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
Trial ExhibitsFamily Division FC · Karen M. Miller · Palm Beach
Remote-Hearing Exhibits by U.S. Mail or Drop Box Only — E-Mailed Exhibits Refused — Division FC
Judge Miller: exhibits for remote hearings must be premarked and physically delivered (U.S. mail or courthouse drop box) at least three business days out or they are not considered — e-mailed exhibits are refused, and evidentiary hearings are never remote.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Remote / Zoom HearingsJuvenile Division JO · Kathleen J. Kroll · Palm Beach
The Remote-Appearance Matrix — and Never From a Moving Vehicle — Division JO
Judge Kroll publishes an enumerated list of who may appear remotely (youth from school via the School Liaison, parents from jail or treatment, DJJ liaisons, JPOs, case managers, CPIs, volunteer GALs, out-of-state parties) — everyone else moves for leave 3 days out, and no one appears from a moving vehicle.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Proposed OrdersJuvenile Division JL · Kirk C. Volker · Palm Beach
Competing Orders Go to the JA in Word, Copied to Everyone — Division JL
Judge Volker: routine orders through Online Services, but competing orders are e-mailed to the Judicial Assistant in Word with copies to all parties.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Remote / Zoom HearingsJuvenile Division JL · Kirk C. Volker · Palm Beach
In Person by Default; Zoom Only With E-Mailed Approval — Division JL
Judge Volker holds all hearings in person absent special circumstances; Zoom requires e-mailed Court approval, and any remote-appearance NOH must list the judge's remote platform credentials.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Motion CalendarProbate Division IZ · Charles E. Burton · Palm Beach
Never Send the Order Setting Hearing Before the Court Confirms the Date — Division IZ
Judge Burton: 30-minute-plus special sets are requested by e-mail with case number, time needed, motion copy, and all parties included — and you do not prepare or send the order setting the hearing until the court has confirmed the date.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
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.
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.
Proposed OrdersJuvenile Division JS · Melanie Dale Surber · Palm Beach
Prevailing Party's Order Within 3 Days of the Ruling; Exhibits 5 Days Early — Division JS
Judge Surber: the prevailing party submits proposed orders within 3 days after the Court rules, and exhibits must be in at least five days before the hearing.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Motion CalendarProbate Division IA · Samantha Schosberg Feuer · Palm Beach
Special Sets Are Set by ORDER, Not Notice of Hearing — Division IA
Judge Schosberg Feuer: probate special sets are established by an Order Specially Setting — NOT a notice of hearing; 60 minutes or less schedules online, over an hour goes through the JA.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Proposed OrdersFamily Division FX · Cymonie S. Rowe · Palm Beach
Every Order Arrives With an Agree-or-Disagree Document — Division FX
Judge Rowe: every proposed order must be accompanied by a document either confirming all parties' agreement or identifying the disagreement — due within one week after the hearing.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
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.
Proposed OrdersJuvenile Division JK · Bradley Harper · Palm Beach
No E-Mailed Orders — OLS Only; Set Hearings Through the JA, Not the Clerk — Division JK
Judge Harper refuses e-mailed orders (OLS submission only) and requires all hearings set through the Judicial Assistant rather than the Clerk, with defendant name and case number in every e-mail subject line.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
MediationFamily Division FY · Laura C. Burkhart · Palm Beach
No Temporary-Relief Hearing Until Mediation on That Relief — Division FY
Judge Burkhart will not schedule a temporary-relief hearing until mediation has been held ON the temporary relief sought — mediation first, hearing second.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Courtesy CopiesJuvenile Division JK · Bradley Harper · Palm Beach
Over 40 Pages Means a Labeled, Tabbed Binder — Division JK
Judge Harper: documentation over 40 pages arrives as hard copies in a binder, labeled and tabbed; hearings are in person except special circumstances; every party's phone and e-mail on file.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
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.
Courtesy CopiesFamily Division FI · Rosemarie Scher · Palm Beach
Best Three Cases Per Issue, No String Citations, 10-Page Memos — Division FI
Judge Scher enforces brief discipline: memoranda capped at ten pages, legal authority limited to the best three cases per issue absent good cause, and string citations banned.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
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.
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.
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.
Proposed OrdersFamily Division FI · Rosemarie Scher · Palm Beach
Orders Land in a ±48-Hour Window Around the Hearing — Division FI
Judge Scher: proposed orders no earlier than 48 hours before and no later than 48 hours after the hearing, with the required designation typed in the notes/comments using her exact language.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Proposed OrdersFamily Division FH · Dina Keever-Agrama · Palm Beach
Upload the Order FIRST, Then Exhibits; Mail the Trial Notice — Division FH
Judge Keever-Agrama: proposed order uploads first with exhibits following, motion and order 48 hours before the hearing (UMC materials 3 business days via OLS), no date needed in "Done and Ordered" — and MAIL a courtesy trial notice "or the Judge will not be aware."
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Remote / Zoom HearingsFamily Division FH · Dina Keever-Agrama · Palm Beach
Zoom Testimony Requires Litigant and Attorney Side by Side — Division FH
Judge Keever-Agrama: any litigant testifying at a Zoom UMC or evidentiary hearing must be physically present with their attorney at the same location, in a quiet and stationary place.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Courtesy CopiesFamily Division FA · Dane Leitner · Palm Beach
Courtesy Copies Printed and Sent by U.S. Mail — Division FA
Judge Leitner is the family lane's paper judge: courtesy copies of UMC and special-set motions, memoranda, and case authority are PRINTED and sent via U.S. Mail.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Courtesy CopiesCounty Criminal Division P · Frank S. Castor · Palm Beach
PDF Courtesy Copies by E-Mail; Agreed Orders Need a Both-Parties E-Mail — Division P
Judge Castor: courtesy copies of motions go to the court by e-mail as PDF, case law and responses 3 business days ahead, and agreed orders require an e-mail showing both parties agree — orders in Word via Online Services.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Case ManagementFamily Division FA · Dane Leitner · Palm Beach
Trial Exhibits & Witnesses Exchanged 45 Days Out; Docket Entries on Everything — Division FA
Judge Leitner requires trial exhibit and witness lists exchanged within 45 days before trial, and every notice, motion, referral, and Magistrate objection must state its docket entry number.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.
Motion CalendarFamily Division FA · Dane Leitner · Palm Beach
UMC Orders Uploaded the Day Before; 3-Motion Cap; No Temp Custody on UMC — Division FA
Judge Leitner: proposed orders upload the DAY BEFORE the UMC hearing, a maximum of three motions per case may be set, and temporary custody matters are NEVER UMC — they are special set.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney.