Child Support in Union County, Florida

Union County is Florida's smallest county by population. Outside the area, it's best known as home to Raiford and the state prison complex. But residents here still file family law paperwork, including child support cases, at the Union County Courthouse, 55 West Main Street, Room 103, in Lake Butler.

A parent who was never married to the other, and has no lawsuit pending, can skip the courthouse and ask the Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program to set up paternity and support administratively instead. Once a Union County case is open, any later change gets filed under that same case as a Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support, Form 12.905(b).

Whatever amount a judge signs off on starts from the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Form 12.902(e). It applies Fla. Stat. 61.30 to both parents' net income, overnights, health insurance, and child care costs. Most Florida child support orders, including this one, also come with an Income Deduction Order under Fla. Stat. 61.1301, directing the paying parent's employer to withhold support straight from wages. Because the county is so small, Union County has never staffed its own hearing officer. Cases are heard on the Northern Region docket, which the Eighth Circuit runs out of the Bradford County Courthouse in nearby Starke, (904) 966-6319.

A Family Law Financial Affidavit, either the long 12.902(b) form for gross income of $50,000 a year or more, or the short 12.902(c) form below that, gets reviewed for completeness by the circuit's Self-Help Center in Gainesville, not by staff in Lake Butler.

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 Union 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 Union County, FL

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

Local notes for Union County, FL

The Union Clerk's own website has no fee schedule. Its Family Law and FAQ pages explain who qualifies for a simplified divorce but never name a dollar figure. Call the Lake Butler courthouse directly to learn current costs before filing.

Starke, home to the Northern Region hearing office, sits roughly 10 miles from Lake Butler. That's close enough for a same-day trip, but far enough that you should confirm the courthouse named on any hearing notice before driving to the wrong county.

The Department of Revenue runs no office in Union County either. Its administrative side of a case, separate from anything filed with the Clerk, is handled entirely through 850-488-KIDS and the childsupport.floridarevenue.com portal.

Official child support resources in Union County, FL

Union County Courthouse handles child-support filings, located at 55 West Main Street, Room 103, Lake Butler 32054.

E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Statewide myflcourtaccess.com portal applies; unionclerk.com has no dedicated fee-schedule page publishing a dollar filing-fee figure for dissolution or support cases.

Eighth Judicial Circuit Self-Help Center (https://circuit8.org/self-help/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Fourth floor of the Family and Civil Justice Center, Room 413, Gainesville, (352) 548-3781. Serves Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties. Staff explain procedures and help set a hearing with the judge but do not give legal advice, represent litigants in court, or select forms.

• Eighth Judicial Circuit Self-Help Center
• Eighth Judicial Circuit Child Support Enforcement
• 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.

Union County, FL Child Support FAQs