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.
Palm Beach hearing & division procedures
Motion CalendarFamily Division FX · Cymonie S. Rowe · Palm Beach
Hearings Over 30 Minutes Go Through Case Management — Division FX
Judge Rowe routes hearings longer than 30 minutes through Case Management (not OLS); materials including case law due 3 business days out; remote appearance means camera on, microphone muted.
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 HearingsFamily Division FJ · Daliah H. Weiss · Palm Beach
Motions to Compel Discovery: In Person Only — No More Zoom — Division FJ
Judge Weiss pulled discovery-compel motions off Zoom entirely: all Motions to Compel Discovery are set for in-person hearings; special sets are requested by e-mail (not OLS) with the motion attached.
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 HearingsCounty Civil Division RD · Reginald Corlew · Palm Beach
No Telephonic Appearance at Eviction Mediations or Final Hearings — Division RD
Judge Corlew permits remote appearance only without objection and with approval — and never at eviction mediations or final hearings without prior approval.
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.
Motion CalendarCounty Civil Division RD · Reginald Corlew · Palm Beach
No Unilateral Special Sets — Agree With ALL Parties First — Division RD
Judge Corlew forbids unilateral special-set scheduling: date and time must be agreed with all parties, good-faith conferral completed, and Zoom appearance selected when scheduling.
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 OrdersProbate Division IZ · Charles E. Burton · Palm Beach
Orders in the ±48-Hour Window With Burton's Exact Notation — Division IZ
Judge Burton: orders arrive via OLS within 48 hours after (or up to 48 hours before) the hearing, the notes/comments section MUST carry his designated label (AGREED ORDER, ORDER AFTER HEARING, DISPUTED ORDER, FUTURE PROPOSED ORDER, PROBATE EX PARTE ORDER), and the date line reads "DONE and ORDERED in Palm Beach County, Florida."
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.
Courtesy CopiesProbate Division IA · Samantha Schosberg Feuer · Palm Beach
Over 10 Pages? Courtesy Copy Goes Hard-Copy by U.S. Mail Only — Division IA
Judge Schosberg Feuer: shorter courtesy copies arrive three business days before the hearing, but documents exceeding 10 pages total must come as a hard copy via U.S. mail only.
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 OrdersCivil Division AA · Gregory M. Keyser · Palm Beach
Proposed Orders: No Signature Block, No Firm Info, Never in Advance — Division AA
Judge Keyser: proposed orders are uploaded to the Online System only after the hearing, with no formatted signature block and no law-firm location information.
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 HearingsCounty Criminal Division C · August A. Bonavita · Palm Beach
Remote Hearings by Written Motion, Served, 3 Business Days Ahead — Division C
Judge Bonavita grants remote appearance only on a written motion filed with the Clerk and served on all opposing parties at least three business days before the hearing; short motions file with a Notice of Hearing plus a CAD-email courtesy copy.
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.
Courtesy CopiesFamily Division FY · Laura C. Burkhart · Palm Beach
UMC on the Static Zoom Link; Evidentiary Materials in Hard Copy 3 Days Out — Division FY
Judge Burkhart runs all UMC hearings on the Court's static Zoom link, but wants evidentiary-hearing case law, motions, and memoranda in HARD COPY at least three days before — and the Judge must get a courtesy copy of the Notice for Trial.
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 HearingsDomestic Violence Division DV/TD · Lauren Burke · Palm Beach
Zoom Disfavored — Expect In Person; Injunctions Mondays 2 PM, Courtroom 2C — Division DV/TD
Judge Burke disfavors Zoom: plan for in-person hearings, with injunction hearings on Mondays at 2 PM in Courtroom 2C.
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 OrdersCounty Criminal Division KK1/KD/RPO/K/DUSGB · Lourdes Casanova · Palm Beach
Agreed Orders: Times New Roman 12pt, Double-Spaced, No Special Formatting — Division KK1
Judge Casanova's order spec: Times New Roman 12-point, double-spaced, all paragraph tabs/macros/columns stripped, and no blank date space — write "DONE and ORDERED in Palm Beach County, Florida."
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 HearingsCounty Criminal Division M · Ashley Zuckerman · Palm Beach
ALL Hearings in Division M Are In Person
Judge Zuckerman holds every hearing in person — the bluntest appearance rule in the courthouse; remote appearance takes a written motion filed at least 3 days ahead.
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.
Deadlines & Time ComputationFamily Division FJ · Daliah H. Weiss · Palm Beach
Case Law AND Exhibit Copies 5 Business Days Ahead — Division FJ
Judge Weiss: case law and memos to chambers five business days before the hearing, and every exhibit a party intends to use listed on a notice of discovery and provided to the other side five business days out.
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.
