Spencer Eig — Circuit Family FC 39

Spencer Eig

• Division: Circuit Family
• Section: FC 39
• Court Location: Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse
• Phone: (305) 349-5732
• Room: CHC 2227
• Judicial Assistant: Yanet Varela Wong

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Judicial Assistant E-mail: yvarelawong@jud11.flcourts.org

Courtroom: 22B

IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
Motion Calendar, non-evidentiary special set hearings and case management conferences are to be held via Zoom and scheduled via courtMAP.  A Zoom link will be created by the Court at the time of setting.  Parties may participate by video or by calling the phone number listed in the invitation. Video appearance is required for any participant whose testimony is necessary so the judge can administer the oath.

All evidentiary special set hearings, trials, adoptions, and petitions for temporary custody shall be held in-person.  If a hearing is scheduled as an "in-person" hearing type, the hearing will be held at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, Courtroom 22B.

Prior to any evidentiary hearing, the parties shall exchange witness lists and exhibits within 7 calendar days of the hearing.  In the event of an emergency hearing, the parties shall exchange witness lists and exhibits within 24 hours.

Upon the filing of a motion with the Court, the party requesting the motion shall proceed to set for hearing within 30 days of the filing of the motion.  Failure to do so within 30 days after a filed motion may result in the motion being denied without prejudice.

Parties shall meet and confer, in an oral format, prior to the filing of motions.  If a motion is required, the party filing the motions shall indicate that the parties met and conferred, and no resolution was reached or that the other party was unable to be contacted after due diligence.

Pursuant to Florida Family Law Rule 12.285(b)(2), mandatory disclosure must be exchanged within 45 days of serving the initial pleading, accompanied by the filing of a certificate of compliance as required by Rule 12.285(j).  This includes a financial affidavit.  Parties seeking temporary financial relief must exchange disclosure pursuant to rule 12.285(b)(1).  In the event this Court determines that Rule 12.285 has not been complied with, and the parties have not agreed in writing to an extension for the exchange of disclosure, this Court may issue an order show cause why the matter should not be dismissed or default entered against the non-compliant party, or both.

INTERPRETER/INTERPRETE:
If you require an interpreter for the hearing, you are required to bring an interpreter with you.  The Court only provides interpreters for domestic violence hearings.

Si necesita un intérprete para la audiencia, debe traer un intérprete con usted.  El tribunal solo proporciona intérpretes para audiencias de violencia doméstica.

SELF-REPRESENTED PERSONS:
Lay persons are required to follow the Florida e-Portal instructions for e-filing and e-service of documents.  See here, Florida e-Filing Portal.

For setting hearings, a self-represented person is also responsible for doing so via courtMAP.  See here, courtMAP.  If you resolve your matter prior to hearing, please cancel it by e-mailing the judge’s judicial assistant.  The parties will not be able to cancel a special set hearing directly through courtMAP.

COURTESY COPY SUBMISSIONS:

For Zoom Motion Calendar and special set hearings, please submit courtesy copies via courtMAP under “Supporting Documents” immediately upon scheduling hearing.  Parties wishing to submit a response to a matter must e-file said response with the Clerk of Courts and submit the response via courtMAP to chambers under “Supporting Documents,” at least 7 days prior to the hearing date.

For in-person special set hearings, NO courtesy copies are to be submitted to chambers prior to hearing.  Any party wishing the court review evidence or case law during the hearing should put them on the screen, which is to be provided by counsel, or bring loose hard copies.  NO BINDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

MOTIONS FOR SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL OR WITHDRAWAL:
If you are submitting an order on a Stipulation for Substitution of Counsel, you must file the written Consent of the client.  Additionally, the name and Florida bar number of the substituted attorney must be included within the body of the proposed order.

All Motions to Withdraw as Counsel, even those with Client Consent, must be noticed on the Motion Calendar.   On Motions to Withdraw as Counsel, the Division form Order must be used.

• Financial Affidavit (long form)
• Financial Affidavit (short form)
• Parenting Plan (blank)
• UCD Affidavit (blank)
• Remote Paternity Affidavit (blank)
• Acknowledgment of Paternity (father only) (blank)
• Acknowledgment of Paternity (mother and father)
• Admin Memo re Introduction of Evidence in Remote Virtual Evidentiary Hearings (09-09-2021)
• Admin Order re Establishing Requirements for Index No to Orders and NOH (No. 22-02)
• List of Required Documents for Mandatory Disclosure
• FC 39 - Request for Special Set Hearing
• FC 39 - Order on Motion to Withdraw

• Bachelor of Arts, University of Virginia, 1982
• Juris Doctor, University of Georgia, 1985
• Circuit Court Judge, 2005
• Spencer Eig, P.A., 1999-2005
• United States Department of Justice, 1989-1999

Judge	Section	Room	Telephone
Cuesta, Ivonne	FC 01	CHC 3045	305-349-6162
Del Rey, Marcia	FC 29	CHC 1925	305-349-5735
Sarduy, A George	FC 16	CHC 2015	305-349-5680
Vizcaino, Diana	FC 47	CHC 2025	305-349-6001

Additional Instructions

If you have an emergency petition/motion, it must be filed with the Clerk of Courts and appear on the case docket prior to submitting via courtMAP.  Once filed, submit a copy of the filed emergency petition/motion to chambers via courtMAP under “emergency” option.

