Child Support in Broward County, Florida

The Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program establishes, collects, and enforces child support orders in Broward County. Reach the program statewide at 850-488-KIDS (5437). Hearings go through the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit's family division.

Family law filings center at the Broward County Courthouse, also called the Central Courthouse, at 201 SE 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. The circuit also runs regional courthouses in Deerfield Beach, Plantation, and Hollywood for other case types. Check with the clerk to confirm which location applies before you appear for a support hearing.

The Seventeenth Circuit keeps a roster of general magistrates and dedicated hearing officers who handle referred matters, including some child support cases. They issue recommended orders for a circuit judge to review. Remote hearings by Zoom or Microsoft Teams are common in Broward, and the circuit posts video tutorials showing how to join a virtual hearing.

Support amounts follow the statewide guideline formula in Section 61.30 of the Florida Statutes. The calculation uses the Form 12.902(e) worksheet, factoring in both parents' income, insurance and childcare costs, and the time-sharing schedule.

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 Broward 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 Broward County, FL

Child support in Broward County, FL is handled through the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Broward 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 Broward County, FL Clerk of Court (Florida court clerk directory)

Local notes for Broward County, FL

The Seventeenth Circuit publishes a ProSe Help checklist for people representing themselves in family court. It covers what to bring to a hearing and how filings are generally organized. This is a general self-representation guide, not one written specifically for child support cases.

Broward assigns cases to a roster of general magistrates and hearing officers rather than one dedicated child support officer. Confirm which officer is assigned to your case, and check whether that hearing is scheduled in person or remotely by Zoom or Teams. Practices vary by division.

The Broward Clerk of Courts may or may not run a dedicated self-help center for child support forms, beyond its general Self Service Forms page. Call the clerk's office to confirm what in-person help is available for your filing.

Official child support resources in Broward County, FL

Broward County Courthouse (Central Courthouse) handles child-support filings, located at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale 33301. North Regional Courthouse at 1600 W Hillsboro Boulevard handles regional matters; confirm whether family law hearings are scheduled here for a specific case. West Regional Courthouse at 100 N Pine Island Road handles regional matters; confirm whether family law hearings are scheduled here for a specific case. South Regional Courthouse at 3550 Hollywood Boulevard handles regional matters; confirm whether family law hearings are scheduled here for a specific case.

The filing fee is $409. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal; family filings are also handled through the Broward Clerk's Family division at the Central Courthouse.

Seventeenth Circuit ProSe Help Checklist (https://www.17th.flcourts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Checklist-For-prose2025.pdf) can help with procedure and paperwork. General self-representation checklist for family court, not written specifically for child support cases; the clerk also offers general Self Service Forms online. General Magistrates and Hearing Officers (Seventeenth Judicial Circuit General Magistrates and Hearing Officers) applies; see https://www.17th.flcourts.org/general-magistrates/.

• Seventeenth Circuit General Magistrates and Hearing Officers
• Seventeenth Circuit ProSe Help Checklist
• Florida DOR Child Support Program
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Form 12.902(e) Child Support Guidelines Worksheet

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

Broward County, FL Child Support FAQs