County & Court GPS
Highlands County family court
Tenth 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 Highlands
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 Highlands 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.
Tenth Judicial Circuit Court
Angela J. Cowden
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Tenth Judicial Circuit Court
David V. Ward
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Tenth Judicial Circuit Court
Heather Beato
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Tenth Judicial Circuit Court
Peter F. Estrada
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Named in procedure notes
Brandon J. Rafool
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Brandon J. Rafool: HearingsTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Brandon J. Rafool: Proposed ordersTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Brandon J. Rafool: Remote appearancesTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
Named in procedure notes
Brenda P. Ramirez
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Brenda P. Ramirez: HearingsTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Brenda P. Ramirez: Proposed ordersTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Brenda P. Ramirez: Remote appearancesTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
Named in procedure notes
Dana Y. Moore
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Dana Y. Moore: HearingsTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Dana Y. Moore: Proposed ordersTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Dana Y. Moore: Remote appearancesTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
Named in procedure notes
Jennifer A. Swenson
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Jennifer A. Swenson: Proposed ordersTenth Judicial Circuit, published profile and practice materials of Judge Jennifer A. Swenson — harvested live and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
Named in procedure notes
John B. Flynn
- Tenth Cir. — Judge John B. Flynn: Hearing & argument timeTenth Judicial Circuit, published profile and practice materials of Judge John B. Flynn — harvested live and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
Named in procedure notes
John C. Waters
- Tenth Cir. — Judge John C. Waters: Proposed ordersTenth Judicial Circuit, published profile and practice materials of Judge John C. Waters — harvested live and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
Named in procedure notes
Jordan Wells
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Jordan Wells: Proposed ordersTenth Judicial Circuit, published profile and practice materials of Judge Jordan Wells — harvested live and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
Named in procedure notes
Keith P. Spoto
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Keith P. Spoto: HearingsTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Keith P. Spoto: Proposed ordersTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
Named in procedure notes
Lori A. Winstead
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Lori A. Winstead: HearingsTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Lori A. Winstead: Proposed ordersTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Lori A. Winstead: Remote appearancesTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
Named in procedure notes
Rachelle E. Williamson
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Rachelle E. Williamson: Proposed ordersTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Rachelle E. Williamson: Remote appearancesTenth Judicial Circuit — captured and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
Named in procedure notes
Sarah Corbett
- Tenth Cir. — Judge Sarah Corbett: Proposed ordersTenth Judicial Circuit, published profile and practice materials of Judge Sarah Corbett — harvested live and sha256-hashed 2026-07-24
Court procedure notes
Verified local intelligence
Court procedure data from BenchPath, compiled from official public court sources.
Service
E-Service of Pleadings and Documents — Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516
Service of pleadings and documents after the initial pleading is made by e-mail — in practice through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal's e-service feature — to the designated service addresses on file.
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.
Emergency Motions
Domestic Violence Injunctions: Ex Parte Temporary Relief and Prompt Final Hearing — Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.610
A DV injunction petition is reviewed promptly; the court may issue a temporary injunction ex parte, and when it does, a full evidentiary hearing is generally set within 15 days. There is no filing fee.
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 — Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
Florida attorneys must file court documents electronically through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com). Self-represented litigants may e-file through the same portal. Local circuits layer their own formatting and routing quirks on top.
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
Parties in dissolution and most family financial cases must exchange a financial affidavit and specified financial documents within 45 days of service of the initial pleading, file a certificate of compliance, and supplement as circumstances change.
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.
Proposed OrdersJennifer A. Swenson · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Jennifer A. Swenson: Proposed orders
47 verbatim courtroom requirements published by Judge Jennifer A. Swenson.
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.
Special Set HearingsJohn B. Flynn · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge John B. Flynn: Hearing & argument time
10 verbatim courtroom requirements published by Judge John B. Flynn.
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.
Proposed OrdersJohn C. Waters · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge John C. Waters: Proposed orders
42 verbatim courtroom requirements published by Judge John C. Waters.
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.
Proposed OrdersJordan Wells · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Jordan Wells: Proposed orders
26 verbatim courtroom requirements published by Judge Jordan Wells.
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.
Proposed OrdersSarah Corbett · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Sarah Corbett: Proposed orders
25 verbatim courtroom requirements published by Judge Sarah Corbett.
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.
Special Set HearingsLori A. Winstead · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Lori A. Winstead: Hearings
10 verbatim requirements on hearings.
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.
Proposed OrdersLori A. Winstead · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Lori A. Winstead: Proposed orders
9 verbatim requirements on proposed orders.
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.
Remote / Zoom HearingsLori A. Winstead · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Lori A. Winstead: Remote appearances
1 verbatim requirement on remote appearances.
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.
Proposed OrdersRachelle E. Williamson · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Rachelle E. Williamson: Proposed orders
10 verbatim requirements on proposed orders.
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.
Remote / Zoom HearingsRachelle E. Williamson · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Rachelle E. Williamson: Remote appearances
1 verbatim requirement on remote appearances.
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.
Special Set HearingsBrandon J. Rafool · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Brandon J. Rafool: Hearings
10 verbatim requirements on hearings.
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.
Proposed OrdersBrandon J. Rafool · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Brandon J. Rafool: Proposed orders
3 verbatim requirements on proposed orders.
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.
Remote / Zoom HearingsBrandon J. Rafool · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Brandon J. Rafool: Remote appearances
2 verbatim requirements on remote appearances.
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.
Special Set HearingsBrenda P. Ramirez · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Brenda P. Ramirez: Hearings
10 verbatim requirements on hearings.
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.
Proposed OrdersBrenda P. Ramirez · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Brenda P. Ramirez: Proposed orders
3 verbatim requirements on proposed orders.
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.
Remote / Zoom HearingsBrenda P. Ramirez · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Brenda P. Ramirez: Remote appearances
2 verbatim requirements on remote appearances.
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.
Special Set HearingsDana Y. Moore · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Dana Y. Moore: Hearings
3 verbatim requirements on hearings.
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.
Proposed OrdersDana Y. Moore · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Dana Y. Moore: Proposed orders
3 verbatim requirements on proposed orders.
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.
Remote / Zoom HearingsDana Y. Moore · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Dana Y. Moore: Remote appearances
1 verbatim requirement on remote appearances.
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.
Special Set HearingsKeith P. Spoto · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Keith P. Spoto: Hearings
3 verbatim requirements on hearings.
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.
Proposed OrdersKeith P. Spoto · Polk
Tenth Cir. — Judge Keith P. Spoto: Proposed orders
6 verbatim requirements on proposed orders.
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.