Your petition/motion must contain a certification that the matter is a true emergency and cannot wait to be heard during a special set hearing.

Once the Court reviews the emergency petition/motion, the parties will either receive an e-mail with instructions, a Court Order, or a Notice of Hearing via courtMAP.

Motions for Judicial Disqualification must be uploaded via the emergency option on courtMAP.

Go to courtMAP Motion Calendar Information

Type: Open

Notice Before Hearing: 7 Business Days

Files at Hearing: None

Day	Time	Cap	From	To
Tuesday	9:30 AM	15	10/06/2026	Ongoing
Tuesday	10:30 AM	15	10/06/2026	Ongoing

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Additional Instructions

To schedule a 5-minute Motion Calendar hearing, please refer to the on-line scheduling system (courtMAP).See here,courtMAP.  The moving party MUST coordinate the date/time with opposing party based on the Court's availability, which is found on courtMAP.  Please ensure that the petition/motion to be heard has been e-filed and appears on the Clerk of Court's docket before scheduling hearing.  Cases need only to be placed on calendar once, however, only up to 3 petitions/motions may be heard/attached to the single submission through courtMAP.  DO NOT CREATE MULTIPLE EVENTS IN ONE HEARING SESSION.

If Parties/Counsel are unable to agree on a date once an attempt to meet and confer has been made (i.e. sent emails; calls made), after 72 hours, the hearing may be unilaterally set on the Motion Calendar with at least 7 calendar days’ notice.  Proof of attempted coordination in conformance with this procedure must be submitted as an exhibit upon setting the motion.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The setting party shall file a Notice of Hearing, inclusive of the full title of pleading that is being set, the Docket Index Number for said pleading, and the Zoom link, via ePortal and serve same upon all necessary parties.

Please submit courtesy copies via courtMAP under “Supporting Documents” immediately upon scheduling hearing.  Parties wishing to submit a response to a matter must e-file said response with the Clerk of Courts and submit the response via courtMAP to chambers under “Supporting Documents,” at least 7 days prior to the hearing date.

To cancel a Motion Calendar hearing, please do so directly via courtMAP, notify all parties, and file a Notice of Cancellation via ePortal.

Go to courtMAP Additional Instructions

All cases must attend mediation prior to filing Notice of Readiness for Trial.  Once the Mediator’s Report has been filed, you must file a Notice of Readiness for Trial through the e-Portal and e-mail to the Judicial Assistant with copy to all parties.

The Notice of Readiness for Trial shall include the specific issues to be tried by the court (e.g. timesharing, alimony, child support).

The e-mail to Judicial Assistant shall include how much time the parties anticipate needing for trial, the witnesses/exhibits each side plans to introduce at trial, whether any of the parties will need the services of an interpreter and the time frame in which you want your trial scheduled.

Once your trial date has been coordinated you will receive a trial order via courtMAP.

REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO TRIAL:

PARTY MEETING: No less than 20 days prior to the trial, the parties shall meet and communicate, in an oral format, concerning settlement and all aspects of the trial.

PRE-TRIAL CATALOGUE: No less than 15 days prior to the trial, each party shall file a pre-trial catalogue via the ePortal and upload it to courtMAP.

The pre-trial catalogue shall contain the following information:

THE MARRIAGE:

• Date and place of marriage.
• Date of separation.
• A concise statement of the marital history.

THE CHILDREN:

• A list of the names and ages of the children.
• A statement in compliance with Sec. 61.522, Florida Statutes.
• A statement concerning the current parenting plan.
• A statement of whether the children are presently covered under any medical and/or dental insurance policy.
• A statement of any special medical problems of any of the children.

PARENTING PLAN:

• In all cases where any aspect of the parenting plan is at issue a statement of the client's claims or defenses, together with the factual and legal basis for the position.

CHILD SUPPORT:

• The attorneys/pro se litigants are required to provide a completed Child Support Guideline Worksheet in support of his or her position regarding child support.
• A statement of the amount of child support proposed.
• A statement setting forth the specific factual and legal basis in support of the party's claim and/or defense for child support.

ALIMONY - SPECIAL RELIEF:

• In all cases where either party seeks alimony or other special relief a Statement of Client's Claim for alimony and/or special relief is required and shall state the nature of alimony claimed, whether lump sum, rehabilitative or permanent, together with the factual and legal basis therefore.

