Judge Caroline Tesche Arkin
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Notice Of Hearing
- Email • After Filing
Chambers Copy
Court-wideCourtesy copies
Court-wideExtraordinary Writ Petition
Court-wide- Immediately Upon Filing
Adjournments
Court-wideRequest must include
Communication
Chambers
Clerk
Clerk
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Document Format Requirements3 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Proposed orders must be uploaded through the e-portal in PDF format; Word submissions are automatically rejected.
Proposed Orders must be uploaded in pdf format through the e-portal. Proposed Orders uploaded in WORD are rejected automatically by the e-portal.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Exhibits intended for a hearing or trial must be submitted in an indexed, tabbed binder no later than three days before the proceeding.
ALL EXHIBITS INTENDED TO BE INTRODUCED IN HEARING/TRIAL MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 3 DAYS BEFORE HEARING/TRIAL AND BE SUBMITTED IN A BINDER WITH AN INDEX AND TABBED.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
All Orders MUST carry something of substance on the judge’s signature page,- i.e., no hanging signatures.
Summary: Every order must contain substantive matter on the judge’s signature page and may not have a hanging signature.
Document Filing Requirements10 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
When the decedent died within two years before filing, the summary-administration petition must include a paid funeral bill or satisfactory proof of payment.
If the decedent died less than two years before the date of the filing, the petition for summary administration must be accompanied by a paid funeral bill or other satisfactory proof that the funeral expenses have been paid.
Document Type
Petition For Summary Administration
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Every signature on a pro se administration petition must be notarized.
In addition to the requirements listed above, all signatures related to petitions for administration filed pro se must be notarized.
Document Type
Petition For Administration
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
A summary-administration petition for an intestate estate must be accompanied by an affidavit of heirs.
All petitions for summary administration in intestate estates must be accompanied by an affidavit of heirs.
Document Type
Petition For Summary Administration
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
An order resulting from a hearing must state the hearing date in its opening paragraph.
Every Order that is uploaded to e-portal as a result of a hearing MUST include the date of the hearing in the opening paragraph of the Order
Document Type
Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
The Notice of Hearing must state the Zoom information or indicate that attendance will be in person.
PLEASE FILE YOUR “NOTICE OF HEARING” W/ ZOOM INFORMATION or ON-PERSON indication listed on the Notice.
Document Type
Notice Of Hearing
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Every signature on a pro se summary-administration petition must be notarized.
In addition to the requirements listed above, all signatures related to petitions for summary administration filed prose must be notarized.
Document Type
Petition For Summary Administration
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
When the decedent died within two years before filing, the administration petition must include a paid funeral bill or satisfactory proof of payment.
If the decedent died less than two years before the date of filing, the petition for administration must be accompanied by a paid funeral bill or other satisfactory proof that the funeral expenses have been paid.
Document Type
Petition For Administration
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Closing or settlement documents must be attached to petitions seeking approval of a settlement or minor settlement.
On all Petitions for Approval of Settlement and /or Petitions for Approval of Minor Settlement, the closing/settlement documents must be attached to the petitions.
Document Type
Settlement Petition
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
An administration petition for an intestate estate must be accompanied by an affidavit of heirs.
All petitions for administration in intestate estates must be accompanied by an affidavit of heirs.
Document Type
Petition For Administration
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Proposed orders that are agreed upon by the parties are to be uploaded through the portal in PDF format. Please include a reminder of the date of the hearing in the cover letter, and if the Order is agreed to by the parties.
Summary: An agreed proposed order must be uploaded through the portal in PDF format, with a cover letter identifying the hearing date and confirming the parties' agreement.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Probate Division B is paperless, and orders requiring signature must be filed through the electronic portal rather than submitted as hard copies.
PROBATE DIVISION “B” IS PAPERLESS. PLEASE DO NOT SEND IN HARD COPIES OF ORDERS TO BE SIGNED. ALL ORDERS MUST BE FILED THROUGH THE E-PORTAL
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
The personal-representative oath, resident-agent designation, and acceptance may be filed electronically.
Oath of Personal Representative and Designation of Resident Agent and Acceptance can be e-filed
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
The guardian oath, resident-agent designation, and acceptance may be filed electronically.
