (including meeting ID, password, and a copy of a link to the Zoom meeting).
All notices of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
A proposed order must include a cover letter explaining the hearing, motion docket number, transmission to the opposing party, any objection or lack of response, and the date provided.
Court's wording
All proposed orders should include a cover letter containing explanatory information, specifically when the issue that is the subject of the proposed order was heard, the docket number of the motion, if the proposed order was provided to the opposing party, if an objection was received, if no response was received, and when the proposed order was provided to the opposing party.
A Final Disposition Form must be submitted at the time of submission of a proposed Final Order or Final Judgment in order to close the case.
Copies of previously filed documents must show the clerk's filing number on the first page.
- Document
- Previously filed document
- Placement
- First page
Court's wording
If a Party chooses to submit copies of pleadings or other documents that have previously been filed with the Clerk’s office, only copies of such filed documents (with the Clerk’s filing number on the first page and the date and time of filing inscribed on each page thereafter) should be submitted to the Court
All evidentiary hearings set for thirty (30) minutes or more will be held in-person. Either party may file a motion to appear remotely.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
An agreed hearing cancellation or settlement must be immediately e-filed with the clerk, with a courtesy copy emailed to the division.
When the parties agree that a hearing or other court appearance needs to be cancelled or that the parties have reached a settlement in the case, a notice of Cancellation MUST be immediately e-filed with the Clerk of Court AND a courtesy copy of the Notice of Cancellation sent to the division e-mail address at FamLawDivA@fliud13.org.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Cancelling Hearings
An agreed proposed order should be submitted through the E-portal in PDF format, or by email only as a last resort, and not through both channels.
Proposed Orders that are agreed upon by the parties should be submitted to the Judge in Family Law Division "A" electronically through the E-portal as a "PDF" formatted document or as a last resort via email. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT BOTH WAYS.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Format
Each party must electronically file and serve a pretrial memorandum and deliver both copies to the court at least three business days before the pretrial conference.
NOTE: A Pre-Trial Memorandum SHALL be electronically filed and served on each party by the other party, as well as a copy of both delivered to the Court, at least three (3) business days prior to the Pre-Trial Conference.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Other Procedures Relating to Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
After agreeing on a pretrial or trial date, the parties must prepare and upload an order setting trial through the E-portal for the judge's signature.
Once a pre-trial/trial date has been agreed upon, it is the responsibility of the party(s) to prepare an Order setting trial and upload it through E-portal for the Judge's signature.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Other Procedures Relating to Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
Competing proposed orders must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant in Word format with both orders or a cover letter identifying the disputed portions.
Proposed Orders that are NOT agreed upon by the parties, in other words, competing Orders, should be submitted to the Judicial Assistant by e-mail and attached as a "WORD" formatted document, which will be forwarded to the Judge upon receipt of both proposed competing Orders or with a cover letter indicated the objected to portions of the proposed order.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Format
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The moving party must file the original Temporary Relief Hearing Memorandum, serve all parties, and provide the judge a copy at least two business days before the hearing.
At least two business days prior to the scheduled temporary relief hearing, the moving party shall file the original Temporary Relief Hearing Memorandum with the Clerk of the Court and serve a copy on all parties, as well as deliver a copy to the Judge.
Page 1 | Other hearing types/matters — Temporary Relief Hearings
A request to appear remotely must be made by motion at least 10 days before the hearing.
Requests to use communication technology for an appearance must be made by motion, no less than ten (10) days prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | Remote Appearance Procedure
Unless the court orders otherwise, proposed orders must be submitted within 10 days after the hearing.
Deadline for Submissions: Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, proposed orders must be submitted within ten (10) days after any hearing.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Deadline for Submissions
Service and Proof of Service Rules
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been furnished by U. S. Mail this _____ day of ________________________, 20___ to ____________________________________________________
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been furnished by U. S. Mail this _____ day of ________________________, 20___ to ____________________________________________________
Page 2 | CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Exhibits, motion responses, and case-law copies must reach chambers at least three business days before the hearing or they will not be reviewed.
Exhibits, responses to motions and copies of case law must be delivered or mailed to the Judge's chambers (copies of any documents provided to the Judge must be provided to all parties to the case) three (3) business days before the hearing. Any exhibits, responses to motions and copies of case law received by the Court less than three (3) business days before the hearing will not be reviewed or considered at the hearing.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Submission Deadlines
Hard-copy exhibit notebooks must be provided to the court and opposing party at least three business days before the hearing.
Moreover, exhibit notebooks must be provided in hard copy to the Court (and the opposing party) at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | Other hearing types/matters — Evidentiary Hearings
A courtesy copy of an immediately filed notice of cancellation must be emailed to the division at FamLawDivA@fliud13.org.
When the parties agree that a hearing or other court appearance needs to be cancelled or that the parties have reached a settlement in the case, a notice of Cancellation MUST be immediately e-filed with the Clerk of Court AND a courtesy copy of the Notice of Cancellation sent to the division e-mail address at FamLawDivA@fliud13.org.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Cancelling Hearings
Courtesy copies of case law and exhibits must be submitted at least three days before the proceeding where they will be used.
Courtesy copies of case law and/or exhibits must be submitted to the Court no less than three (3) days prior to any proceeding in which the case law/evidence is to be used.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Deadline for Submissions
A copy of the pretrial memorandum must be delivered to the court at least three business days before the pretrial conference.
NOTE: A Pre-Trial Memorandum SHALL be electronically filed and served on each party by the other party, as well as a copy of both delivered to the Court, at least three (3) business days prior to the Pre-Trial Conference.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Other Procedures Relating to Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
A copy of the Temporary Relief Hearing Memorandum must be delivered to the judge at least two business days before the hearing.
At least two business days prior to the scheduled temporary relief hearing, the moving party shall file the original Temporary Relief Hearing Memorandum with the Clerk of the Court and serve a copy on all parties, as well as deliver a copy to the Judge.
Page 1 | Other hearing types/matters — Temporary Relief Hearings
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances are disfavored and require a showing of good cause; absent good cause, the requesting party must sign the motion.
Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown. 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 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Continuance Procedure
A motion to continue the first case-management conference must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant no later than two business days before the conference.
The moving party shall submit his/her motion for continuance through the Judicial Assistant by e-mail no later than two (2) business days before the scheduled Case Management Conference.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences — Case Management Conference
Chambers Communication Rules
All communication with the judicial office should include: case number, case name, which party you represent, then what you are asking to be set (with docket#), and how long you will need for the hearing.
All communication with the judicial office should include: case number, case name, which party you represent, then what you are asking to be set (with docket#), and how long you will need for the hearing.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
A requesting party must email the Judicial Assistant for hearing times and copy the opposing party.
For any scheduling request;The requesting party should e-mail the Judicial Assistant for hearing time(s) and copy the opposing party.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Email is the preferred method of communicating with the judicial office.
Method of Communication: The preferred form of communication with the Judicial Office is e-mail at FamLawDivA@Fljud13.org.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Requests for hearing times exceeding 30 minutes should be submitted by email rather than telephone.
For any requests for hearing times more than 30 minutes, the preferred method is e-mail request rather than telephone.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences