Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Alachua County, Florida

The Alachua County Clerk of the Circuit Court handles child custody filings for Alachua County families, and the Eighth Judicial Circuit's Family Division hears the resulting parental responsibility and time-sharing case. Hearings take place at the Alachua County Courthouse in Gainesville, FL 32601, at 201 East University Avenue. Residents of Alachua and the rest of Alachua County all file at the same courthouse.

Fla. Stat. 61.13 governs the process: there's no custody order, only a parenting plan that separates parental responsibility from time-sharing. Parents typically use Form 12.995(a), switch to the safety-focused 12.995(b) if domestic violence or substance abuse is part of the case, or use the long-distance 12.995(c) when geography is the issue.

Before a case with minor children can be finalized, Fla. Stat. 61.21 requires both parents to complete a state-approved parenting course; DCF publishes the approved provider list. Custody jurisdiction depends on where a child has lived, so Florida also requires a UCCJEA affidavit, Form 12.902(d), disclosing the child's residence history, with every custody petition. Expect a mediation referral before a contested time-sharing hearing: Fla. Stat. 61.183 authorizes it, and most circuits use it as a standard step.

Attorneys must e-file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com); self-represented parties may e-file there too or file on paper at the clerk's office. For help with the mechanics of filing, the Eighth Judicial Circuit's family self-help program (https://circuit8.org/self-help/) reviews self-represented parents' paperwork for completeness, but staff there don't give legal advice.

Where custody cases are heard in Alachua County, FL

Custody and time-sharing matters in Alachua County, FL are handled by the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Alachua County, with the county seat in Gainesville. Because courthouse locations, hours, and local family court programs change over time and can differ between branches, use the Florida court clerk directory to confirm the current details for your case:

Find the Alachua County, FL Clerk of Court (Florida court clerk directory)

How custody is decided in Florida

Florida uses the same statewide rules in every county, including Alachua County, FL. Florida law no longer uses the words "custody" and "visitation" in the statute; instead, Florida Statutes chapter 61 uses "parental responsibility" (who makes major decisions for the child) and "time-sharing" (the schedule of when the child is with each parent). Parental responsibility can be shared or, in limited cases, granted solely to one parent. Judges decide time-sharing based on the best interest of the child, considering the factors listed in the statute, and Florida law does not favor a parent based on gender.

You raise parental responsibility and time-sharing inside a dissolution of marriage case, or, if the parents were never married, by first filing to establish paternity. The core steps are:

1. Open or use an existing case: a petition for dissolution of marriage, or a paternity case for unmarried parents.
2. File a proposed Parenting Plan (Florida Supreme Court approved family law form 12.995(a)) covering parental responsibility and a time-sharing schedule.
3. Serve the other parent and file proof of service.
4. Complete a parenting course if your circuit requires one for cases with minor children (Fla. Stat. 61.21).
5. Attend mediation if your circuit requires it before a contested hearing, then attend the hearing if you have not agreed. The court enters a Final Judgment with the Parenting Plan attached.

Florida does not use a fixed statewide waiting period for custody orders the way it does for some other filings; timing depends on your circuit's calendar and whether the case is contested. Parents who agree on a Parenting Plan can submit it for the judge's signature without a contested hearing, which is almost always the faster and less costly path in Alachua County, FL.

Local notes for Alachua County, FL

Alachua County family mediation referrals go through the circuit's ADR Administrative Assistant at (352) 491-4417. Combined household income under $50,000 is billed at $60 per person per session, and $50,000 to $99,999 at $120 per person per session, with indigent parties exempt once the Clerk approves an indigency finding. Fla. Stat. 44.108 ties the mediation fee to combined household income; parties who cannot afford it can apply to the clerk for an indigency-based exemption.

Alachua County charges $408 to file a time-sharing or related family petition, plus any summons or service fees. For form help, contact the Eighth Judicial Circuit Self-Help Center, Family and Civil Justice Center Room 413, at (352) 548-3781; it serves Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties. By law, that program can confirm your forms are complete and correct but cannot fill them out for you or advise you on how to answer.

A guardian ad litem is not automatic in a contested case; Fla. Stat. 61.401 gives the judge discretion to appoint one. The Eighth Circuit's Guardian ad Litem Program office, which mostly handles dependency matters, is reachable at 352-374-3656.

Official custody resources in Alachua County, FL

Alachua County Courthouse handles custody filings, located at 201 East University Avenue, Gainesville 32601.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal; mandatory for attorneys, optional for self-represented parties who may file on paper.

Eighth Judicial Circuit Family Self-Help (https://circuit8.org/self-help/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Eighth Judicial Circuit Self-Help Center, Family and Civil Justice Center Room 413, (352) 548-3781, serving Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union

• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Alachua County Family Self-Help
• Alachua County Clerk of the Circuit Court
• Fla. Stat. 61.13 - Parenting Plans and Time-Sharing

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

Alachua County, FL Child Custody FAQs