Child Support in Clay County, Florida

Child support cases for Clay County, Florida go through the Fourth Judicial Circuit, and the paperwork is filed with the Clerk of Court at the Judge William A. Wilkes Judicial Complex in Green Cove Springs. That applies to a brand-new support case, a request to change an amount set years ago, and an effort to enforce an order that isn't being paid. A separate path also exists: the Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program can open an administrative case in Clay County without going through the family division at all.

Which path applies depends on whether a court case already exists. If you were never married to the other parent and no paternity action has been filed, DOR can establish paternity and a support order administratively. If a Clay County circuit case is already open, changes go through that same case as a Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support, Florida Family Law Form 12.905(b), filed under the same case number.

Every Florida child support number, in Clay County or anywhere else, starts from the same statewide formula: the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Form 12.902(e), applied under Florida Statute 61.30. The worksheet combines both parents' net incomes, the number of overnights each parent has, and costs like health insurance and child care to produce a presumptive monthly figure. A judge can deviate from that number only for specific reasons stated in the statute. Most Florida child support orders, including this one, also come with an Income Deduction Order under Fla. Stat. 61.1301, directing the paying parent's employer to withhold support directly from wages.

Before any hearing, both parents typically file a Family Law Financial Affidavit: the long form 12.902(b) if gross annual income is $50,000 or more, or the short form 12.902(c) below that threshold. The Fourth Circuit's Family Court Services division, which covers Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties, asks self-represented parties to check in with a case manager before submitting these forms so the case gets routed correctly.

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 Clay 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 Clay County, FL

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

Local notes for Clay County, FL

Clay County has no separate Family Court Services office of its own; Fourth Circuit staff at jud4.org handle Clay filings along with Duval and Nassau. The site is clear that a case manager should review your paperwork before you file it, rather than a clerk accepting a form sight unseen at the counter. That single point of contact is worth using. It's the closest thing to a facilitator program available in Clay County.

You can still file in person at the Green Cove Springs courthouse, but Florida's e-filing portal, myflcourtaccess.com, is open to self-represented litigants too, not just attorneys. The Clay Clerk's fee schedule lists a dissolution-related range rather than one dollar figure for support cases. Anyone filing a new paternity or support action, or a Form 12.905(b) modification, should call Civil Court Services at (904) 284-6302 to confirm the exact amount before showing up.

The Florida Department of Revenue's Child Support Program has no walk-in office in Clay County, so most administrative contact happens by phone at 850-488-KIDS or online through the eServices portal. That matters if DOR opened your case rather than a private attorney or a self-represented filing, since there's no local DOR counter to visit in Green Cove Springs.

Official child support resources in Clay County, FL

Judge William A. Wilkes Judicial Complex handles child-support filings, located at 825 North Orange Avenue, Green Cove Springs 32043.

E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) is the statewide portal; self-represented parties may still bring paper forms to the Clay County Clerk at the Green Cove Springs courthouse.

Fourth Judicial Circuit Family Court Services Self-Help Program (https://www.jud4.org/family-court-services/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Serves Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties. The site instructs self-represented parties to consult a case manager before completing any child support forms, then routes the case to the correct courthouse.

• Fourth Judicial Circuit Family Court Services Self-Help
• Fourth Judicial Circuit Child Support page
• 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.

Clay County, FL Child Support FAQs