County & Court GPS
Hernando County family court
Fifth 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 Hernando
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 Hernandoclerk (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.
Hernando County Court
Barbara-Jo Bell
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Official roster source ↗Fifth Judicial Circuit Court
Daniel B. Merritt, Jr.
chief_judge
- Chief Judge Merritt (Hernando): in-person PTC before trial; courtesy copies after e-filing; pro se files through the clerkDaniel B. Merritt Jr. official profile (circuit5.org)
Fifth Judicial Circuit Court
Don Barbee
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Official roster source ↗Fifth Judicial Circuit Court
Donald E. Scaglione
circuit_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Official roster source ↗Hernando County Court
Jason L. Smith
county_judge
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Official roster source ↗Fifth Judicial Circuit Court
Joel D. Fritton
circuit_judge
- Judge Fritton Standing Order (am. June 11, 2024): 10-page memos, 10-day responses, 48-hour case law, criminal Zoom ≤30 minStanding Order — Judge Joel D. Fritton (amended June 11, 2024)
Fifth Judicial Circuit Court
Joni M. Emling
child_support_hearing_officer
No judge-specific procedural notes verified yet — the division instructions on the official circuit site control.
Official roster source ↗Hernando County Court
Kurt E. Hitzemann
county_judge
- Judge Hitzemann (Hernando county): email .docx orders copied to all; pro se orders need 5-day service clauseKurt E. Hitzemann official profile (circuit5.org)
Named in procedure notes
Ann Melinda Craggs
- Judge Craggs (Marion FJ): 5-date maximum, cross-notice ban, 48-hour evidence in PDF + hard copy, Word-only ordersGeneral Procedures for Judge Ann Melinda Craggs (2026)
Named in procedure notes
Benjamin M. Boylston
- Judge Boylston (Lake family/juvenile): remote only for non-evidentiary matters ≤15 minutesBenjamin M. Boylston official profile (circuit5.org)
Named in procedure notes
Brian M. Toti
- Judge Toti (Lake family): >15-minute and evidentiary matters in person; no remote evidenceBrian M. Toti official profile (circuit5.org)
Named in procedure notes
Chad J. Monty
- Judge Monty (Lake small claims/traffic): 10 calendar days' notice; proof of service for pro se partiesChad J. Monty official profile (circuit5.org)
Named in procedure notes
LeAnn Mackey-Barnes
- Judge Mackey-Barnes (Marion county): conferral before scheduling; 20-day discovery responses, 5-day replies; 120-day CM planLeAnn Mackey-Barnes official profile (circuit5.org)
Named in procedure notes
Lori Cotton
- Judge Cotton (Marion county): trials and finals in person; Zoom evidence 2 days ahead; 10-day pro se noticeLori Cotton official profile (circuit5.org)
Named in procedure notes
Mary P. Hatcher
- Judge Hatcher (Sumter family/probate): notify after e-portal acceptance; 3-day processing; 4-day interpreter requestsMary P. Hatcher official profile (circuit5.org)
Named in procedure notes
R. Gregg Jerald
- Judge Jerald (Marion FG): maximum 7 proposed dates; document failed coordinationR. Gregg Jerald official profile (circuit5.org) + M-2025-62-B
Named in procedure notes
Robert E. Landt
- Judge Landt (Marion county civil): file with the clerk — never email the judge; all parties on every emailRobert E. Landt official profile (circuit5.org)
Named in procedure notes
Sarah J. Jones
- Judge Jones (Lake county criminal): 5-business-day notice; 10 days + proof for pro se; no early final ordersSarah J. Jones official profile (circuit5.org)
Named in procedure notes
Stephen E. Toner
- Judge Toner (Hernando): in-person Courtroom E; remote appearance needs written motion 15 days aheadStephen E. Toner official profile (circuit5.org)
Named in procedure notes
Thomas R. Eineman
- Judge Eineman (Hernando family): TREcalendarrequest scheduling; practices document (rev. Nov. 13, 2025)Judge Eineman Judicial Practices and Procedures (rev. Nov. 13, 2025) + profile
Court procedure notes
Verified local intelligence
Court procedure data from BenchPath, compiled from official public court sources.
Judge PreferencesMary P. Hatcher · Sumter
Judge Hatcher (Sumter family/probate): notify after e-portal acceptance; 3-day processing; 4-day interpreter requests
Chambers should be notified after a filing is accepted through the e-portal (not before it appears on the docket); allow three business days for chambers to process hearing submissions; interpreter requests at least four business days ahead; editable-Word proposed orders.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesR. Gregg Jerald · Marion
Judge Jerald (Marion FG): maximum 7 proposed dates; document failed coordination
Scheduling correspondence may identify no more than seven proposed dates and must document conflicts when coordination fails; Division FG carries DV/dating-violence DR cases, a third of repeat/stalking/sexual-violence injunctions, after-hours injunctions and ALL risk-protection orders.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesBenjamin M. Boylston · Lake
Judge Boylston (Lake family/juvenile): remote only for non-evidentiary matters ≤15 minutes
Non-evidentiary matters of 15 minutes or less may be heard remotely; longer and evidentiary matters are in person (Courtroom 1C).