Courtesy CopiesCounty Criminal Division KK1/KD/RPO/K/DUSGB · Lourdes Casanova · Palm Beach
Courtesy Copies by E-Mail — Always CC the State — Division KK1
Judge Casanova accepts defense courtesy copies of motions and proposed agreed orders by e-mail to the division — with the State always CC'd and originals filed with the Clerk.
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 OrdersCivil Division AK · James Sherman · Palm Beach
Electronic-Only Orders with Cover Letter, 3×3 Space, 1-Inch Margins — Division AK
Judge Sherman signs orders electronically only — no hard or emailed copies — with a cover letter confirming all parties reviewed, a 3×3-inch upper-right space, and one-inch margins.
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.
Courtesy CopiesCivil Division AA · Gregory M. Keyser · Palm Beach
Hearing Materials in Hard Copy, Mailed 5 Days Ahead — Division AA
Judge Keyser requires ALL hearing materials in hard copy at least five days before the hearing, by U.S. mail or courthouse delivery — explicitly NOT emailed.
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 OrdersCounty Criminal Division M · Ashley Zuckerman · Palm Beach
Mark Orders AGREED Only With Written Agreement in Hand — Division M
Judge Zuckerman: upload an order as "AGREED" only if the parties already agreed in writing; motions and notices get courtesy-copied to the division on e-filing; Mon/Thu 8:30 slots are self-set.
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 OrdersCivil Division AD · Jaimie Goodman · Palm Beach
Never Submit Proposed Orders in Advance — Division AD
Judge Goodman rejects proposed orders submitted before the hearing — they "will be rejected unsigned." Orders go in 48–72 hours AFTER the hearing, Word format, complete mailing and email addresses.
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.
Courtesy CopiesCivil Division AD · Jaimie Goodman · Palm Beach
No E-Courtesy; 10+ Page Materials by Mail or Courier Only — Division AD
Judge Goodman does not participate in E-Courtesy. Hearing materials over 10 pages must arrive by U.S. mail or courier five days in advance; under 10 pages email is acceptable.
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 OrdersFamily Division FJ · Daliah H. Weiss · Palm Beach
Orders and Final Judgments Uploaded TWO Days Before the Hearing — Division FJ
Judge Weiss requires all proposed orders and final judgments on OLS in Word at least two days BEFORE the hearing — and the Judge must receive an e-mailed courtesy copy of any Notice for Trial.
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 OrdersDina Keever-Agrama · Palm Beach
Palm Beach Division FH (Judge Dina Keever-Agrama) — Proposed orders & online scheduling
6 verbatim requirements published by Palm Beach Division FH on proposed orders & online scheduling.
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 HearingsReginald Corlew · Palm Beach
Palm Beach Division RD (Judge Reginald Corlew) — Remote appearance policy
9 verbatim requirements published by Palm Beach Division RD on remote appearance policy.
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 OrdersCivil Division AJ · Maxine Cheesman · Palm Beach
Proposed Orders Within 24 Hours of Ruling — Division AJ
Judge Cheesman requires proposed orders in Word via Online Services within 24 hours of the ruling — no date or signature line, with names and addresses of all copy recipients.
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.
Motion CalendarCounty Criminal Division E · Stephanie F. Tew · Palm Beach
Suppression, Limine, Bond & Restitution Motions MUST Be Specially Set — Division E
Judge Tew reserves UMC for status checks, plea conferences, and 5-minute-or-less motions; suppression, limine, bond, and restitution hearings must be specially set.
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 HearingsCounty Civil Division RE/WD · Sarah L. Shullman · Palm Beach
Zoom for Short Non-Evidentiary; In Person for Evidentiary & Trials — Division RE/WD
Judge Shullman: UMC and special sets of 15 minutes or less run by Zoom; evidentiary hearings and all trials are in person; courtesy copies 3 business days out; continuances 10 days.
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.
Motion CalendarCriminal Division X · Scott Suskauer · Palm Beach
15 Minutes or More Means Special Set; Reserved Dates Hold 5 Days — Division X
Judge Suskauer: any matter anticipated to take 15+ minutes must be specially set through the JA; short-matter dates are held for five days, and no hearing gets less than 5 days' notice unless agreed.
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 HearingsCivil Division AI · G. Joseph Curley · Palm Beach
4:00 P.M.+ Hearings Are Zoom-Only; Calendar Call Prefers In Person — Division AI
Judge Curley runs every hearing starting at 4:00 p.m. or later electronically via Zoom only, while in-person appearance at calendar call is strongly preferred — and jury panels max out at 42 without a prior court order.
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.
Courtesy CopiesCriminal Division X · Scott Suskauer · Palm Beach
Courtesy Copies 3 Days Out; Over 30 Pages Goes Hard Copy — Division X
Judge Suskauer requires courtesy copies of motions and case law at least three days before the hearing — and anything over 30 pages must arrive as a hard copy.
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.