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Florida Notice of Related Cases

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NOTICE OF RELATED CASES

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR COUNTY, FLORIDA

Case No.:

Division:

,

Petitioner,

and

,

Respondent.

NOTICE OF RELATED CASES

1. Petitioner submits this Notice of Related Cases as required by Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.545(d). A related case may be an open or closed civil, criminal, guardianship, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, juvenile dependency, or domestic relations case. A case is “related” to this family law case if it involves any of the same parties, children, or issues and it is pending at the time the party files a family case; if it affects the court’s jurisdiction to proceed; if an order in the related case may conflict with an order on the same issues in the new case; or if an order in the new case may conflict with an order in the earlier litigation.

[check one only]

There are no related cases.

The following are the related cases (add additional pages if necessary):

Related Case No. 1

Case Name(s):

Case No.:

Division:

Type of Proceeding: [check all that apply]

State where case was decided or is pending:

Name of Court where case was decided or is pending:

Title of last Court Order/Judgment (if any):

Date:

Relationship of cases [check all that apply]:

Statement as to the relationship of the cases:

Related Case No. 2

Case Name(s):

Case No.:

Division:

Type of Proceeding: [check all that apply]

State where case was decided or is pending:

Name of Court where case was decided or is pending:

Title of last Court Order/Judgment (if any):

Date:

Relationship of cases [check all that apply]:

Statement as to the relationship of the cases:

Related Case No. 3

Case Name(s):

Case No.:

Division:

Type of Proceeding: [check all that apply]

State where case was decided or is pending:

Name of Court where case was decided or is pending:

Title of last Court Order/Judgment (if any):

Date:

Relationship of cases [check all that apply]:

Statement as to the relationship of the cases:

2. [check one only]

I do not request coordination of litigation in any of the cases listed above.

I do request coordination of the following cases:

3. [check all that apply]

Assignment to one judge

Coordination of existing cases

will conserve judicial resources and promote an efficient determination of these cases because:

4. The Petitioner acknowledges a continuing duty to inform the court of any cases in this or any other state that could affect the current proceeding.

Dated:

Printed Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Telephone Number:

Fax Number:

E-mail Address(es):

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I CERTIFY that I delivered a copy of this Notice of Related Cases to the County Sheriff’s Department or a certified process server for service on the Respondent, and [check all used] , a copy to , who is the [check all that apply] , , , on

Printed Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Telephone Number:

Fax Number:

E-mail Address(es):

Florida Bar Number:

IF A NONLAWYER HELPED YOU FILL OUT THIS FORM, HE/SHE MUST FILL IN THE BLANKS BELOW:

[fill in all blanks] This form was prepared for the {choose only one}: .

This form was completed with the assistance of:

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What the Florida Notice of Related Cases Is

The Florida Notice of Related Cases is a formal court filing used in Florida state courts to alert the clerk and the presiding judge that two or more pending matters involve common parties, claims, factual issues, or substantially overlapping evidence. The notice identifies docket numbers, the parties involved, and the factual basis for relatedness so the clerk can link dockets, coordinate case management, and reduce duplicative procedures in accordance with local court rules and administrative orders.

Why filing a Notice of Related Cases matters

A timely Notice of Related Cases promotes efficient judicial administration by preventing duplicative discovery and inconsistent rulings, enabling coordinated scheduling and possible consolidation or reassignment, and preserving judicial resources while clarifying relationships among pending matters for counsel and the court.

Why filing a Notice of Related Cases matters

Who typically files or receives this notice

Typical filers include counsel for plaintiffs or defendants, self-represented litigants, and court clerks managing dockets.

  • Litigators: prepare notices when multiple cases share legal issues or parties.
  • Self-represented parties: file notices when aware of overlapping matters.
  • Court staff: docket and link related cases for judge assignment.

When properly prepared and submitted, the notice helps courts manage hearings, discovery schedules, and reduces the risk of inconsistent case outcomes.

Key roles involved

Lead Counsel

A licensed attorney who prepares and files the notice, identifies related dockets, explains the factual basis for relatedness, and supplies supporting citations or exhibits. Counsel must verify accuracy to avoid procedural rejection or possible sanctions under local court rules.

Court Clerk

Clerk staff review submitted notices, confirm docket numbers and parties, link or flag related matters in the electronic docket system, and apply local administrative procedures to route the cases for judicial review or consolidation.

Step-by-step: preparing and filing the notice

Follow these practical steps to prepare and submit a clear, complete Notice of Related Cases to the appropriate clerk's office.

