County & Court GPS
Broward County family court
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. Procedure notes below come from BenchPath verified sources — every card carries its citation, confidence level, and last-verified date.
Before you file here
- Confirm venue — this county is the right place for the case
- Confirm the current official forms at flcourts.gov
- Check signature / notary requirements per form
- Pick the correct e-filing case category on the portal
- Handle confidential information (SSNs, minors) per rule
- Note the filing fee — or the fee-waiver application
Before you appear here
- Confirm date, time, location — and Zoom vs. in person
- Check the assigned judge/division instructions below
- Confirm how evidence must be submitted for hearings
- Ask whether a proposed order is expected, and in what format
- Confirm courtesy-copy requirements
- Build the exhibit and witness lists in Hearing Prep
Uncontested in Broward
Agreed on the terms? The path runs through this courthouse.
The qualifier reads your answers, the Assembly Line organizes the agreement, the Packet Composer names the official forms, and the tracker follows the clerk's acceptance loop — all county-aware. Filing fees are verified with the Broward clerk (this platform never types a fee it can't source), and the division's published practice above controls hearing logistics.
Florida law generally bars entry of a final judgment of dissolution until at least 20 days after the petition is filed (§ 61.19, Fla. Stat.); a court may act sooner only on the statute's required showing. Clerk and court processing add county-varying time on top.
Judge & Division Playbook
Who hears family cases here — and their published practice
A playbook is published practice — calendars, conferral, order formats — with its citation and verification date. FamilyLawGPS does not and will not predict judicial outcomes.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Alberto Ribas, Jr.
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Allana Robinson Woods
general_magistrate
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Allison Gilman
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Andrew L. Siegel
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Annette J. Szorosy
general_magistrate
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Ari Abraham Porth
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Barbara R. Duffy
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Bernard I. Bober
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Betsy Benson
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Caleb S. Johnston
general_magistrate
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Carlos Augusto Rodriguez
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Carol-Lisa Phillips
chief_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Catalina Avalos
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Chris Brown
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Christopher Pole
senior_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Christopher Wigand
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Corey Amanda Cawthon
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Corey B. Friedman
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Daniel A. Casey
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Daniel J. Kanner
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
David A. Haimes
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Deborah Carpenter-Toye
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Denise E. Kistner
general_magistrate
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Edward H. Merrigan Jr.
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Elaine A. Carbuccia
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Elijah H. Williams
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Ellen Feld
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Ernest A. Kollra, Jr.
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Fabienne E. Fahnestock
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Florence Taylor Barner
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Francis Viamontes
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Frank Ledee
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
George Odom, Jr.
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Ginger Lerner-Wren
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Giuseppina Miranda
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Hilary Creary
general_magistrate
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Hope Tieman Bristol
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Jackie Powell
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
James R. Harris
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Jeffrey R. Levenson
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Jennifer Wigand Hilal
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Jeremy I. Franker
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Jessica M. Marra
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Jill K. Levy
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
John B. Bowman
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
John D. Fry
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
John Hurley
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Jose Izquierdo
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Kal Evans
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Kathleen E. Angione
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Kathleen McCarthy
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Kathleen McHugh
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Keathan B. Frink
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Kenneth A. Gottlieb
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Kenneth L. Gillespie
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Kevin P. Tynan
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Kim Theresa Mollica
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Kristin R. Kanner
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Lauren M. Alperstein
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Lauren N. Peffer
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Linda Ivelisse Gonzalez
general_magistrate
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Lorena V. Mastrarrigo
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Lucy Ramos Miller
general_magistrate
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Marina Garcia-Wood
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Marlon J. Weiss
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Martin Bidwill
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Martin S. Fein
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Matthew Tannenbaum
child_support_hearing_officer
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Melinda Brown
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Michael A. Robinson
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Michael A. Usan
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Michael Davis
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Michael G. Kaplan
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Michael I. Rothschild
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Michael J. Orlando
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Michael Lynch
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Michael Sullivan
child_support_hearing_officer
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Michele McCaul Ricca
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Michele Towbin Singer
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
N. Hunter Davis
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Natasha DePrimo
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Nicholas Lopane
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Nina W. Di Pietro
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Olga Levine
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Pascale Achille
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Peter Holden
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Phoebee Francois
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Rebecca Frieden
child_support_hearing_officer
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Shari Africk-Olefson
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Stacey Schulman
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Stacy Ross
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Stefanie C. Moon
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Stephanie Matalon
general_magistrate
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Steven P. DeLuca
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Susan L. Alspector
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Tabitha B. Eves
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Thomas J. Coleman
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Tim Bailey
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Broward County Court
Woody R. Clermont
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Yael Gamm
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court
Yves P. Laventure
general_magistrate
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Court procedure notes
Verified local intelligence
Court procedure data from BenchPath, compiled from official public court sources.
