(a) General Masters. Judges of the circuit court may appoint as many general masters from among the members of the Bar in the circuit as the judges find necessary, and the general masters shall continue in office until removed by the court. The order making an appointment shall be recorded. Every person appointed as a general master shall take the oath required of officers by the Constitution and the oath shall be recorded before the master discharges any duties of that office.

(b) Special Masters. The court may appoint members of The Florida Bar as special masters for any particular service required by the court, and they shall be governed by all the provisions of law and rules relating to masters except they shall not be required to make oath or give bond unless specifically required by the order appointing them. Upon a showing that the appointment is advisable, a person other than a member of the Bar may be appointed.

(c) Reference. No reference shall be to a master, either general or special, without the consent of the parties. When a reference is made to a master, either party may set the action for hearing before the master.

(d) General Powers and Duties. Every master shall perform all of the duties that pertain to the office according to the practice in chancery and under the direction of the court. Process issued by a master shall be directed as provided by law. Hearings before any master, examiner, or commissioner shall be held in the county where the action is pending, but hearings may be held at any place by order of the court within or without the state to meet the convenience of the witnesses or the parties. All grounds of disqualification of a judge shall apply to masters.

(e) Bond. When not otherwise provided by law, the court may require masters who are appointed to dispose of real or personal property to give bond and surety conditioned for the proper payment of all moneys that may come into their hands and for the due performance of their duties as the court may direct. The bond shall be made payable to the State of Florida and shall be for the benefit of all persons aggrieved by any act of the master.

(f) Hearings. The master shall assign a time and place for proceedings as soon as reasonably possible after the reference is made and give notice to each of the parties. If any party fails to appear, the master may proceed ex parte or may adjourn the proceeding to a future day, giving notice to the absent party of the adjournment. The master shall proceed with reasonable diligence in every reference and with the reasonable diligence in every reference and with the least practicable delay. Any party may apply to the court for an order to the master to speed the proceedings and to make the report and to certify to the court the reason for any delay. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, all hearings shall be held in the courthouse of the county where the action is pending. The evidence shall be taken in writing by the master or by some other person under the master's authority in the master's presence and shall be filed with the master's report. The master shall have authority to examine the parties on oath upon all matters contained in the reference and to require production of all books, papers, writings, vouchers, and other documents applicable to it and to examine on oath orally all witnesses produced by the parties. The master shall admit evidence by deposition or that is otherwise admissible in court. The master may take all actions concerning evidence that can be taken by the court and in the same manner. All parties accounting before a master shall bring in their accounts in the form of accounts payable and receivable, and any other parties who are not satisfied with the account may examine the accounting party orally or by interrogatories or deposition as the master directs. All depositions and documents that have been taken or used previously in the action may be used before the master.

(g) Master's Report. In the reports made by the master no part of any statement of facts, account, charge, deposition, examination, or answer used before the master shall be recited. The matters shall be identified to inform the court what items were used.

(h) Filing Report; Notice; Exceptions. The master shall file the report and serve copies on the parties. The parties may serve exceptions to the report within 10 days from the time it is served on them. If no exceptions ar filed within that period, the court shall take appropriate action on the report. If exceptions are filed, they shall be heard on reasonable notice by either party.

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