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesLori Cotton · Marion
Judge Cotton (Marion county): trials and finals in person; Zoom evidence 2 days ahead; 10-day pro se notice
Small-claims pretrials, jury/non-jury trials, rent matters and final judgments are in person (many others hybrid); Zoom-proceeding evidence due at least 2 days ahead; pro se parties get at least 10 days' notice; editable Word proposed orders.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesAnn Melinda Craggs · Marion
Judge Craggs (Marion FJ): 5-date maximum, cross-notice ban, 48-hour evidence in PDF + hard copy, Word-only orders
Pleading must be filed before hearing time; a maximum of five dates are offered; hearings need not be coordinated with pro se parties when notice allows; cross-noticing without approval is prohibited; proposed orders are NOT accepted through the e-portal — email Word versions to the JA; Zoom/in-person documentary evidence must be emailed as PDF AND hand-delivered 48 hours ahead; audio-video requests follow Rule 2.530.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesSarah J. Jones · Lake
Judge Jones (Lake county criminal): 5-business-day notice; 10 days + proof for pro se; no early final orders
At least five business days' notice required; service on a self-represented party should give at least 10 days with proof of service; proposed final judgments/orders should not be submitted before the hearing.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesRobert E. Landt · Marion
Judge Landt (Marion county civil): file with the clerk — never email the judge; all parties on every email
Documents for judicial review must be filed with the Clerk of Court, not emailed to the judge; email correspondence must include all attorneys of record and pro se parties or no action will be taken.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesLeAnn Mackey-Barnes · Marion
Judge Mackey-Barnes (Marion county): conferral before scheduling; 20-day discovery responses, 5-day replies; 120-day CM plan
The motion must be filed and required conferral completed before hearing time is requested; pro se parties get at least 10 days' notice; materials 2 days ahead; discovery-motion responses within 20 days and replies within 5; civil case-management plan/order within 120 days.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesChad J. Monty · Lake
Judge Monty (Lake small claims/traffic): 10 calendar days' notice; proof of service for pro se parties
Hearings require 10 calendar days' notice; proof of service is required when a party is self-represented.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesBrian M. Toti · Lake
Judge Toti (Lake family): >15-minute and evidentiary matters in person; no remote evidence
Hearings longer than 15 minutes and all evidentiary proceedings are held in person; remote evidence is not accepted.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesDaniel B. Merritt, Jr. · Hernando
Chief Judge Merritt (Hernando): in-person PTC before trial; courtesy copies after e-filing; pro se files through the clerk
Attorneys may appear in person or by Zoom for many matters, but attorneys AND defendants must appear in person at the pretrial conference immediately preceding trial; courtesy copies only after e-filing; self-represented parties file through the clerk, not chambers; interpreters requested in advance; probate/guardianship dates through the clerk.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesThomas R. Eineman · Hernando
Judge Eineman (Hernando family): TREcalendarrequest scheduling; practices document (rev. Nov. 13, 2025)
Hearing requests to TREcalendarrequest@circuit5.org with case name/number, motion and time; Judicial Practices & Procedures document (last modified 11/13/2025) covers communications, scheduling, remote appearance, orders, courtesy copies, emergencies, exhibits, pretrial and trial settings; courtesy-copies and pretrial-scheduling standing orders posted (2017); H-2010-04 applies.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Standing OrdersJoel D. Fritton · Hernando
Judge Fritton Standing Order (am. June 11, 2024): 10-page memos, 10-day responses, 48-hour case law, criminal Zoom ≤30 min
Applies to all matters assigned to Judge Fritton: email scheduling via sjones@circuit5.org with time-set-aside stated in the notice; motions filed before scheduling; proposed orders digital by email EXCEPT probate through the e-portal; case law <15 pages by email ≥48 hours ahead; interpreters via online form 7 days ahead; meet-and-confer certification in extension/discovery motions; 10-page memo cap; 10-day responses (silence = unopposed); criminal proceedings in person with Zoom only for non-evidentiary pretrial matters ≤30 minutes; criminal continuances e-filed ≥5 days ahead; family cases follow C-2007-22-B and A-2020-1.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesKurt E. Hitzemann · Hernando
Judge Hitzemann (Hernando county): email .docx orders copied to all; pro se orders need 5-day service clause
Proposed orders emailed in .docx with all parties copied; any order involving a self-represented party must include a clause requiring service and proof of service within five days.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Judge PreferencesStephen E. Toner · Hernando
Judge Toner (Hernando): in-person Courtroom E; remote appearance needs written motion 15 days ahead
Proceedings are in person in Courtroom E (Room 432) unless remote appearance is separately approved — a remote-appearance request requires a written motion and hearing at least 15 days before the proceeding; pro se motions through the clerk.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Administrative OrdersHernando
Hernando AO H-2025-56-C: Third Amended Caseload Assignment CY2026 — full table (eff. June 22, 2026, 12:01 a.m.)
The current Hernando assignment order, amended to add the Truancy docket. BenchPath parsed the full 13-page body (which prior research could not extract): Merritt (Chief) 50% felony C/D + delinquency + Baker/Marchman; Toner 50% felony A/B + all dependency; Scaglione 100% jury civil; Barbee 100% non-jury civil/probate/guardianship + all three treatment courts; Eineman UFC/50% DR/truancy; Fritton 50% DR + all RPOs/injunctions; county courts split by percentage; blind-draw assignment bars judge shopping.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.