Court Rules
Judge

Judge Benjamin M. Boylston

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Florida 5 Judicial Circuit (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Sumter)

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Courtesy copies

Communication

Email

Chambers

tvinson@circuit5.org
Scheduling
Email

Chambers

judgeboylstonproposedorders@circuit5.org
Phone

Duty Judge

No status inquiries
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingProposed OrdersCertificatesTRO/InjunctionLetters

Document Format Requirements3 rules

Formatting

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

Proposed orders must be submitted only in DOCX format; PDF submissions are not accepted.

PLEASE SUBMIT ORDERS IN WORD FORMAT (.docx) ONLY (NO PDF DOCUMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED).

Required Format

DOCX

Formatting

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important

Proposed orders must not contain e-portal submission codes.

PLEASE DO NOT FORMAT THE PROPOSED ORDERS WITH THE CODES FOR SUBMISSION THROUGH THE E-PORTAL.

Formatting

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?

Please do not split the certificate of service on 2 pages.

Summary: The certificate of service must fit without being split across two pages.

Document Filing Requirements11 rules

Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

When a Notice of Hearing has already been filed, the party must prepare and file a Notice of Cancellation and notify the other parties.

2. If a Notice of Hearing has been filed, you must prepare a Notice of Cancellation and file it with the Clerk’s office and notify the other parties.

Document Type

Notice Of Cancellation

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Circuit5:0847c8ff51b6faf95bfb029c
|SecTO CANCEL A HEARING OR TRIAL
Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

When a self-represented litigant does not participate in e-portal electronic service, the proposed order must provide for U.S. mail service and a filed notice certifying service within five days after the order is entered.

In cases involving a self-represented litigant who is not participating in electronic service through the e-filing portal, the proposed order must include language that the represented party will serve the order through regular U.S. mail on the self-represented party and certify said service through a filed notice of service within five (5) days of the entry of the order.

Document Type

Proposed Order

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

Every proposed order must include a certificate of service complying with Florida Rule of General Practice and Procedure 2.516.

ALL PROPOSED ORDERS shall include a certificate of service in compliance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Procedure 2.516.

Document Type

Proposed Order

Content & Formatting
Certificate Of Service
Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

The proposed order caption must identify the Fifth Judicial Circuit and Lake County.

Please double-check your orders to ensure the caption includes the correct circuit (Fifth Judicial Circuit) and county (Lake County).

Document Type

Proposed Order

Content & Formatting
Caption
Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

The proposed order’s certificate of service must state substantially that a true and correct copy was provided electronically and/or by U.S. mail to the listed parties.

The certificate of service shall contain language substantially similar to the following: “I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been provided through electronic service and/or regular U.S. mail to the following parties.”

Document Type

Proposed Order

Content & Formatting
Certificate Of Service
Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

A proposed order must include the underlying motion and a cover letter identifying the related hearing and whether all parties agree to the order.

Proposed orders must include a copy of the motion, a cover letter that identifies the hearing it relates to and whether the order is agreed-upon by all parties.

Document Type

Proposed Order

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important

A proposed order submitted before its hearing must specifically identify the hearing date and time.

Proposed orders may only be submitted in advance of scheduled hearings if the hearing date and time is specifically referenced.

Document Type

Proposed Order

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important

A notice of hearing must include the docket number for each motion to be heard.

When preparing your notice of hearing, please include the docket number for the motion(s) that will be heard.

Document Type

Notice Of Hearing

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Circuit5:0847c8ff51b6faf95bfb029c
|SecSCHEDULING HEARINGS
Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important

The subject line of a proposed-order email must contain the case style and case number.

The case style, including case number, shall be indicated in the subject line.

Document Type

Proposed Order

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing Requirements

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?

6. You must prepare an Amended Notice of Hearing or Trial.

Summary: The requesting party must prepare an amended notice after the continuance date is coordinated.

Document Type

Amended Notice Of Hearing Or Trial

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Circuit5:0847c8ff51b6faf95bfb029c
|SecTO CONTINUE A HEARING OR TRIAL
Filing Requirements

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?

