FX Divisional Instructions

Updated March 5, 2026

Online Scheduling

Online Scheduling is available for Uniform Motion Calendar (UMC) and Special Set hearings for thirty (30) minutes or less, in Family Division "FX". The motions and all hearing materials must be uploaded or the hearing will be cancelled.

Prior to first use, users must created an account in the Court's Online Services (current users can use their existing account).

Special Set Hearings - Family Division "FX"

For Special Set Hearings for hearings thirty (30) minutes or less, please utilize Online Scheduling Services.

For Special Set Hearings more than thirty (30) minutes:

  1. Send an e-mail to CAD-DivisionFX@pbcgov.org.
  2. INCLUDE ALL INVOLVED PARTIES ON THE E-MAIL when requesting a special set hearing.
  3. SUBJECT LINE: Request special set hearing, case number and case style
  4. Advise the court of the special set request and how much time is required for the special set.
  5. Attach a copy of the e-filed time stamped motion to be heard.
  6. Do not prepare/or send an order setting the hearing until the court has "confirmed" the date for a special set hearing. 
  7. Special set hearings cannot be cancelled without court order unless the motion is withdrawn or if the parties submit an agreed order prior to the date of the hearing.
  8. All Post Judgment matters, are heard by the General Magistrates, pursuant to Administrative Order 5.104, unless an objection has been filed, and the Court has sustained the objection. If the request for hearing is a post judgement matter, attach a copy of the Order Sustaining Objection on that specific matter.

You must upload your "Order Specially Setting Hearing, Motions, and Additional Attachments for the Court's review prior to the scheduled hearing through the online scheduling, using the division's approved template https://www.15thcircuit.com/division/fx/forms-and-orders . Parties may e-mail documents ten (10) pages or less for the Courts review three (3) business days prior to the scheduled hearing to CAD-DivisionFX@pbcgov.org. Any documents over the ten (10) page limit will have to be mailed to the court for review three (3) business days prior to the scheduled hearing. You may use the drop off box on the first floor at the South County Courthouse as long as the documents fit in the drop off box.

  • All orders must be submitted in "Word format" via OLS for the court to electronically sign. If multiple orders are being submitted for a case, they must be uploaded separately and not as an attachment to another order.
  • All orders must state a mailing address and e-mail address for each party being served and that have registered e-mail addresses with the Clerk of Court.
  • IF THE OPPOSING SIDE IS AN E-MAIL EXCUSED ATTORNEY OR A PRO SE party (unless pro se party has agreed to e-mail service) DO NOT SEND YOUR ORDER BY E-MAIL. A hard copy of the proposed order must be provided to the Court with sufficient self-addressed stamped envelopes provided to the Court for service.

Proposed Orders Following Special Set Hearings

All proposed orders must be submitted through the OLS system. In the notes/comments section you MUST indicate whether it is one of the following utilizing one of the formats and exact language below:

  1. AGREED ORDER WITHOUT HEARING: [Name of Order / attached motion / agreement].
  2. ORDER AFTER HEARING: Parties agree to the order [Name of Order] accurately reflects the Court's ruling after the hearing on [DATE AND TIME OF HEARING].
  3. DISPUTED ORDER AFTER HEARING: Parties dispute the Court's ruling after hearing on [DATE AND TIME OF HEARING]. Attached is the transcript. The parties (attorneys and clients) understand the parties have a duty to attempt to resolve any conflicts and accurately set for the ruling made by the Court.

Case Management Conferences:

Parties frequently request a case management conference. Prior to setting a request for case management conference on uniform motion calendar via Online System, the requesting party shall file a motion with all of the following identified by docket number when appropriate, and date of filing:

  1. Indicate the docket numbers of the controlling pleadings;
  2. Indicate the docket numbers of the responsive pleadings including any counter-petitions and answers;
  3. If post judgment, identify the docket numbers of the referral to the Magistrate, timely Objection, and Order regarding the Objection;
  4. Indicate the date mediation was attended AND what issues, if any, were resolved;
  5. Indicate the docket numbers of both parties' Financial Affidavits and dates filed;
  6. Indicate the docket numbers of both parties' social security numbers filed;
  7. Indicate the docket numbers of both parties Notice of compliance with Mandatory Disclosure;
  8. If children: indicate the docket numbers of each parties' certificate of completion of Parenting Course (NOTE: the person requesting case management MUST have completed course)
  9. The requesting party must have a telephone or zoom conference with the other party's counsel to discuss and include in the motion any outstanding motions that have been filed and requests to be heard prior to trial and all matters set forth in Family Rule of Procedure 12.200.
  10. Upon compliance of the above, counsel may coordinate a UMC via the OLS system and the Court will decide if additional case management conferences / pretrial conferences are required.