  • 01
    Collect details: Gather case captions, docket numbers, and core facts showing overlap.
  • 02
    Draft notice: Describe relatedness concisely and list all implicated docket numbers.
  • 03
    Attach exhibits: Attach relevant pleadings or orders that demonstrate the relationship.
  • 04
    File and serve: Submit via the court's e-filing system and serve opposing parties per local rule.

How to set up an online filing workflow

Configure your digital workflow to match court e-filing rules and to preserve a clear audit trail for the notice.

Field Configuration
Document Format Upload as PDF/A to preserve formatting and metadata
Signature Requirement Attorney signature block, typed or e-signed per local rules
Filing Method Use the court’s authorized e-filing portal when available
Service Method Attach certificate of service and serve via email or portal

Where and how to submit the notice

Choose the correct submission channel and include the required attachments to avoid clerical delays.

  • E-filing portal: Preferred method when the county offers electronic filing.
  • Clerk’s office: Paper filings delivered in person or by mail where required.
  • Email service: Serve opposing counsel by authorized electronic service methods.
  • Judge’s chambers: If local practice warrants, copy chambers as directed by local rules.

Technical and format requirements for e-submission

Courts typically require legible, searchable PDF documents, a clear signature block, and a certificate of service when filing notices electronically.

  • Accepted formats: PDF/A preferred; Word accepted by some portals
  • Metadata: Keep native metadata intact for audit trails
  • Integrations: Use cloud storage or e-filing integrations for upload

Confirm the target county’s e-filing requirements before submission; improper file formats or missing certificates of service are common causes of rejection.

Required document details at a glance

Case Number: Provide full docket number.
Court Name: Specify county and judicial division.
Caption: List full case caption.
Related Dockets: List all related docket numbers.
Statement of Facts: Brief factual basis for relatedness.
Contact Info: Filing attorney name and contact.

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the notice

  • Leaving out a related docket number that later prevents consolidation or coordinated scheduling.
  • Submitting unsupported assertions without attaching pleadings or orders that demonstrate overlap.
  • Failing to follow the county’s e-filing format or omitting the required certificate of service.
  • Using informal headings or inconsistent captions that make it difficult for clerks to identify the correct dockets.

Consequences of an incorrect or late filing

Clerical Rejection: Notice may be rejected for missing data.
Delay in Relief: Consolidation or reassignment may be delayed.
Sanctions Risk: Misrepresentations can trigger sanctions.
Procedural Waiver: Late filing may waive tactical options.
Service Issues: Improper service can void the filing.
Duplicative Costs: Parties may incur unnecessary fees and discovery costs.

Timing and deadlines to keep in mind

While there is no uniform statewide deadline, timely filing and service are critical; comply with local rules and promptly notify the clerk when related matters become apparent.

When to file:

File as soon as relation is discovered to avoid duplicative litigation.

Certificate of service:

Include service details at filing per local rule.

Rule compliance:

Follow county filing rules for format and attachments.

Opposition timing:

Opposing parties may have set days to respond if local rule specifies.

Clerk processing:

Allow time for clerk review and docket linking.

Key milestones from discovery to court action

A clear milestone sequence helps counsel track filing, clerk review, and judicial response after submitting a Notice of Related Cases.

01

Discovery of Overlap

Counsel identifies related issues or parties that may warrant notice.

02

Draft and File

Prepare the notice, attach supporting pleadings, and file with clerk.

03

Clerk Review

Clerk verifies docket numbers, links files, and forwards for judicial review.

04

Judge Action

Judge decides linking, consolidation, or reassignment per local rules.

Representative eSignature vendor comparison for court-ready documents

Basic pricing and feature differences across common eSignature vendors; verify vendor plans and county e-filing compatibility before relying on a single provider.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Representative scenarios where the notice helps

Two practical examples show how a Notice of Related Cases can reduce duplication and streamline judicial handling across dockets.

Multi-County Tort

A plaintiff files similar negligence claims in neighboring counties after a single incident creates overlapping liability issues.

  • Counsel files a notice listing all dockets to the clerks.
  • The courts coordinated discovery and assigned a single judge, which reduced duplicate expert reports and minimized inconsistent pretrial rulings across counties.

Foreclosure and Eviction

A lender files foreclosure in circuit court while eviction actions appear in county court for the same property owner.

  • The lender notifies both clerks of related matters.
  • Linking the dockets clarified timelines, prevented conflicting possession orders, and consolidated briefing on overlapping legal issues.

Frequently asked questions about Notices of Related Cases

Answers to common procedural and electronic submission questions to help avoid clerical rejection and ensure effective court notification.


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