It is YOUR responsibility to do a Notice of Hearing.

Summary: The requesting party must prepare and file a Notice of Hearing.

Document Type

Notice Of Hearing

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Circuit5:0847c8ff51b6faf95bfb029c
|SecSCHEDULING HEARINGS

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

Proposed orders must be submitted electronically by email and may not be sent as paper orders.

ALL PROPOSED ORDERS shall be submitted for entry by email ONLY. Please do not send paper orders, as we endeavor to be a paperless office.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | PROPOSED ORDERS

Case law and hearing memoranda may be submitted electronically to Tammie Vinson by email.

Any party desiring to submit case law and/or a memorandum of law for an upcoming hearing may submit these materials electronically to Tammie Vinson at tvinson@circuit5.org .

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | SUBMITTING CASE LAW AND PROSPECTIVE EVIDENCE

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must use Form 2.603 to update their electronic-service contact information whenever their email account changes.

It is the responsibility of attorneys and self-represented litigants to update their contact information using Form 2.603 any time there is a change in the e-mail account registered for electronic service.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for electronic delivery of signed orders unless excused.

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

The Court prefers that case law and hearing memoranda be submitted at least five days before the hearing.

The Court desires that these materials be submitted at least 5 days prior to the scheduled hearing.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | SUBMITTING CASE LAW AND PROSPECTIVE EVIDENCE

Service and Proof of Service Rules

For a non-e-service self-represented litigant, service must be made by U.S. mail and certified through a filed notice of service within five days after entry of the order.

In cases involving a self-represented litigant who is not participating in electronic service through the e-filing portal, the proposed order must include language that the represented party will serve the order through regular U.S. mail on the self-represented party and certify said service through a filed notice of service within five (5) days of the entry of the order.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | PROPOSED ORDERS

Other parties must be notified when a previously filed hearing is cancelled.

2. If a Notice of Hearing has been filed, you must prepare a Notice of Cancellation and file it with the Clerk’s office and notify the other parties.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | TO CANCEL A HEARING OR TRIAL

Courtesy Copy Requirements

Evidentiary hearings must be in person, advance courtesy copies of evidence are unnecessary, and the Court will not review exhibits before evidentiary admission.

Judge Boylston does not accept remote evidence. All evidentiary hearings require an in-person court hearing. It is NOT necessary to provide courtesy copies of evidence in advance of any hearing. The Court cannot and will not review exhibits submitted prior to its admission as evidence.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | SUBMITTING CASE LAW AND PROSPECTIVE EVIDENCE

Courtesy copies of evidence need not be supplied before a hearing.

It is NOT necessary to provide courtesy copies of evidence in advance of any hearing.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | SCHEDULING HEARINGS

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

The party must either schedule a hearing on the continuance motion or obtain all parties’ consent; approval by the Court is not guaranteed.

3. You must schedule a hearing on your motion or have consent from all parties to continue. There is no guarantee the Court will continue the hearing or trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | TO CONTINUE A HEARING OR TRIAL

The proper motion must be filed with the Clerk’s office.

2. The proper motion must be filed with the Clerk’s office.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | TO CONTINUE A HEARING OR TRIAL

A request to continue a hearing or trial must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.

1. You must contact the Judicial Assistant at tvinson@circuit5.org to notify the Court of the request to continue.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | TO CONTINUE A HEARING OR TRIAL

After the new date is coordinated, the party must contact the Judicial Assistant to place the continuance on the Court’s calendar.

5. Once the date is coordinated, you must contact the Judicial Assistant to actually put it on the calendar.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | TO CONTINUE A HEARING OR TRIAL

Chambers Communication Rules

A copy of the Notice of Cancellation must also be emailed to the Judge’s office.

3. You must also send a copy of the Notice of Cancellation to the Judge’s office to Tvinson@circuit5.org

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | TO CANCEL A HEARING OR TRIAL

Any communication with the Judicial Assistant must include all parties or counsel.

Any communication to /with the Judicial Assistant shall include all parties or counsel.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | SUBMITTING CASE LAW AND PROSPECTIVE EVIDENCE

Proposed orders must be submitted to JudgeBoylstonProposedOrders@circuit5.org.

