To view the updated Administrative Order, please click here.

With coronavirus COVID-19 dominating the world news, please know that my focus is on your safety and the safety of my employees. We plan for emergencies such as this, balancing safety with continuing to provide services to our community.

Many of the services we provide in our offices are also available online. Visit www.mypalmbeachclerk.com to learn how you can:

• Pay a traffic ticket online or by phone;
• Electronically record mortgages, deeds and other official records;
• File court documents electronically;
• Pay child support electronically; and,
• Postpone your jury service.

As this situation continues to evolve, my leadership team and I are working diligently with our Palm Beach County government and justice partners on our response to coronavirus. Should coronavirus require any changes to our daily operations, we will share news on our website at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com, through our Facebook and Twitter channels, and by email alert.

Stay safe! We are here, working hard to ensure you continue to receive the exceptional service you have come to expect.

Warm regards,

Sharon R. Bock
Clerk & Comptroller, Palm Beach County

To view the amended AO, please click here.

Members of the public are invited to volunteer on or before April 9 for one three-year term on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. The Supreme Court of Florida will appoint one public member to serve on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. The Board ensures that applicants seeking admission to The Florida Bar have met the requirements of the Rules with regard to character and fitness, education and technical competence prior to recommending to the Supreme Court of Florida an applicant’s admission to The Florida Bar.

New deadline is no later than the close of business on Thursday, April 9.

Link to news release here.

Florida Board of Bar Examiners Vacancies: Lawyer applicants are being sought to fill three vacancies on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. A joint screening committee of Florida Bar Board of Governors members and Board of Bar Examiners members will recommend nine nominees for three lawyer vacancies. The nominations will be forwarded to the Supreme Court to fill three five-year terms commencing November 1, 2020 and expiring on October 31, 2025.

New deadline is no later than the close of business on Thursday, April 9.

Link to news release here.

Please click here to see the amended Admin Order 12.510-3/2020.4 Mitigating Measures in Response to COVID-19.

Please note that the amendments are in bold.  

Please see the attached Administrative Order and Press Release from the Chief Judge related to court operations in response to COVID-19.

• For Press Release, please click here.
• For the AO, please click here.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA

If you are in possession of original documents (Wills –including Notarial Wills, Codicils, Death Certificates, Authenticate/Exemplified Copies of Court Documents as required by law, Commissions etc.). These documents must be delivered to the Clerk of Court in the location where your ex parte hearing is scheduled. The ex parte docket is suspended until further notice. If you are scheduled for an Ex Parte hearing, you should proceed as follows:

• These documents must be delivered to the Clerk of Court in the location where your hearing is scheduled no later than three (3) business days prior to the scheduled hearing. The package must include a cover letter clearly showing that the matter is set for ex-parte Hearing and the scheduled date. (it may be best to utilize a courier service to ensure your documents are delivered in time)
• Orders must be uploaded in OLS (showing “Ex-parte” as the event) no later than three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
• Complete the appropriate checklist in OLS for the motion/petition scheduled.
• If you receive a status order or deficiency memorandum, the deficiency must be cured (filed and docketed) prior to the scheduled date.
• Make arrangements with the Clerk’s Office for certified copies of the order.
• Please check the divisional suspension calendar prior to setting your case on the ex-parte calendar.

Dear All:

Please find the attached Administrative Order from Chief Justice Canady.  In the order, he directs that all grand jury proceedings, jury selection proceedings, and criminal and civil jury trials are suspended beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 through Friday, March 27, 2020.  The order does not require the courts to suspend hearings or non-jury trials.  At this point in time, we are proceeding with all court events with the exception of those outlined in paragraph 2 on page 3.

The Chief Judge has directed judges who are currently presiding over a jury trial that has already commenced, to attempt to proceed to completion.    The Chief Judge will reach out to our court partners next week with more information related to court operations beyond March 27, 2020.

Click here for the Administrative Order from Chief Justice Canady:

Thank you,

Barbara Dawicke

Trial Court Administrator

Fifteenth Judicial Circuit

The Florida Bar is providing information and updates via a webpage at www.floridabar.org/covid19 to centralize communications to all Bar members including important links, court announcements, event cancellations, rescheduled meetings, and any other matters that may affect lawyers and their clients. Please note that this morning President John Stewart contacted the Bar’s section and committee leaders asking them to consider canceling meetings scheduled through April 30 – his memo is linked from the floridabar.org/covid19 webpage.