Child Support in Alachua County, Florida

Alachua County child support cases go through the Eighth Judicial Circuit at the Alachua County Courthouse, 201 East University Avenue in Gainesville. This includes new orders, modifications to existing orders, and enforcement of unpaid support.

If the parents were never married and no court case exists, the Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program can open an administrative case to establish paternity and support without a lawsuit. Once a circuit case is open in Alachua County, changes go through the same file using a Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support, Form 12.905(b).

As in the rest of Florida, the support amount comes from the statewide Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Form 12.902(e). That worksheet applies Fla. Stat. 61.30 to both parents' net income, overnights, health insurance, and child care costs. Most Florida child support orders also include an Income Deduction Order under Fla. Stat. 61.1301, which directs the paying parent's employer to withhold support from wages. Alachua County is the Eighth Circuit's largest county. Its Child Support Enforcement division is directed by Samuel Stafford, CSE Director and Hearing Officer, who handles establishment, enforcement, and modification matters here.

The Eighth Circuit's Self-Help Center sits on the fourth floor of the Family and Civil Justice Center in Gainesville and serves Alachua County plus five other counties in the circuit. Staff can review your Family Law Financial Affidavit for procedural completeness before a hearing: use the long form 12.902(b) if your income is $50,000 or more, or the short form 12.902(c) if it's below that.

How child support is calculated in Florida

Florida sets child support with a statewide income shares guideline (Fla. Stat. 61.30) that applies the same way in Alachua County, FL as everywhere else. The guideline combines:

1. Both parents' net incomes, combined into one child support obligation.
2. The number of overnights each parent has with the child (the time-sharing schedule).

The guideline result is presumed correct, and the parties complete a Child Support Guidelines Worksheet along with a Financial Affidavit (Florida Supreme Court approved family law form 12.902(b) or 12.902(c)) so the court can calculate the amount.

Where child support cases are handled in Alachua County, FL

Child support in Alachua County, FL is handled through the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Alachua County, and, for enforcement and establishment cases that do not involve a private attorney, the Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program, which can open a case at no cost to the parents. There are two common paths:

1. A parent requests support inside a dissolution, paternity, or existing family case by motion, with a Financial Affidavit.
2. The Department of Revenue Child Support Program opens an administrative or court case to establish, collect, and enforce support.

Because courthouse and local agency office details change over time, confirm current details using the Florida court clerk directory:

Find the Alachua County, FL Clerk of Court (Florida court clerk directory)

Local notes for Alachua County, FL

Alachua County hosts the Eighth Circuit's Family and Civil Justice Center, so Gainesville residents have the most direct access to the Self-Help Center of any county in the circuit. Room 413 on the fourth floor is the shared hub that Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union County residents also rely on, often by phone instead of in person.

For scheduling and case status questions in Alachua County, call the county's own Child Support Enforcement office at (352) 374-3662. That's separate from the general Self-Help Center number, (352) 548-3781.

DOR handles the state side by phone and portal rather than a Gainesville counter. Call 850-488-KIDS during business hours, or use childsupport.floridarevenue.com any time, if your case was opened administratively rather than through the courthouse.

Official child support resources in Alachua County, FL

Alachua County Courthouse handles child-support filings, located at 201 East University Avenue, Gainesville 32601.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Statewide myflcourtaccess.com portal applies; self-represented parties may still file paper documents at the Alachua County Courthouse in Gainesville.

Eighth Judicial Circuit Self-Help Center (https://circuit8.org/self-help/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Fourth floor of the Family and Civil Justice Center, Room 413, Gainesville, (352) 548-3781. Serves Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties. Staff explain procedures and help set a hearing with the judge but do not give legal advice, represent litigants in court, or select forms.

• Eighth Judicial Circuit Self-Help Center
• Eighth Judicial Circuit Child Support Enforcement
• Florida Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (Form 12.902(e))
• Florida DOR Child Support Program
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal

Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.

Alachua County, FL Child Support FAQs