Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 1.150 “Summary Judgment”, also known as Fla. Fam. Law. R. P. 12.510 is about drafting and filing a motion for summary judgment in a Florida divorce. Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 1.150 Summary Judgment provides (in essence) that either party may ask the court to grant an end to your case. When a court grants summary judgment, it means the case will be decided based on the evidence available at that time (provided the facts are undisputed), meaning the case will essentially stop in its tracks. For example, if it is irrefutably proven that both parties earn the same income and that neither side has a need for alimony (they both have a surplus and no need for alimony) a party may wish to file a motion for summary judgment Florida divorce to seek the conclusion of the case without the need for trial. Call Jacobs Law Firm at 407-335-8113 to speak with an Orlando divorce attorney and Clermont divorce attorney to receive the help you need.
Did you know that Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 1.150 Summary Judgment requires the movant (person asking for the court to grant SJ) to state in capital letters the following message:
A RESPONSE TO THE MOTION FOR JUDGMENT MUST BE MADE IN WRITING, FILED WITH THE COURT, AND SERVED ON THE OTHER PARTY NO LESS THAN TWENTY DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING DATE. YOUR RESPONSE MUST INCLUDE YOUR SUPPORTING FACTUAL POSITION. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND, THE COURT MAY ENTER ORDERS GRANTING THE SUMMARY JUDGMENT OR FINDING FACTS TO BE UNDISPUTED.
If this bold-lettered message is not properly provided, a judge can as a matter of law deny a motion for summary judgment in a Florida divorce or paternity case.
When can you ask for summary judgment? Subsection (b) of Fla. Fam. Law. R. P. 12.510 provides that you may ask the judge for summary judgment at any time after the expiration of 20 days from the start of the case or after service of a motion for summary judgment by the adverse party. Further, the person requesting this outcome must serve the motion at least 40 days before the time fixed for the hearing that will result from service of the motion itself.
Perhaps the best news for practitioners such as Attorney Jonathan Jacobs is that a motion for summary judgment Florida divorce allows him to make use of the records from the case. In the motion and at the subsequent hearing, you can cite to depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, and/or other materials and or other materials at the court’s discretion. The other side has to serve a response at least 20 days before the time fixed for the hearing. Call Jacobs Law Firm today at 407-335-8113.