Child Support in Seminole County, Florida

Seminole County child support cases go through the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit at the Seminole Civil Courthouse, 301 North Park Avenue in Sanford. This includes establishing a new support order, changing an existing one, and enforcing support that has gone unpaid.

If the parents were never married and no lawsuit is pending, a parent can start instead with the Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program, which sets up paternity and support administratively. Once a Seminole County case exists, later changes go under that same case 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 carry an Income Deduction Order under Fla. Stat. 61.1301, directing the paying parent's employer to withhold support straight from wages. Seminole County shares the Eighteenth Circuit's general magistrate and judicial assignment process with Brevard County; the circuit does not name one standing child support hearing officer for Seminole, unlike some other Florida circuits.

Seminole County's Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center, run through the Clerk's office, reviews a Family Law Financial Affidavit (long form 12.902(b) for income of $50,000 or more, short form 12.902(c) below that) along with other paperwork, and can refer parties to low-cost attorney consultations.

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 Seminole 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 Seminole County, FL

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

Local notes for Seminole County, FL

Seminole County runs a separate Spanish-language self-help line, SeminoleSelfhelp@flcourts18.org or 407-665-4554, apart from the English-language line at prose-shc@seminoleclerk.org or 407-665-4300. Use whichever fits your situation when scheduling help with a child support filing.

Self-represented parties don't have to e-file. They can mail documents to the Clerk at PO Box 8099, Sanford, FL 32772, or file in person at the Seminole Civil Courthouse, an option worth knowing if travel to Sanford is difficult.

DOR has no walk-in office in Seminole County. The state's side of an administrative child support case runs entirely through 850-488-KIDS and the childsupport.floridarevenue.com portal.

Official child support resources in Seminole County, FL

Seminole Civil Courthouse handles child-support filings, located at 301 North Park Avenue, Sanford 32771. Phone: 407-665-4300.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. E-filing via myflcourtaccess.com is preferred and mandatory for attorneys; self-represented parties may still file in person at the Seminole Civil Courthouse or by mail (PO Box 8099, Sanford, FL 32772).

Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center (https://flcourts18.org/sem-family-pro-se/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Run through the Clerk's office; assists with family law forms and offers low-cost attorney consultations. English: prose-shc@seminoleclerk.org or 407-665-4300. Spanish: SeminoleSelfhelp@flcourts18.org or 407-665-4554.

• Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center (Seminole)
• Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Mediation Programs
• 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.

Seminole County, FL Child Support FAQs