Florida›Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
Palm Beach County
Launch county ●Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Circuit 15) · official circuit site ✓
Rules that apply here (county → circuit → statewide)
Generative AI Use Must Be Disclosed on the Face of the Filing — Division FI
[PREEMPTED effective June 15, 2026 by Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.515(d)(2) and AOSC26-12 — the statewide certification standard now controls.] Judge Scher requires any attorney or self-represented litigant who used a generative AI tool to disclose that use on the face of the filing — one of the first standing AI-disclosure mandates on the Palm Beach bench.
Statewide AI-Era Certification: Every Signer Certifies Cited Authorities Exist — Rule 2.515(d)(2)
Effective June 15, 2026, every signer of a Florida court filing — attorney or self-represented — represents that "the legal authorities identified exist and are accurately cited," with express sanctions (reprimand, contempt, striking, dismissal, costs, fees) for violations. Companion order AOSC26-12 preempts ALL circuit- and judge-level AI disclosure/certification requirements.
Skip Pre-Trial Mediation and the Case Is Stricken From the Trial Docket — Division FC
Judge Miller mandates pre-trial mediation after every Order Setting Trial — regardless of any earlier mediation — on pain of striking from the trial docket and sanctions up to dismissal without further notice or hearing.
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.
Know the Weekly Docket Map: Delinquency Tuesday, Dependency Wednesday, Adoptions Friday — Division JO
Judge Kroll runs a fixed weekly architecture — Monday special-set trials/motions (plus monthly truancy and early-childhood dockets), Tuesday delinquency, Wednesday dependency and monthly permanency reviews, Thursday trials, Friday adoptions and delinquency — with in-custody matters heard first.
Continuances 5 Days Out — Signed by the PARTY, Not Just Counsel — Division JO
Judge Kroll requires continuance motions five days before the court date and, per Rule 2.545(e), signed by the party requesting the continuance absent good cause; emergencies follow AO 3.206 with a detailed three-part motion.
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.
QDRO Channel Split: Attorneys via OLS, Pro Se by Mail — NO EXCEPTIONS — Division FC
Judge Miller's QDRO rule is absolute: after the motion and plan-administrator pre-approval letter are filed, attorneys upload proposed orders via OLS while pro se litigants mail theirs in — "NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE." The Court also never acts on letters, notes, or e-mails.
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."
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.
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.
No Judicial Review Until the NOH Is Filed AND E-Mailed — Division JL
Judge Volker will not look at a case or motion until the Notice of Hearing is filed and a courtesy copy has been e-mailed to the JA — file it, serve it, send it, or nothing happens.
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.
Ex Parte Orders: Don't Ask for Status Before Day 7 — Division IA
Judge Schosberg Feuer reviews uploaded ex parte orders continuously — and asks that no one contact the JA about an order's status until seven days have passed.
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.
Contested Guardianships Are Heard In Person; UMC Motions Pre-Read Online — Division IZ
Judge Burton holds all contested guardianship proceedings in person, reads every UMC motion online before the hearing, and strictly enforces Rule 1.202 and Local Rule 4 conferral; courtesy copies five business days ahead.
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.
Guardians Get Level-2 Checks and Credit Reports; Property Means a Restricted Depository — Division IA
Judge Schosberg Feuer requires every proposed guardian to submit to a level-2 criminal background check and a credit report, and mandates a Restricted Depository in every guardianship involving property.
Every Notice of Hearing Filed 72 Hours Ahead — Division JS
Judge Surber: ALL notices of hearing filed 72 hours before the hearing; status-check resets by agreed order filed at least 24 hours prior; delinquency arraignments Wed/Fri, dependency arraignments Tuesdays.
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.
Interpreters Need 5 Working Days; E-Mail Service Is Mandatory for Everyone — Division JS
Judge Surber: Spanish and Creole interpreters require at least 5 working days' notice, and every attorney AND self-represented litigant must make and receive service by e-mail.
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.
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.
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.
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.