Unified Family Court
Unified Family Court is a fully integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases involving children and families, while at the same time resolving family disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost effective manner. The Florida Supreme Court has recognized that families should be able to have all of their disputes resolved in the most effective and efficient way possible. Court cases involving one family are handled before one judge unless impractical. Since 1991, a series of Florida Supreme Court opinions have been instrumental in shaping family courts throughout the state.
All juvenile delinquency cases are heard in the Unified Family Court, as well as all dependency cases. Visit the Juvenile page for more information.
Links to Supreme Court Opinions
July 1, 2016 the Family Law Division of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in Lee County implemented a revised Unified Family Court (UFC) program to manage related family law cases. UFC’s governing philosophy is that related court cases should be presided over by the same judge or judicial officer to ensure consistency of judicial rulings and effective, efficient case management. UFC case types include Family Law/Domestic Relations, Domestic Violence, Dependency and Delinquency. In order to qualify for the UFC designation the related cases must have a Dependency or Delinquency case among them. If there is no Dependency or Delinquency case involvement then the family law matter is presided over by a family law judge or judicial officer.
UFC has two presiding judges who are assigned a shared case manager.
| Unified Family Court Judges: | UFC Case Manager: |
|---|---|
|
Honorable Tracy Redd Judicial Assistant: Lynn (239) 533-2831 |
Cindy (239) 533-8206 |
|
Honorable Gilberto Perez
Judicial Assistant: Heather (239) 533-2600 |
Cindy (239) 533-8206 |
Unified Family Court includes Domestic Relations, Family Law Cases, Names Changes, Adoptions, Domestic Violence Cases, Dependency Cases and Delinquency Cases.
In Charlotte County Judge Mary Evans is the UFC Judge. You may view Judge Evans’ policies, procedures, and forms by visiting Judge Evans' Downloads page.
As of July 1,2014 a Unified Family Court Division has been implemented in Collier County, pursuant to Rules 12.003, 12.004, 12.006, 12.007 and 12.271, Florida Family Rules of Procedure. Unified Family Court includes Domestic Relations, Family Law Cases, Names Changes, Adoptions, Domestic Violence Cases, Dependency Cases and Delinquency Cases.
| Unified Family Court Judges: | UFC Case Managers: |
|---|---|
|
Honorable Christopher Brown
|
Carol Shepelrich |
|
Honorable Elizabeth Krier
|
Sherlie Pierre |
|
Honorable Amanda Levy-Reis
|
Nicole Rojas |
Please click the name of the judge presiding over your case, located below, for specific instructions and procedures.
You may also view the policies and procedures of the Unified Family Court judges, as well as other helpful forms and orders below: