Dependency Trial Cadence: Lists at 1 Week, Motions at 2 (or Waived), Briefs at 4 — Division JA/JM
Summary
Judge Small runs dependency trials on a fixed clock from the trial-setting hearing: witness/exhibit lists in 1 week, pre-trial motions in 2 weeks (late ones deemed WAIVED), joint case brief, case law, and redacted records in 4 weeks — and DCF drafts the proposed order within 14 days, with unrecorded objections waived.
Applies to
Florida > Fifteenth Judicial Circuit > Palm Beach County > Juvenile Division JA/JM (Judge Lisa S. Small)
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"To be filed and exchanged no later than one (1) week after the trial-setting hearing." / "any motions not timely filed will be deemed waived." / "To be filed no later than four (4) weeks after the trial-setting hearing." / "The proposed Order shall be provided to the Court no later than fourteen (14) days from the date of the hearing" / "the Court will not accept Agreed Orders for Case Plan Approvals."
- Official source
- 15th Cir. — Division JA/JM Instructions (Judge Small)
- Source health
- Healthy · checked July 7, 2026
- Effective date
- —
- Last verified
- July 5, 2026Live fetch of official division page — 2026-07-05
Reviewer note: Verified against the live official page on 2026-07-05. 30-day recheck scheduled.
Change history
- July 7, 2026Monitor: content changed at 15th Cir. — Division JA/JM Instructions (Judge Small). Review before republishing dependent rules.
Related rules
Mandatory Disclosure in Family Cases — Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.285
Parties in dissolution and most family financial cases must exchange a financial affidavit and specified financial documents within 45 days of service of the initial pleading, file a certificate of compliance, and supplement as circumstances change.
Small Claims Pretrial Conference: Appearance Mandatory — Fla. Sm. Cl. R. 7.090
Small claims cases (up to $8,000) begin with a mandatory pretrial conference where the court narrows issues and typically orders mediation. Failure to appear can result in default or dismissal.
150-Day Case Management Conference & Trial Setting — Division CV-E
CV-E runs a structured 150-day case management conference track with published CMO templates for jury, non-jury, and complex settings, plus a projected-vs-actual trial period system and 2026–2027 published trial calendars.
Family Final-Judgment Package Due 24 Hours Before Hearing — Division FZ
For dissolution/paternity finals before Judge Delgado: child-support calculations, parenting plan, parenting-class certificates, MSA, and testimony sheets must all be attached no more than 24 hours before the hearing.