WITNESS LIST:

• The Pre-trial Catalogue shall contain a list of witnesses to be called at trial. This includes rebuttal and impeachment witnesses who, in the exercise of diligent pre-trial preparation, you should know might be called.  Expert witnesses shall be so specified.  Such list shall contain names, addresses and a brief statement of testimony to be offered.  Witnesses not listed will not be called at trial except for good cause shown.

EXPERT WITNESSES:

• Only 1 expert, per specialty, per side, is permitted, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

EXHIBIT LIST:

• The Pre-trial Catalogue shall contain a list of all exhibits which may be used at trial.  Each exhibit must be shown to the opposing attorney/pro se litigant at least 7 days before trial.   Exhibits not specifically listed may not be used at trial except for good cause shown.  Prior to trial date, inquire whether you need to meet with the Clerk to pre-mark exhibits.

DIVISION OF ASSETS:

• In all cases in which there is a disputed question as to division of any assets, real or personal, concurrently with the Pre-trial Catalogue each party shall file a Schedule of Assets, signed by the party in affidavit form, setting forth each asset to which a disputed question exists or to the division thereof.  Said Schedule shall reflect: a description of the asset and non-marital assets (so identified); in whose name the title or ownership lies; the date of acquisition; the value at the time of acquisition; the value at time of filing of petition or, if another date is used, explain why another date is used; the present value thereof; the basis for any claim of unequal distribution thereto; and the basis for allowance of, (or any portion thereof,) of equitable distribution; a list of suggested disposition of each asset. THE SCHEDULE MUST BE SWORN TO BY THE PARTY.
  

DIVISION OF DEBTS:

• In all cases in which there is a disputed question as to division of any debts, concurrently with the Pre-Trial catalogue each party shall file a Schedule of Debts, signed by the party in affidavit form, which shall reflect: a description of the marital debts and non-marital debts: in whose name the debt is in; the date debt was incurred; the amount of the debt when it was first incurred; the amount of the debt at the time of filing of the petition.  If another date is also used, explain why another date is also used and state the amount of the debts as of that date; the present amount of the debt; a list containing a suggested disposition of each debt and the basis for the suggested disposition. THE SCHEDULE MUST BE SWORN TO BY THE PARTY.
  

A SUMMARY OF ANY UNIQUE AREAS OF LAW OR FACTS TO BE ASSERTED.

STIPULATION:

• The attorneys/pro se litigants shall review testimony and stipulate to the admissibility, where appropriate, of all records and testimony which can be read into the record at final hearing.  A list of Admissions and Stipulation is to be included in the Pre-trial Catalogue.

FINANCIAL AFFIDAVIT:

• A current, fully executed financial statement in accordance with Form 12.901(d) or (e) of the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure shall be attached to the Pre-trial Catalogue and exchanged with the attorneys/pro se litigants.

MEDIATION/PARENTING CLASS/SANDCASTLES PROGRAM:

• Prior to the Trial, the attorneys or the parties shall include a statement advising that the parties have scheduled a full mediation conference as to all issues (except in cases where there are domestic violence issues) and, if minor children are involved, completed the parenting class titled "Children of Divorcing Parents" and for children over 6 years of age that they have completed the "Sandcastles" program, both of which are offered by Miami Dade Community College.

DISCOVERY:

• All discovery shall be completed 10 days prior to the date set for trial and shall be allowed thereafter only upon agreement of the attorneys/pro se litigants or on a showing of good cause.

Please do not mail copies of notices to chambers. All the supporting documents listed above must have an e-file stamp.

Should the case be resolved prior to the scheduled trial date, the party who filed the Notice must immediately contact chambers to remove the case from calendar.

Go to courtMAP Additional Instructions

All proposed orders and Final Judgments must be submitted via courtMap.

Do not submit proposed orders on matters that are contested and/or already set for hearing.

Proposed orders must be uploaded via courtMAP within 7 days from the date of hearing; it must include the Docket Index Number for the underlying petition/motion; AND must be typed in Times New Roman, size 14 font.

If the matter has been heard by the Court, include the date the hearing took place in the first paragraph of your proposed order.

Ex-Parte Motions to Compel: must contain certification of “good faith effort” required by Rule 1.380(a)(2).

To check the status of a proposed order, please log on to courtMAP and access the workbench folder.  A list of all pending, approved and rejected submissions appear in the workbench folder.

SUBMISSION OF COMPETING ORDERS:

To submit competing proposed orders, please e-mail the proposed order, in Word, to the Judicial Assistant and copy all parties.  The proposed order must list the submitter's name on the title of the proposed competing order.  Do not submit competing orders via courtMAP.