Emergency Motions
Domestic Violence Injunctions: Ex Parte Temporary Relief and Prompt Full Hearing — Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.610; § 741.30, Fla. Stat.
Rule 12.610 (October 1, 2026 edition): an injunction for protection may issue ex parte when it appears to the court that an immediate and present danger of violence exists; any temporary injunction is effective for a fixed period not to exceed 15 days, and a full hearing must be set for a date no later than the date the temporary injunction ceases to be effective. Section 741.30(2)(a), Florida Statutes, prohibits assessing a filing fee for a petition for protection against domestic violence.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
E-Filing
E-Filing Through the Statewide Portal — Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.525(b)
Rule 2.525(b) (July 1, 2026 edition): attorneys must file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal or other designated electronic court filing facility. An unrepresented party who is not a Florida Bar member or an attorney admitted pro hac vice may elect to file through the portal, and once made the election may not be withdrawn without leave of court. No other method of filing is permitted except as subdivision (c) or the Florida Courts Technology Standards provide.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Case Management
Mandatory Disclosure in Family Cases — Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.285
Rule 12.285 (October 1, 2026 edition): in initial and supplemental proceedings, required documents must be served within 45 days of service of the initial pleading on the respondent; the financial affidavit requirement cannot be waived by the parties; each party subject to automatic mandatory disclosure files a certificate of compliance (Form 12.932); and parties have a continuing duty to supplement. The rule excludes listed proceedings, and except for child support guidelines worksheets any portion may be modified by court order or agreement of the parties.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Service
Service Through the Portal and by E-mail — Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516
Rule 2.516 (July 1, 2026 edition): a document filed through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal must be served using the portal's e-service function, and service on each listed recipient is complete on filing; the filer must immediately serve, by any permitted means, any intended recipient the filer learns did not receive the document. An unrepresented party designates e-mail addresses for service on Form 2.602 unless an exception applies. An attorney who cannot be served at the signature-block e-mail address may be served at the attorney's official Florida Bar e-mail address. A certificate of service states the certification, the date, the persons served, their service addresses, and the method.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
E-Filing
Statewide AI-Era Certification: Every Signer Represents Cited Authorities Exist — Rule 2.515(d)(2)
Under rule 2.515(d)(2) as amended effective June 15, 2026, each signer of a Florida court filing represents that the signer has read the document, that there are good grounds to support it, that it is not interposed for delay, and that "the legal authorities identified exist and are accurately cited"; the court may impose sanctions after notice and an opportunity to be heard. The Court's 2026 commentary describes the amendment as a statewide, uniform replacement for circuit administrative orders that imposed disclosure and certification requirements about the use of artificial intelligence, and AOSC26-12 addresses the circuit- and judge-level requirements.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Local Rules
Bankr. M.D. Fla. Local Rule 3002-1 — Deadlines for Filing Proofs of Claim in Reinstated Cases and for Rejection Damages; Late-Filed Proofs of Claim; Service of Proofs of Claim on Pro Se Debtors
Bankr. M.D. Fla. Local Rule 3002-1 — Deadlines for Filing Proofs of Claim in Reinstated Cases and for Rejection Damages; Late-Filed Proofs of Claim; Service of Proofs of Claim on Pro Se Debtors: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA (WITH AMENDMENTS EFFECTIVE AUGUST 15, 2025), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida alongside the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and any judge-specific procedures.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.