Child Support in Highlands County, Florida

Highlands County child support cases run through the Tenth Judicial Circuit's hearing officer system, based in Bartow. The Highlands County Courthouse in Sebring handles filing, the Pro Se Law Library, and clerk services locally.

The circuit assigns the same four Title IV-D hearing officers who cover Hardee and Polk to Highlands cases too: Christine Daly, Donald Frenette, Kymberly Clements, and Patrick Vincent, all reachable at (863) 534-5831. Highlands has no hearing officer of its own.

If your support question comes from your own divorce or paternity filing rather than a Department of Revenue case, you'll typically appear before one of the circuit's family law magistrates instead, such as Jennifer L. Steimle or Robin M. Matis-Jackson. Both paths use the same statewide worksheet and financial affidavit to calculate the amount.

To modify an order, file a Supplemental Petition to Modify, Form 12.905(b), and show a substantial change in circumstances. The Highlands Clerk's Pro Se Law Library, in Room 102 at the courthouse, sells ready-made self-help checklists that pair with the state forms.

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 Highlands 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 Highlands County, FL

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

Local notes for Highlands County, FL

The Highlands County Pro Se Law Library, at 430 S. Commerce Avenue, Room 102 in Sebring, offers a dedicated in-person resource most nearby counties lack in the same form. Staff there keep a checklist system and a packet fee schedule, with family law packets such as Dissolution with Children priced at $49.05, and they point self-represented parents to TurboCourt for online form preparation.

Because Highlands shares Tenth Circuit hearing officers based in Bartow instead of hosting its own, check whether your hearing is remote, under the circuit's specific virtual appearance policy for DRD child support hearings, or requires travel outside the county.

Call the Highlands Clerk's office at (863) 402-6565 with questions about current packet pricing, indigent status applications under Florida Statute 57.082, or where a specific filing needs to go within the Sebring courthouse.

Highlands is smaller and more rural than Polk, so expect fewer hearing days scheduled per month at the Sebring courthouse for a given case type. Pro Se Law Library staff can usually tell you the next available filing or hearing window if you ask directly.

Official child support resources in Highlands County, FL

Highlands County Courthouse handles child-support filings, located at 430 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring 33870. Phone: (863) 402-6565.

E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. The Highlands Clerk links the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and also offers TurboCourt for self-prepared dissolution and family law forms.

Highlands County Pro Se Law Library (https://www.highlandsclerkfl.gov/clerk_to_the_court/pro_se____law_library/self_help_checklists_and_forms.php) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at the Highlands County Courthouse, Room 102, 430 S. Commerce Ave, Sebring, FL 33870. Offers self-help checklists covering child support and alimony modification, plus a packet fee schedule; for example a Dissolution with Children packet is $49.05. Phone (863) 402-6565. Also links TurboCourt for self-prepared forms. Virtual Appearance Policy (Rules for Virtual Appearances at DRD-Child Support Hearings, Tenth Judicial Circuit) applies; see https://www.jud10.flcourts.org/sites/default/files/docs/VirtualAppearancePolicy_DRD-Child_Support_Hearings_HearingOfficers.pdf.

• Tenth Circuit Magistrates and Hearing Officers
• Highlands County Self Help Checklists and Forms
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Virtual Appearance Policy, DRD Child Support Hearings
• Florida Child Support Program Payments

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

Highlands County, FL Child Support FAQs