Updated July 2026
Child Support in Monroe County, Florida
A plain-language guide to child support in Monroe County, FL, from Florida's statewide guideline formula to the forms you file at the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Monroe County and how to prepare your paperwork without hiring an attorney.
Child support cases in Monroe County, in the Florida Keys, run through the same Department of Revenue Child Support Program used statewide. Call 850-488-KIDS (5437) to reach them. Court hearings, though, fall under the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, split across three island courthouses.
Monroe County stretches over 100 miles from Key Largo to Key West, so the Sixteenth Circuit keeps courthouses in three places. The Freeman Justice Center at 302 Fleming Street in Key West covers the Lower Keys, Marathon Courthouse at 3117 Overseas Highway covers the Middle Keys, and Plantation Key Government Center at 88770 Overseas Highway in Tavernier covers the Upper Keys. Which one applies to your case depends on where the parties live and where the case was originally filed.
A general magistrate handles many Monroe County family law matters, including child support issues referred by a circuit judge, but the circuit has no dedicated self-help center like some larger circuits offer. Parents without a lawyer can call the Clerk of Court or the Sixteenth Circuit's court administration office at (305) 292-3423 with procedural questions, though staff cannot give legal advice.
Support amounts follow Florida's statewide guideline formula under Section 61.30 of the Florida Statutes, calculated on the Form 12.902(e) worksheet.
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 Monroe County, FL as everywhere else. The guideline combines:
- Both parents' net incomes, combined into one child support obligation.
- 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 Monroe County, FL
Child support in Monroe County, FL is handled through the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Monroe 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:
- A parent requests support inside a dissolution, paternity, or existing family case by motion, with a Financial Affidavit.
- 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 Monroe County, FL Clerk of Court (Florida court clerk directory)
Local notes for Monroe County, FL
Geography is the main local wrinkle in Monroe County. A parent in Key Largo and a parent in Key West can sit an hour and a half or more apart by car, so check which of the three courthouses, Key West, Marathon, or Plantation Key, has jurisdiction over your case before you plan a trip to court.
E-filing through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com sidesteps that travel problem for parties who can file electronically. The Department of Revenue's eServices portal also lets parents anywhere in the Keys check a support case and payment history online without visiting an office.
The Sixteenth Circuit does not publish details of a formal self-help center or workshop for child support paperwork. Call the Clerk of Court at (305) 292-3550 or court administration at (305) 292-3423 to ask what help is actually available.
Official child support resources in Monroe County, FL
Freeman Justice Center handles child-support filings, located at 302 Fleming Street, Key West 33040. Phone: 305-292-3423. Marathon Courthouse at 3117 Overseas Highway handles Middle Keys filings and hearings. Plantation Key Government Center at 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 1 handles Upper Keys filings and hearings.
The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
Monroe County Clerk of Court can help with procedure and paperwork. No dedicated self-help center for family law paperwork was confirmed for the Sixteenth Circuit; general Clerk of Court phone (305) 292-3550, court administration (305) 292-3423. Family Court Services (Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Family Court Services) applies; see https://keyscourts.net/programs-services/family-court-services/.
- Sixteenth Circuit Family Court Services
- Sixteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida
- 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.
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Monroe County, FL Child Support FAQs
Where do I file for child support in Monroe County?
The Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program establishes and enforces support; reach them at 850-488-KIDS (5437). Court filings and hearings go through the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, at one of three courthouses depending on where you live: the Freeman Justice Center in Key West, the Marathon Courthouse, or the Plantation Key Government Center in Tavernier. You can also e-file at myflcourtaccess.com.
Which Monroe County courthouse handles my child support case?
It depends on where the case was filed and where the parties live. The Freeman Justice Center at 302 Fleming Street serves the Lower Keys around Key West, Marathon Courthouse serves the Middle Keys, and the Plantation Key Government Center in Tavernier serves the Upper Keys. Confirm your assigned courthouse with the Clerk of Court before you show up.
Who hears child support cases in Monroe County?
A general magistrate hears many Monroe County family law matters, including child support issues referred from a circuit judge, and issues a recommended order for the judge to review. Check with the Clerk of Court about the specific officer assigned to your case and the hearing format, since assignments can vary by courthouse and case type.
How do I modify child support in Monroe County?
You can ask the Department of Revenue for an administrative review of the order, or file a supplemental petition to modify child support in circuit court with a current Form 12.902(e) guidelines worksheet. The change generally must be substantial and involuntary: at least 15 percent and $50 within three years of the last order, or 10 percent and $25 after three years.
Is there a child support self-help center in Monroe County?
The Sixteenth Circuit has no dedicated self-help center for child support paperwork. Parents without a lawyer can call the Clerk of Court at (305) 292-3550 or the court's administration office at (305) 292-3423 to ask what forms and guidance are available at each Keys courthouse.
How much does it cost to file for child support in Monroe County?
Monroe County's dissolution of marriage filing fee is $408, and related family filings generally fall in a similar range, though a child support only petition can carry a different fee. Confirm the exact current fee with the Clerk of Court, and ask about a fee waiver under Section 57.082 of the Florida Statutes if you cannot afford it.
This page is general information about Florida child support procedure in Monroe County, FL, not legal advice for your situation. Court locations, agency offices, and filing details change; always confirm current details with the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Monroe County or the official Florida family court self-help program resources. Virdix is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney.
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