Tag Archive for: 13th Judicial Circuit

Press Release: The Family Law Inn of Court of Tampa Receives National Recognition at the Supreme Court of the United States

Press Release from the Administrative Office of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Hillsborough County, Florida.

Released November 7, 2011.

Front Row, Seated L - R: Associate Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, and Judge Caroline Tesche; Standing L- R: Julia Best Chase, Judge Paul Glenn, Russell Blaine, Susan Whitaker, Judge Bernard Silver

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor recognized the Family Law Inn of Court of Tampa on November 5, 2011, at an annual event that celebrated the accomplishments of several giants in the legal professions whose achievements epitomize the ideals of the American Inns of Court.  This was no small feat as the Inn launched a campaign to become a Platinum Inn within a single year.

Judge Caroline Tesche, President of the Family Law Inn of Court of Tampa, 2010, perceives this achievement as one that is of great benefit to the parties who appear before her on the bench, asserting that “family law is a contentious area of the law so anytime you have lawyers and judge participating in Inns of Court, it’s of great benefit because it raises the level of the practice of law;” adding, “we apply what we learn.”  Monthly programs generally focus on practical legal skills with an emphasis on ethics, civility and professionalism in the practice of law.  They may include demonstrations, presentations of principles, techniques, as well as relationships involved in the practice of law.  According to the judge, she can often see a difference in lawyers who have participated in Inns of Court because they are not just focused on results for their client but the family, which is contrary to what an attorney would be focused on in a civil proceeding.

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New Location for Hillsborough County Clerk of the Court in Plant City

The Hillsborough County Clerk of the Court in Plant City – formerly located at 302 North Michigan Avenue, Plant City, Florida 33563 – will open up its doors at a new location on November 14, 2011.  The address of the new office is as follows:

301 North Michigan Avenue
Room 1071
Plant City, Florida 33563
 

You can view the announcement flier here.

Judge Daniel H. Sleet Joins Hillsborough County Family Law Bench

Judge Daniel H. Sleet

Beginning November 14, 2011, Judge Daniel H. Sleet will be assigned to Division D of the Domestic Relations section of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, Florida.  Judge Sleet comes from the criminal division, where he has served since being appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in 2006.

Judge Sleet graduated from Furman University in 1984 with a B.A. in History and received his law degree at Cumberland School of Law in 1987.  He served as an Assistant State Attorney from 1987 to 1991 and was in private practice from 1991-2006.

Judge Sleet has been active in various local and national organizations, including the American Board of Trial Advocates, Hillsborough County Bar Association, and Furman Football Players Association.  Judge Sleet is also involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, South Tampa Fellowship Church, and Mitchell Elementary Dad’s Club.

Judge Sleet’s assignment to the family law division was announced in Hillsborough County Administrative Order 2011-053, signed by Chief Judge Manuel Menendez, Jr., on November 2, 2011.

Keep Your Contact Information Current with the Clerk of the Court, Even After Your Family Law Case is Closed

Let’s start with a simple proposition:  Each party involved in a family law case should make sure that the clerk of the court has updated contact information for that party.  It seems easy, but taking this small step could prevent big headaches in the future.

I have heard of cases where a party has moved in the middle of the case, did not inform anyone, then complained afterwards that he had not received notice of an important hearing.  I also have seen cases where a petitioner (the party initiating the case) provides the clerk with the wrong address for the respondent (the party responding to the petition), and the clerk sends information to the incorrect address for the entire duration of the case.

I have even encountered this scenario:  Parties get divorced.  In the final judgment, Husband is required to pay Wife alimony.  After the divorce, Wife moves to a different apartment in the same apartment complex.  Husband sends alimony payments to Wife’s old address, but they get delivered to the new addressed because Postal Worker knows and likes Wife (and especially the gift certificates to Best Buy that Wife gives to Postal Worker each Christmas).

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Hillsborough County – New Child Custody Proceedings Administrative Order

Chief Judge Manuel Menendez, Jr., of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (Hillsborough County) recently entered a new administrative order that pertains to child custody proceedings.  Below is a summary of AO S-2011-014:

  1. For Chapter 751 Proceedings (Temporary Custody of Minor Children by Extended Family):
    1. Uncontested and Contested Proceedings:  Petitions for temporary custody of a minor child by an extended family member (i.e., grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, etc.) must be written and signed under oath, and filed with the clerk of the court.  The case will be assigned to the Family Law/Domestic Relations Division.  An executed Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement (“UCCJEA”) Affidavit must be included with the petition.  If the petition is being filed with the parents’ permission, written, signed, and notarized consents must be provided, unless the parents provide their consents in open court.  If a petitioner is alleging that a parent has abandoned a child, the petitioner must have evidence of abandonment.
    2. Pending Dependency Proceedings:  If a dependency case is pending when a petition for temporary custody has been filed, the Family Law judge may transfer the petition to the Juvenile Dependency Division. Read more

Attorney Cordover Breaks 5K Record

Okay, so I broke a personal record and not a Guinness Book World Record, but nonetheless I’m proud of myself.  This weekend I ran the 2011 Hillsborough County Bar Association Judicial Pig Roast and 5K, and I finished in 26:50.

I also have to congratulate my nephew, Jake, who completed the 5K in less than 25 minutes.

The HCBA Judicial Pig Roast and 5K supports pro bono services in Hillsborough County, Florida.

 

Name Change: Where do I petition?

If you are looking to legally change your name you may be wondering:  Where do I file a petition?  Do I have to go to Tallahassee?  Do I file in the circuit court of the county where I was born?  Can I request that a circuit court in the county where I live change my name?

Section 68.07, Florida Statutes, and relevant case law, provides an answer…

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Many Local Courts Will Be Closed In Observance of Presidents’ Day

Most of the local courthouses will be closed on February 21, 2011, in observance of Presidents’ Day.  Closed courthouses include those located in the following judicial circuits:

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Filing Fees in Hillsborough County

For most types of family law actions, a party needs to pay a fee to the clerk of the court when he or she files a petition.  Current filing fees for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (Hillsborough County) for common family law matters are as follows:

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Hillsborough County’s East Division

When filing a family law case in Hillsborough County, one thing to keep in mind is that there are two courthouse divisions in which your case may be heard:  (i) the Tampa Division, located at the Edgecomb Courthouse in Downtown Tampa; and (ii)  the East Division, located at the Plant City Courthouse. So how do you know to which division your case will be assigned?

Edgecomb Courthouse

Plant City Courthouse

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