Chief Judge Crawford has authorized the cancellation of all court proceedings in Seminole and Brevard Counties effective Noon, Tuesday, October 8, 2024, through Thursday, October 10, 2024.
A decision will be made Thursday regarding Friday proceedings.Stay informed by following us on Facebook or X (Twitter). You may also call (321) 637-5700 in Brevard or (407) 665-4945 in Seminole.

Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Courts
Serving the Citizens of Brevard and Seminole Counties

Civil Case Management

This platform is designed to provide litigants and attorneys access to information regarding Civil Case Management for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.

In response to the directive of the Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order 20-23, (Amendment 12), the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit established the Court’s active, differentiated Case Management program effective April 20, 2021. Civil Case Management Program is guided by Administrative Order 25-08 effective February 1, 2025, superseding 24-06 3rd Amended.

Civil Case Management ensures that civil cases are efficiently managed, with clear deadlines and case tracks for streamlined, general, and complex cases.

Please review Administrative Order 25-08 on Civil Case Management for more information. It is important to understand the new procedures and how to proceed accordingly. 

Circuit-Wide Civil Case Management Procedures

CIRCUIT CIVIL AND COUNTY CIVIL CASE MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES

Case Track Designation

The plaintiff is required to file the Civil Case Management Track Designation Form at the time of the initial filing of the action along with the complaint, summon, and Civil Cover sheet to classify the case as Streamline, General, or Complex.
The Clerk of Court will not accept filings without the completed Civil Case Management Track Designation Form.

Issuance of Case Management Order

After filing the Court will issue a Case Management Order based on the designated track. 
Complex cases will initially proceed under a General Case Management Order until an Order is entered, formally designating the case as complex.
Deadlines are strictly enforced and can only be changed by court order or agreement that does not impact other deadlines or trial dates.

Trial Dates /Pre-Trial Orders/Deadlines

The Court will issue an Order Setting the Pre- Trial Conference and Trial date at least 120 days prior to the projected trial date specified in the Case Management Order. 
The Trial Order will set the set the actual trial period, pre-trial conference, exhibit exchanges, and pre-trial statement requirements.

An Order of Trial will be issued after the court holds the pre-trial conferences for each trial docket. For more information on trial procedures, please review the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure on The Florida Bar website.

Adherence to Deadlines

Parties must comply with all deadlines and proactively manage time and resources throughout litigation.
Continuances are allowed only for good cause and must not disrupt the trial schedule unless approved by the Court.

Motions for Trial

Pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.440, for any case not subject to Rule 1.200 or 1.201; or if either party determines that the case is ready to be tried before the Projected or Actual trial date, Motion for Trial and proposed order may be electronically filed via the e-portal with a copy served on the presiding judge.

Small Claims Cases

Once an Order is entered by the Court invoking the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure in a small claims case, the Court will issue a Streamlined Case Management Order. For Seminole County Small Claims, please review A.O. 25-17-S Re: Small Claims.

 

Pursuant to SC2023-0962 Amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure for actions commenced before January 1, 2025, and in which the court has not issued a case management order by that date, a case management order must be issued by April 4, 2025.

BREVARD ONLY - PRE-TRIAL REQUIRED FORMS

The following forms must be completed before the pre-trial conference docket.

Pre-Trial Conference Checklist (Fillable Adobe PDF format)
Pre-Trial Conference Order (Protected Word Format)

Florida Courts Help available at the touch of a screen:

For constituents, customers, or callers seeking help with family law cases – divorce, adoption, name change, custody, order of protection, and much more – there is now a one-stop source for lots of information aimed at self-represented people. Florida Courts Help is available at app stores as well as online at help.flcourts.gov.