Hearing Prep Mode
Walk in organized. Walk out with a plan.
Hearing preparation is organization, not argument coaching: know the procedure, bring the proof, respect the format. Pick your county to pull its actual hearing procedures from BenchPath.
The universal prep list
01
Confirm the hearing
Date, time, length, judge/magistrate, and whether it's Zoom or in person. The notice of hearing controls.
02
Know what the hearing decides
A motion calendar hearing is short and narrow; a special set or evidentiary hearing takes testimony. Prepare for the one you actually have.
03
Organize exhibits
Number them, bring the required copies, and know your county's submission procedure — many divisions require pre-submission for Zoom hearings.
04
Line up witnesses
Who, why, and whether they need subpoenas. Confirm remote-appearance rules if any witness is remote.
05
Draft the timeline
One page: the key dates and facts you need the judge to absorb quickly.
06
Check the proposed-order procedure
Some divisions want proposed orders before the hearing, in editable format, through a specific channel.
07
Plan court day
Parking, security lines, childcare (children generally should not come), documents in a binder, phone silenced.
08
Plan the after
Who prepares the order, when it's due, and what you must start doing the moment it's signed.
highlands hearing & division procedures
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.
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.