Child Support in Hernando County, Florida

Hernando County child support cases fall under the Fifth Judicial Circuit. File them with the Clerk of Court at the Hernando County Courthouse, 20 North Main Street in Brooksville. Most Hernando County residents live in the Spring Hill area, but the courthouse and the family law case file are organized by county, not by any one city.

If the parents were never married and no court case is open, the Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program can establish paternity and set support administratively. Once a Hernando County circuit case exists, file later changes in that same case with a Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support, Form 12.905(b).

As everywhere in Florida, the guideline dollar amount comes from the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Form 12.902(e). Fla. Stat. 61.30 sets the formula, based on both parents' net income, the time-sharing schedule, health insurance premiums, and child care costs. A judge needs a statutory reason to depart from that number. Most Florida child support orders, including this one, also come with an Income Deduction Order under Fla. Stat. 61.1301, which directs the paying parent's employer to withhold support straight from wages.

Hernando County's Family Law Self-Help Program meets by appointment at the courthouse. It reviews initial filings, including the Family Law Financial Affidavit, before a final hearing is scheduled. Use the long form, 12.902(b), for income of $50,000 or more, and the short form, 12.902(c), below that. The clerk's site states plainly that self-represented parties must complete this step first.

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 Hernando 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 Hernando County, FL

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

Local notes for Hernando County, FL

The Hernando County Self-Help Program opens only three days a week: Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It runs strictly by appointment, booked through HernandoFamilySelfHelp@circuit5.org, a narrower window than some neighboring counties offer. Anyone filing without a lawyer should plan around that limited weekly schedule.

The Hernando Clerk's own materials confirm a lawyer is not required to file. Self-represented parties must still meet with the Self-Help coordinator before the court sets a final hearing date. Skip that meeting and your case can stall even after the clerk accepts your paperwork.

Like the rest of Florida, the Department of Revenue runs no walk-in child support office in Hernando County. Handle administrative cases and enforcement questions through the statewide phone line, 850-488-KIDS, or the childsupport.floridarevenue.com portal.

Official child support resources in Hernando County, FL

Hernando County Courthouse handles child-support filings, located at 20 North Main Street, Brooksville 34601.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Statewide myflcourtaccess.com portal is mandatory for attorneys; self-represented parties may still file on paper, though the clerk's site notes they must meet with the Family Law Self-Help coordinator before a final hearing is scheduled.

Fifth Judicial Circuit Hernando County Self-Help Program (https://www.circuit5.org/self-help-center/hernando-county-self-help-center/) can help with procedure and paperwork. At the Hernando County Courthouse; appointment-only Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., HernandoFamilySelfHelp@circuit5.org. Reviews initial filings for dissolution and paternity/time-sharing cases before a hearing is scheduled; procedural information only.

• Hernando County Self-Help Program
• Fifth Judicial Circuit Administrative Orders
• 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.

Hernando County, FL Child Support FAQs