Carlos Fernandez — Circuit Family Magistrates 08

Carlos Fernandez

• Division: Circuit Family Magistrates
• Section: 08
• Court Location: Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse
• Phone: (305) 349-5557
• Room: CHC 1745
• Judicial Assistant: Diana Somoano

---

Most hearings before a General Magistrate in the Family Division are non-jury trials or evidentiary hearings.  It is presumed that the hearings scheduled before General Magistrate CARLOS L. FERNANDEZ will be conducted in person. 

TO SCHEDULE A HEARING
Please utilize CourtMAP to see dates and times for scheduling a hearing.  If both parties are represented by attorneys, you must agree to the date and time of hearing prior to scheduling.  Be aware that two calendar types exist: IN PERSON and REMOTE HEARINGS (Zoom). 
Hearings must be set by the parties or attorneys for a future date within fifteen (15) days from the date of the order of referral, otherwise the hearing will be set by the General Magistrate’s office at the earliest available date.

TO SCHEDULE A ZOOM HEARING  
You many request a hearing to be conducted remotely via ZOOM.  If you reserve the hearing date and time via CourtMAP on the appropriate calendar (marked as ZOOM hearings) you must send an email to 11thfcgm08@jud11.flcourts.org explaining the reason why you are requesting a ZOOM hearing, or you can call the General Magistrates Assistant Diana at 305-349-5557.  You shall receive a confirmation or denial from the General Magistrate’s office.

HEARINGS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED VIA ZOOM
If your hearing was previously scheduled via ZOOM, it shall proceed via ZOOM.  Confirmation of the type of hearing is on the “Notice of Hearing”.  Please review your order of referral and notice of hearing for important information.

PROPOSED REPORTS
If the General Magistrate has instructed you to prepare the proposed Recommended Order of General Magistrate, or Recommended Order of Hearing Officer, on their ruling, the proposed recommended order must be submitted to the General Magistrate’s office via CourtMap no later than fourteen (14) days after the date of the hearing.
Prior to submitting your proposed report, please contact the other attorney/party to agree to the form and content of the report.  If there is a disagreement regarding the proposed form, please contact the General Magistrate’s office to submit your proposed report within the fourteen (14) day period.

CONTINUANCES
Any request for a continuance of a hearing before a General Magistrate must be heard by the General Magistrate.  A notice of cancelation of hearing is insufficient and will not cancel a hearing.  If request a continuance or if a case or referral is settled or withdrawn, please contact the General Magistrate’s office.

REQUEST FOR TRANSCRIPTS
.All hearings before a General Magistrate are recorded electronically.  All requests for copies of audio recordings of judicial proceedings by attorneys of record, parties to a case, and self-represented litigants shall be submitted electronically by following the instructions online under Court Reporting Services of the 11th Judicial Circuit website (jud11.flcourts.org).  Upon full review of the request and in accordance with Rule 2.420, a final invoice shall be sent to the requester, which must be paid prior to release of the audio recording. 


INTERPRETERS
Interpreters are not provided by the court for hearings.  If you need an interpreter or your witness requires the use of an interpreter, you must arrange to have a certified interpreter present at the hearing.

EXHIBITS
If you are going to be presenting exhibits at the in person, zoom or telephonic hearing, you must contact the opposing attorney or party, provide them with a copy of the exhibits, an exhibit list and agree to the exhibits that will be admitted. The exhibits should be marked 1, 2, 3 etc. for those associated to the petitioner and A, B, C etc. for those associated to the respondent.  An exhibit list must be prepared and submitted in advance (7 working days) of the hearing date. In addition, you must provide a copy of the exhibit list and exhibits to the opposing party or their attorney (if they are represented by counsel). If you fail to provide a copy of the exhibit and exhibit list and /or to file a copy of the exhibit list seven (7) days prior to the hearing, you may not be able to get the exhibits admitted on the day of the hearing. Please file your proposed exhibits with the Clerk of the Court.  If there is a dispute as to the admissibility of the proposed exhibits, contact General Magistrate Fernandez’ office at 305-349-5557 to arrange a Zoom or telephonic hearing prior to the scheduled hearing to resolve the exhibit dispute.

EMAIL ADDRESS
Please make sure that you register your email address and mailing address with the Clerk of the Court to receive notices of hearing and orders.  You may obtain a copy of the Clerk’s form at: Notice of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address.

OTHER INSTRUCTIONS
Children may not be brought to the courthouse or to the in person hearing or Zoom hearing without first obtaining a court order.

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Notice:
If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in a proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court’s ADA Coordinator, Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW 1st Ave., Suite 2400, Miami, FL 33128, Telephone (305) 349-7175; TDD (305) 349-7174, Fax (305) 349-7355, Email: ADA@jud11.flcourts.org at least seven (7) days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than seven (7) days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.

GENERAL MAGISTRATE CONTACT INFORMATION
Office 305-349-5557  Administrative Assistant Diana Somoano
Email Address: 11thfcgm08@jud11.flcourts.org

Courthouse Address:
Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center
175 N.W. 1st Avenue, Suite 1745
Miami, Florida 33128

RESOURCES

- To file a pleading and receive court documents via email, please register:
https://www.myflcourtaccess.com

- Self-represented litigants can seek assistance at:
https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Family-Court-Self-Help-Program

- CourtMAP:
https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Programs-and-Services/Online-Services/courtmap