For Order submission, please email: JudgeBoylstonProposedOrders@circuit5.org

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | PROPOSED ORDERS

Written communications to Judge Boylston’s office should be submitted by email.

All written communication with Judge Boylston’ office should be submitted via email.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT

Email is the preferred means of communicating with Judge Boylston’s office.

The best way to communicate with Judge Boylston’s Office is via email at tvinson@circuit5.org

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | Office Information

Parties must not call the Court seeking direct judicial discussion of a case.

Please do not call the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | SUBMITTING CASE LAW AND PROSPECTIVE EVIDENCE

Every other party, or that party’s attorney if represented, must be copied on all correspondence to the Court.

All other parties to the case (or their attorneys, if they are represented) must be copied on all correspondence to the Court.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT

A hearing or trial cancellation must be reported by email to the Judicial Assistant with a stated reason.

1. You must contact the Judicial Assistant at tvinson@circuit5.org to notify the Court of the cancellation and state the reason for cancellation.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | TO CANCEL A HEARING OR TRIAL

Parties must not call or email the Court expecting to discuss a case directly with the Judge.

Please do not call or email the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT

An email to Judge Boylston’s office should identify the parties and case number in its subject line.

The subject line of your email should include the names of parties and case number (e.g., State v. John Doe, 2025-CP-9876).

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT

Requests for hearings longer than 15 minutes must concern an in-person hearing and be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.

Hearings that exceed 15 minutes must be in-person. Please send your request to tvinson@circuit5.org

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | SCHEDULING HEARINGS

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 77 rules apply across Florida 5 Judicial Circuit (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Sumter). Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Formatting

All 34
  • Format
    DOCX

    Proposed orders must be created in the latest version of Microsoft Word in .docx format.

  • Do not place spaces before the JJJJ, GGGG, or AAAA codes, and use the Right Alignment button to position signature fields.

  • Proposed orders must not contain page breaks or section breaks.

Filing Requirements

All 30
  • Applies to
    Proposed order
    Must include
    proposed order

    Proposed orders must use the specified signature-field code pairs, including DDDD/JJJJ, MMMM/AAAA, RRRR/GGGG, and CCCC.

  • Applies to
    Proposed order

    Each electronic-signature code must contain all four capital letters and may appear only once per line.

  • Applies to
    Proposed order
    Must include
    case number

    Every proposed order must include the Unified Case Number.

Communication

All 4
  • Non-lawyer personnel may communicate with judges, judicial officers, or other court personnel only about scheduling and other ministerial matters.

  • A lawyer must avoid substantive ex-parte communications with the presiding judge in a pending case.

  • A lawyer must notify opposing counsel of communications with the court or tribunal unless the communication concerns only scheduling or clerical matters.

E-Filing

All 3
  • Applies to
    Cover letter

    A cover letter is optional, but if submitted it must be an Adobe PDF containing relevant details and must be uploaded separately from the proposed order.

  • Applies to
    Proposed order

    When multiple proposed orders are submitted in one filing, each order must be uploaded separately to the E-Portal.

  • Applies to
    Foreclosure packet

    All foreclosure packet documents must be e-filed with the clerk when hearing time is reserved.

About Judge Benjamin M. Boylston

Benjamin M. Boylston, Circuit Judge, Lake County Circuit Court. Judicial assistant: Tammie Vinson. Office: (352) 253-4402.

- Chambers, Suite 3, North Wing, Second Floor - Courtroom 1C - Lake County Judicial Center P.O. Box 7800 550 W. Main Street Tavares, FL 32778

Common questions about Judge Benjamin M. Boylston's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Benjamin M. Boylston?

Evidentiary hearings must be in person, advance courtesy copies of evidence are unnecessary, and the Court will not review exhibits before evidentiary admission.

View ruleSource: page 1, section SUBMITTING CASE LAW AND PROSPECTIVE EVIDENCE

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Benjamin M. Boylston?

