Division Handles Family Issues

The 10th Judicial Circuit's Family Law Division handles cases involving issues such as divorce, child custody, paternity, adoption and domestic violence.

A Self Help Unit can provide general information about how the family court system operates and offers some limited assistance, but the staff is not permitted to give legal advice.

The unit handles family cases in which neither party is represented by lawyers.

If one party does have a lawyer, the case goes before one of the five judges in the Family Law Division.

Help is also available for victims of domestic violence who are seeking injunctions for protection, often called restraining orders.

The Clerk of Courts Office provides assistance with filing such requests.

Three certified family court mediators are in the Family Mediation Unit. These mediators are certified by the Florida Supreme Court to help people in a contested custody or visitation case reach agreements. If a settlement is reached, the case does not go before a judge.

For families with a combined household income of up to $50,000 a year, the cost for mediation is $60 per person. For families with a combined household income of $50,000 to $100,000, the cost is $120 per person.

Households with an income of more than $100,000 must hire private mediators.