Go to courtMAP Special Sets Information

Type: Open

Notice Before Hearing: 7 Business Days

Files at Hearing: None

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Additional Instructions

ALL EVIDENTIARY MATTERS ARE SET "IN-PERSON"

IMPORTANT NOTICE WHEN SETTING: The setting party shall list the full title of pleading(s) that is/are being set, and the Docket Index Number for said pleading(s).

No unilateral scheduling is allowed for special set hearings.  All evidentiary special set hearings will be held in-person at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, Courtroom 22B.

To schedule a Zoom special set hearing that requires 1 hour or less, please refer to the on-line scheduling system (courtMAP).See here,courtMAP.  The moving party MUST coordinate the date/time with opposing counsel based on the Court's availability, which is found on courtMAP.  Please ensure that the petition/motion to be heard at the special set hearing has been e-filed and appears on the Clerk of Court's docket.  A Notice of Hearing should not be filed or submitted by either side for special set hearings.  Once a date has been accepted by the Judicial Assistant, you will receive a Notice of Hearing generated and sent by courtMAP that will serve as confirmation that your hearing is set.

Specially set hearings are NOT scheduled until they are approved by the Court.  If the submission is rejected, the moving party will receive a rejection notice which will detail the reason for the rejection (this rejection will also appear in the submitter's workbench/rejected folder). Once the Court has approved the submission, the parties will receive an email from courtMAP indicating same.

To schedule a regular and/or evidentiary special set hearing that requires 1 hour or longer, please e-mail “Request for Special Set Hearing” form to Judicial Assistant at yvarelawong@jud11.flcourts.org copying all parties.  Indicate approximately how much time you believe will be needed for the hearing, and if there are certain dates on which the parties are unavailable.

COURTESY COPY SUBMISSIONS:

Please submit courtesy copies via courtMAP under “Supporting Documents” upon scheduling hearing.  Parties wishing to submit a response to a matter must e-file said response with the Clerk of Courts and submit the response via courtMAP to chambers under “Supporting Documents,” at least 7 days prior to the hearing date.

For in-person special set hearings, NO courtesy copies are to be submitted to chambers prior to hearing.  Any party wishing the court review evidence or case law during the hearing should put them on the screen, which is to be provided by counsel, or bring loose hard copies.  NO BINDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

SPECIAL SET CANCELLATIONS:

All special set cancellations must be approved by chambers as the parties will not be able to cancel a special set hearing directly through courtMAP.

If you reach a resolution after a hearing has been scheduled, the party that requested the hearing must upload on courtMAP a proposed Agreed Order and contact chambers to request cancellation by e-mailing Judicial Assistant at yvarelawong@jud11.flcourts.org and copying all parties.  If no proposed order is uploaded all parties are to appear on the scheduled date.  

Upon the Court’s confirmation of cancellation of the special set hearing, the requesting party shall file a Notice of Cancellation via the ePortal.

Go to courtMAP UCD Calendar Information

Type: Closed

Notice Before Hearing: 0 Business Days

Files at Hearing: None

Day	Time	Cap	From	To
Tuesday	12:00 PM	30	10/06/2026	Ongoing

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Additional Instructions

All Uncontested Dissolution of Marriage, Uncontested Paternity, Uncontested Temporary Custody, and Change of Name hearings are handled administratively.  This means you are not required to be present when the final judgment is entered.

Once your case has been properly calendared on a UCD slot, please be sure to submit a Final Judgment as a "proposed order" through courtMAP.  Please upload the following and attach as supporting documents to the Final Judgment with a cover letter.

1. Petition or Counter Petition.
2. Answer or Answer/Waiver.
3. Marital Settlement Agreement and/or Parenting Plan.
4. If the Petition has been defaulted, please attach the Order of Default.
5. UCCJEA Affidavit if there are children.
6. Financial Affidavits, if required by the rules.
7. Affidavit that MSA and/or PP in best interest of child, signed by both parties.
8. A copy of the Petitioner's and/or Counter Petitioner’s Valid Driver's License, Florida State ID or Voter’s Registration card.
9. Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit, to be used for paternity cases.
10. Supplemental Affidavit for UCD/Remote UCD.

If all the necessary documentation is not submitted, the request for a remote UCD and/or proposed “Final Judgment” will be rejected.

Go to courtMAP

Documents and forms this judge posts

• Financial Affidavit (long form)
• Financial Affidavit (short form)
• Parenting Plan (blank)
• UCD Affidavit (blank)
• Remote Paternity Affidavit (blank)
• Acknowledgment of Paternity (father only) (blank)
• Acknowledgment of Paternity (mother and father)
• Admin Memo re Introduction of Evidence in Remote Virtual Evidentiary Hearings (09-09-2021)
• Admin Order re Establishing Requirements for Index No to Orders and NOH (No. 22-02)
• List of Required Documents for Mandatory Disclosure
• FC 39 - Request for Special Set Hearing
• FC 39 - Order on Motion to Withdraw