Judge Benjamin M. Boylston's formatting rule includes file format docx. Proposed orders must be submitted only in DOCX format; PDF submissions are not accepted.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PROPOSED ORDERS

What must be included with notice of hearing filings before Judge Benjamin M. Boylston?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The requesting party must prepare and file a Notice of Hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section SCHEDULING HEARINGS

What must be included with notice of cancellation filings before Judge Benjamin M. Boylston?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. When a Notice of Hearing has already been filed, the party must prepare and file a Notice of Cancellation and notify the other parties.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TO CANCEL A HEARING OR TRIAL

How may parties contact Judge Benjamin M. Boylston's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Benjamin M. Boylston's chambers. The rule lists email tvinson@circuit5.org. A hearing or trial cancellation must be reported by email to the Judicial Assistant with a stated reason.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TO CANCEL A HEARING OR TRIAL

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Benjamin M. Boylston?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. The proper motion must be filed with the Clerk’s office.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TO CONTINUE A HEARING OR TRIAL

Is electronic filing required before Judge Benjamin M. Boylston?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Proposed orders must be submitted electronically by email and may not be sent as paper orders.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PROPOSED ORDERS

What filing deadlines does Judge Benjamin M. Boylston set?

The Court prefers that case law and hearing memoranda be submitted at least five days before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section SUBMITTING CASE LAW AND PROSPECTIVE EVIDENCE

What rule applies to service by mail before Judge Benjamin M. Boylston?

Proof of service is required for the covered service rule. Details: method: service by mail. For a non-e-service self-represented litigant, service must be made by U.S. mail and certified through a filed notice of service within five days after entry of the order.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PROPOSED ORDERS
Complete rules summary for Judge Benjamin M. Boylston

The proper motion must be filed with the Clerk’s office.

The party must either schedule a hearing on the continuance motion or obtain all parties’ consent; approval by the Court is not guaranteed.

After the new date is coordinated, the party must contact the Judicial Assistant to place the continuance on the Court’s calendar.

Email is the preferred means of communicating with Judge Boylston’s office.

Requests for hearings longer than 15 minutes must concern an in-person hearing and be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.

Courtesy copies of evidence need not be supplied before a hearing.

The requesting party must prepare and file a Notice of Hearing.

A notice of hearing must include the docket number for each motion to be heard.

A hearing or trial cancellation must be reported by email to the Judicial Assistant with a stated reason.

When a Notice of Hearing has already been filed, the party must prepare and file a Notice of Cancellation and notify the other parties.

Other parties must be notified when a previously filed hearing is cancelled.

A copy of the Notice of Cancellation must also be emailed to the Judge’s office.

A request to continue a hearing or trial must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.

The requesting party must prepare an amended notice after the continuance date is coordinated.

Proposed orders must be submitted electronically by email and may not be sent as paper orders.

The subject line of a proposed-order email must contain the case style and case number.

Proposed orders must be submitted only in DOCX format; PDF submissions are not accepted.

Proposed orders must not contain e-portal submission codes.

A proposed order must include the underlying motion and a cover letter identifying the related hearing and whether all parties agree to the order.

A proposed order submitted before its hearing must specifically identify the hearing date and time.

Every proposed order must include a certificate of service complying with Florida Rule of General Practice and Procedure 2.516.

The proposed order’s certificate of service must state substantially that a true and correct copy was provided electronically and/or by U.S. mail to the listed parties.

The certificate of service must fit without being split across two pages.

The proposed order caption must identify the Fifth Judicial Circuit and Lake County.

When a self-represented litigant does not participate in e-portal electronic service, the proposed order must provide for U.S. mail service and a filed notice certifying service within five days after the order is entered.

For a non-e-service self-represented litigant, service must be made by U.S. mail and certified through a filed notice of service within five days after entry of the order.

Proposed orders must be submitted to JudgeBoylstonProposedOrders@circuit5.org.

Written communications to Judge Boylston’s office should be submitted by email.

An email to Judge Boylston’s office should identify the parties and case number in its subject line.

Every other party, or that party’s attorney if represented, must be copied on all correspondence to the Court.

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