Trials/Evidentiary Hearings

Most evidentiary hearings cannot be handled remotely unless the parties can reach agreement on some of the procedural or evidentiary rules. Witnesses and Court reporters would also have to appear remotely. Please contact Judge Rowe's office if you desire to schedule an evidentiary hearing. If you believe that your case requires emergency action pursuant to Family Admin. Order 5.203-1/17, you should file the appropriate motion in writing.

The Court will no longer accept proposed Orders for events, except in the following circumstances: (1) agreed-upon matters, (2) uncontested final hearings, and (3) hearings on Motions to Withdraw with client consent attached.

Providing Documents to the Court for All Trials and Evidentiary Hearings

  1. Exhibits must be clearly marked. All documents I.E. Case Law, Exhibits, Etc. shall be sent by hard copy and received five (5) days prior to the hearing.
  2. Any witness appearing via video with be sworn-in by the court.
  3. Any witness appearing via telephone (no video) must have a notary public available to be sworn-in or have filed an Affidavit if a notary is not available.

Uncontested Dissolutions of Marriage Hearings

Uncontested Dissolutions of Marriage are being conducted on UMC dockets. The proposed final judgment must be submitted via OLS , a day before the hearing, only in WORD format. Please attach the following documents to the proposed final judgment in PDF format:

  • A copy of your client's driver's license - The driver's license issue date must be 6 months prior to the filing of the petition.
  • Mediated Settlement Agreement, if applicable.
  • Parenting Plan and Child Support Guideline Worksheet, if applicable.

If there are children involved, the Final Judgment must incorporate specifics on child support (i.e. how much, how it is to be paid, & how often.) and a proposed Income Deduction Order must be submitted separately in WORD format, if applicable.

If the proposed Final Judgment does not have all the required documents attached, the final hearing WILL NOT go forward.

Temporary Relief Hearings:

Temporary Relief Hearings require the parties to attend mediation prior to the hearing being scheduled. See Administrative Order 5.207.

All motions for Temporary Relief must indicate that the parties have attended mediation. After mediation, the parties must set the temporary relief or final hearing on a 30-minute Special Set time slot. Please refer to the above Special Set Section. One proposed order must be uploaded within 24 hours after of the hearing with the required Cover Letter noting any disagreements with specificity.

Formatting Documents

All recorded documents (including final judgments) must provide a 3x3 space in the upper right hand corner. The Clerk of Court will no longer accept documents for recording without this space. Please see Rule 2.520, and MyPalmBeachClerk.com. You may also contact the Clerk of Court for further information as to the specific documents required.

Competing Orders:

This division is no longer accepting or reviewing competing Orders. When submitting Orders reflecting a ruling that was pronounced at the end of the hearing, only the party designated may submit an Order, after input from opposing party. Should the parties be unable to agree on language, submit the order with the parties exceptions clearly documented in an attachment and attach a transcript of the hearing decretal portion.

Local Rule 4

Strict compliance with amended Local Rule 4. Prior to setting a matter on the motion calendar, the party or counsel noticing the motion shall attempt to resolve the matter and shall certify the good faith attempt to resolve. See amended Local Rule 4.

Certificate of Service

Certificates of Service with the language "ALL PARTIES" Is NO LONGER accepted in this Division. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE SHALL LIST EACH PARTY SERVED.

Courtesy Copies of Documents Less than 10 Pages

Courtesy copies of documents less than 10 pages (ex.: motions, memorandum of law and legal authority) are to be submitted to the Court for review in advance of all scheduled hearings 5 business days prior to the hearing. Judge Martz will review all motions, memorandum of law and legal authority prior to all hearings. Accordingly, all counsel/parties are to provide courtesy copies of their memoranda of law and supporting case law (only if all documents combined are ten (10) pages or less) to the Court via the following e-mail address: CAD-DivisionFX@pbcgov.org 5 business days prior to the scheduled hearing and designate the date and time of the hearing which they reference. Counsel/parties should highlight or otherwise mark the key language in the most pertinent and important cases and key exhibits for the court and opposing counsel. If the documents exceed ten (10) pages total, please send a courtesy hard copy only via US mail to the Court 5 business days prior to the scheduled hearing.