Oath of Guardian and Designation of Resident Agent and Acceptance can be e-filed.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Certified copies of death certificates may be filed electronically.
Certified copies of Death Certificates can be e-filed.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Case-law submissions for a contested hearing are due at least three days before the hearing.
CASE LAW MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST 3 DAYS BEFORE HEARING.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
All exhibits intended for introduction at a hearing or trial must be submitted no later than three days beforehand.
ALL EXHIBITS INTENDED TO BE INTRODUCED IN HEARING/TRIAL MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 3 DAYS BEFORE HEARING/TRIAL
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Attorneys must file all required documents and wait three business days after filing originals or using the e-portal before uploading an order.
Attorneys: Please do not upload any orders until all required documents have been filed in the Court file. Please wait 3 business days after filing through the e-portal or submitting original documents to upload the Order to allow time for the Clerk’s office to docket same.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Documents responding to an Order to Show Cause, including extension requests, must be filed at least five business days before the hearing or the hearing will be cancelled.
Documents filed in response to an Order to Show Cause MUST be filed no later than 5 business days prior to the hearing. Documents filed after this date will result in cancellation of the Order to Show Cause Hearing. NOTE: This includes petitions and orders to extend time.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
An order uploaded before its hearing will be rejected and removed by the clerk or judicial assistant.
If an Order is uploaded in advance of a hearing, the Clerk of the Circuit Court or the Judicial Assistant will reject and remove the Order.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
An order resulting from a hearing should not be uploaded until after the hearing occurs.
SHOULD NOT be uploaded before the hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Orders uploaded before the required documents are filed and the three-business-day waiting period expires will be rejected and removed from the judge’s queue.
Any Orders uploaded without compliance with the above requirements having been met will be rejected by the Clerk’s office and removed from the judge’s work queue.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A courtesy copy of the electronically filed Notice of Hearing must be emailed to the division afterward.
Please email a courtesy copy of the Notice of Hearing after it has been e-filed onto the case to probatedivisionb@fljud13.org
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
Documents for which confidentiality is requested must be emailed to the judicial assistant for in-camera judicial review.
If there is a request for confidentiality, the documents shall be emailed to the Judicial Assistant probatedivisionb@fljud13.org for the court to review in camera.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Filing Bundling Requirements
Exhibits intended for use at a hearing or trial must be submitted in an indexed, tabbed binder no later than three days before the proceeding.
ALL EXHIBITS INTENDED TO BE INTRODUCED IN HEARING/TRIAL MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 3 DAYS BEFORE HEARING/TRIAL AND BE SUBMITTED IN A BINDER WITH AN INDEX AND TABBED.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Chambers Communication Rules
Attorneys must email all cited or relied-upon case authority to the division at least three days before a contested hearing and include the case number, case name, and hearing date.
Attorneys must submit all case law authority being cited or relied upon at all contested hearings. You can email to probatedivisionb@fljud13.org and please put the case number and name and when the hearing is set for in your email. CASE LAW MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST 3 DAYS BEFORE HEARING.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
For disputed orders, one email to the judicial assistant must include a cover letter explaining the differences, identifying the hearing date, and attaching Word versions of the competing orders for judicial review and editing.
In the case of orders NOT agreed to, please submit one email to the JA at probatedivisionb@fljud13.org containing a cover letter which describes the differences in the Orders, a reminder of the hearing date, and WORD versions of the competing orders for the Court’s review and editing; the Court will upload and sign an order on the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
Hearings lasting one hour or longer must be scheduled with the judicial assistant and will take place only in person; extended-time requests must be emailed to the division.
1-HOUR HEARINGS OR LONGER MUST BE SET WITH THE JA AND WILL BE “IN-PERSON” ONLY. Please email the division at: probatedivisionb@fljud13.org with your request for extended hearing times.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
The division must be notified at least three business days before an incapacity hearing whether a court reporter will be provided; failing both to notify and to provide a reporter will cancel the hearing.
For Incapacity hearings, please notify the division at least 3 business days prior to the hearing if you will or will not be providing a court reporter. Failure to notify the judge’s office AND failure to provide a court reporter will result in cancellation of the scheduled hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences