Child Support in Putnam County, Florida

File Putnam County child support cases through the Seventh Judicial Circuit at the Putnam County Courthouse, 410 St. Johns Avenue in Palatka. This covers new support cases, changes to an existing order, and enforcement when support goes unpaid.

If the parents were never married and no court case exists, the Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program can open an administrative case and establish paternity and support without a lawsuit. Once a Putnam County circuit case is open, changes go through that same file as a Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support, Form 12.905(b).

The support amount comes from the statewide Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Form 12.902(e), which applies Fla. Stat. 61.30 to both parents' net income, overnights, health insurance, and child care costs. Most Florida child support orders, this one included, also come with an Income Deduction Order under Fla. Stat. 61.1301. That order directs the paying parent's employer to withhold support straight from wages. Unlike Volusia and Flagler counties, the Seventh Circuit's public pages don't name a specific Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer for Putnam County, so confirm who is handling your case when you file.

The Seventh Circuit refers child-support-related family cases to its Family Mediation Program when the parties' combined income is $100,000 a year or less, under Administrative Order FM-2012-027-SC. Above that threshold, the parties must use a certified private mediator instead. Putnam County parents should expect the same mediation referral rule before a contested support hearing.

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 Putnam 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 Putnam County, FL

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

Local notes for Putnam County, FL

Putnam County's Family Self-Help Program keeps regular weekday hours, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., at the courthouse in Palatka. It's a good first stop for confirming which officer currently hears child support matters in the county, since that assignment isn't published on the circuit's general pages the way it is for Volusia and Flagler.

The Putnam Clerk's fee schedule lists a single combined line item, 'Dissolution of Marriage, Simplified Dissolution, Annulment,' at $408.00. It doesn't publish a separate figure for a standalone paternity or child-support-only filing, so ask the Clerk's civil division which fee applies before submitting your paperwork.

The Florida Department of Revenue doesn't run a walk-in office in Putnam County. Administrative child support cases go through the statewide phone line, 850-488-KIDS, and the childsupport.floridarevenue.com portal.

Official child support resources in Putnam County, FL

Putnam County Courthouse handles child-support filings, located at 410 St. Johns Avenue, Room 126, Palatka 32177. Phone: 386-329-1911.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Confirmed from the Clerk's own fee-schedule PDF: 'Dissolution of Marriage, Simplified Dissolution, Annulment $408.00.' Statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) also applies.

Seventh Circuit Family Self-Help Program, Putnam County (https://circuit7.org/family-court-services/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at the Putnam County Courthouse, 410 St. Johns Ave., Rm. 126, Palatka, (386) 329-1911, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Assists self-represented litigants with court procedures and forms; cannot give legal advice.

• Seventh Judicial Circuit Family Court Services
• Seventh Judicial Circuit Family Mediation Program
• 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.

Putnam County, FL Child Support FAQs