WHEREAS,pursuant to Rule 12.490(a), Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, and Rule 8.257(a), Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure, circuits may utilize General Magistrates, and

WHEREAS, the use of General Magistrates has been deemed necessary by the judges of the Seventh Judicial Circuit;

NOW THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM A. PARSONS, Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, hereby order that General Magistrates may be utilized in domestic relations (Family Law) and Juvenile Dependency proceedings filed in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED as follows:

1. A General Magistrate’s duties may include:a. conducting temporary and post-judgment hearings in domestic relations (Family Law) cases (“Post-judgment” issues are defined as those issues that arise from cases that have been previously closed by an order or judgment that provides resolution to the last or all matters raised in the filing that initiated the case);b. conducting case management conferences pursuant to Rule 12.200, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure;c. conducting hearings in simplified and uncontested dissolution of marriage cases;

   d. conducting hearings in name change proceedings;

   e. conducting post-disposition Judicial Reviews, pretrial hearings and other related proceedings in juvenile dependency cases;

   f. performing such other duties as may be assigned by the Chief Judge pursuant to Rule 12.490, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, or Rule 8.257, Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure.

2. A General Magistrate’s duties may not include conducting hearings in domestic, repeat, dating, or sexual violence cases, other than those outlined above (see Rule 12.490 (c), Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure), or conducting Permanency hearings in juvenile dependency cases.
3. A General Magistrates is deemed to be an employee of the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court and functions under the direction of the Chief Judge and Court Administrator, or their designees.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the appointment of individuals to serve as General Magistrates shall be accomplished by separate administrative order.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that administrative order FM-2007-021-SC is hereby rescinded.

TO BE RECORDED in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties.

DONE AND ORDERED in Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida this 1st day of August 2012.