Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Charlotte County, Florida

Charlotte County hears child custody and time-sharing cases at the Charlotte County Justice Center, 350 E. Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda. The county sits in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit along with Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties. The Charlotte Clerk offers an online Self-Help Service to prepare dissolution, custody, and related family law forms without an in-person visit.

Any Charlotte case involving parental responsibility or time-sharing requires a Parenting Plan: Form 12.995(a) for a standard arrangement, or 12.995(b) for supervised time-sharing. Cases also need a UCCJEA Affidavit (Form 12.902(d)), which documents the child's residence history for the past five years. Both parents must complete a state-approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course before the court finalizes the case.

The Twentieth Circuit typically refers contested time-sharing disputes to mediation under Administrative Order 1.16, which governs court-ordered mediation in circuit civil, family, dependency, and county court civil cases circuit-wide.

Charlotte's filing fee for a dissolution or related family case is $408. That amount applies whether the case is standard or simplified, according to the Clerk's published fee schedule.

Where custody cases are heard in Charlotte County, FL

Custody and time-sharing matters in Charlotte County, FL are handled by the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Charlotte County, with the county seat in Punta Gorda. 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 Charlotte 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 Charlotte 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 Charlotte County, FL.

Local notes for Charlotte County, FL

The Twentieth Circuit created Unified Family Court under Administrative Orders 12.2 and 12.4. These orders coordinate related cases involving the same family, such as a dependency case running alongside a custody dispute, and assign them to one consistent judicial team instead of handling them separately.

Supervised visitation in Charlotte County operates under Administrative Order 12.3, which sets circuit-wide standards for supervised time-sharing programs. The Clerk's Self-Help Service or the assigned family division can confirm which agency currently serves Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte.

The Twentieth Circuit has used remote hearing procedures for family and civil cases under Administrative Order 2.40 since the COVID-19 pandemic. Check the notice of hearing for a specific Charlotte case to confirm whether it will be held remotely or in person at the Justice Center.

Official custody resources in Charlotte County, FL

Charlotte County Justice Center handles custody filings, located at 350 E. Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda 33950.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The Clerk's fee schedule lists $408.00 for both standard and simplified dissolution of marriage.

Clerk of Court Self-Help Service (https://selfhelp.charlotteclerk.com/form/formdissolution/) can help with procedure and paperwork. An online self-help portal for preparing dissolution and related family law forms, run by the Charlotte County Clerk. Custody and parenting-plan forms follow the same online intake process.

• Charlotte Clerk Self-Help Service
• Twentieth Circuit AO 1.16 Court-Ordered Mediation
• Twentieth Circuit AO 12.4 Unified Family Court
• Twentieth Circuit AO 12.3 Supervised Visitation Programs
• 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.

Charlotte County, FL Child Custody FAQs