Judge Wesley D. Tibbals
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Case Law, Proposed Reference Materials
- Five Business Days Before Hearing
- Upon request
Extraordinary Writ Petition
Court-wide- Immediately Upon Filing
Financial Affidavit, Exhibits
Court-wideGuardian Ad Litem Report
Court-wide- At Least 48 Hours Before Hearing
Adjournments
- Continuances are disfavored and require good cause; the request must be submitted at least five days before the scheduled court date.
Communication
Chambers
Clerk
Clerk
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Document Format Requirements3 rules
All proposed orders must be submitted in PDF format.
- File type
- Proposed order
Exhibits must be submitted to the clerk of court in paper format, single-sided.
- File type
- Paper
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Single-sided
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring enough copies of each exhibit for the clerk, court, and each party, and label them in the specified format.
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Labels must follow the format ‘Petitioner/Plaintiff 1’ or ‘Respondent/Defendant A.’
Court's wording
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the clerk, the court, and each party to review during the hearing or trial. Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: ‘Petitioner/Plaintiff 1’ or ‘Respondent/Defendant A.’
Document Filing Requirements6 rules
All notices of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time by the moving party.
All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter either (1) certifying that all parties agree to the order or (2) containing a statement identifying any disagreement of the parties as to the proposed order.
An emergency-hearing motion must state the issues, reasons for emergency relief, and 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 3 ===== PAGE 4 ===== 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.
The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter
In the email, please indicate the case style and case number in the subject line. In the body of the email, please include the length of time requested for trial.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Proposed orders must be uploaded through the E-Filing Portal, and a disputed order must also be submitted by email as a marked-up Word version.
Submission Method: Order are shall be uploaded through the E-Filing Portal. If an order is disputed, each party shall submit a marked up Word version of their respective order to FelonyDivE@fljud13.org.
Page 3 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Submit all exhibits electronically through the E-Portal.
Submit all exhibits electronically through the E-Portal.
Page 4 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
All hearing materials must be received by the court at least five business days before the hearing.
The court must receive all materials for the hearing no later than five business days before the hearing.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A remote-appearance request must be filed and emailed to the Family Law Division at least three days before the hearing, unless the hearing notice already states that the proceeding will occur via Zoom.
Any request for remote appearance must be filed and emailed to FamLawDivF@fljud13.org at least three days prior to the date of the hearing unless the notice of hearing indicates the proceeding will be via Zoom.
Page 3 | C. Remote Appearance
A proposed order must be submitted within five days after the hearing.
Proposed orders must be submitted within five (5) days after any hearing.
Page 3 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
All exhibits must be received in chambers five to seven days before the evidentiary hearing or trial.
All exhibits must be received in chambers five to seven days before the evidentiary proceeding.
Page 4 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy copies must reach the court no later than five business days before the scheduled hearing.
Courtesy copies must be delivered to the court no later than five business days before the scheduled hearing.
Page 3 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Courtesy copies of case law and proposed reference materials must be submitted to the court.
When Required: Courtesy copies of case law and any proposed reference materials shall be submitted to the court.
Page 3 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Courtesy copies of case law and proposed reference materials must be emailed to the Family Law Division.
Submission Method: E-mail to FamLawDivF@fljud13.org.
Page 3 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances are disfavored and require good cause; the request must be submitted at least five days before the scheduled court date.
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.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Unless good cause is shown, the continuance motion must be signed by the requesting party under Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.545(e).
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 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by email to FamLawDivF@fljud13.org.
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to FamLawDivF@fljud13.org.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
All parties must be copied on emails to the judicial office unless an 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. Communications with the Judicial Office
The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties.
Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the court.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The Judicial Assistant may not answer legal questions or explain a party's situation to the judge.
The Judicial Assistant cannot answer your legal questions, and will not explain your situation to the judge.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Case information will be provided only to the parties and their attorneys.
No information regarding any case will be provided to anyone other than the Parties and or the Parties’ Attorneys.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
For a disputed order, each party must email a marked-up Word version of the party's proposed order to the listed division address.
If an order is disputed, each party shall submit a marked up Word version of their respective order to FelonyDivE@fljud13.org.
Page 3 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Requests to set a pretrial or trial must be coordinated with the Judicial Assistant by email.
Pretrials and trials shall be coordinated with the Judicial Assistant by emailing the request to FamLawDivF@Fljud13.org .
Page 4 | H. Setting Case for Trial
ADA accommodation requests may be submitted by email or telephone using the listed contact information.
ADA Accommodations: If you need an ADA accommodation, please contact the ADA Coordinator via e-mail ADA@fljud13.org; telephone 1-813-272-7040; hearing impaired 1-800-955-8771; voice impaired 1-800-955-8771.
Page 4 | I. Other Division Procedures