Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Citrus County, Florida

Citrus County residents file child custody cases, formally called parental responsibility and time-sharing cases, with the Citrus County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The Fifth Judicial Circuit hears them in its Family Division. The Citrus County Courthouse, at 110 North Apopka Avenue in Inverness, FL 34450, handles these family cases for the whole county.

Florida dropped the word custody from its statutes years ago. Fla. Stat. 61.13 requires the court to set a parenting plan covering parental responsibility (how parents share major decisions about the child) and a time-sharing schedule (which parent has the child when). Most parenting plans use Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.995(a). A safety-focused version, Form 12.995(b), covers cases involving domestic violence, substance abuse, or other safety concerns. A long-distance version, Form 12.995(c), covers parents who live far apart.

Fla. Stat. 61.21 requires both parents to complete a parenting course whenever minor children are part of the case. DCF's approved-provider list is the place to find one. Jurisdiction over a custody case depends on the child's residence history, so Form 12.902(d), the UCCJEA affidavit, must accompany the petition. Contested parenting-plan disputes typically go through mediation first, under Fla. Stat. 61.183, before reaching a judge.

The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) handles filings statewide. It's required for attorneys; self-represented parents can use it too, or file on paper. For procedural questions, such as which form to use, what order to file things in, or what's missing from a filing, the Fifth Judicial Circuit's family self-help program can help (https://www.circuit5.org/self-help-center/citrus-county-self-help-center/). Staff there cannot give legal advice.

Where custody cases are heard in Citrus County, FL

Custody and time-sharing matters in Citrus County, FL are handled by the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Citrus County, with the county seat in Inverness. 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 Citrus 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 Citrus 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 Citrus County, FL.

Local notes for Citrus County, FL

Citrus County's mediation coordinator, John Nagy, can be reached at citrusmediation@circuit5.org. Florida circuits set mediation fees on a sliding scale tied to combined household income, under Fla. Stat. 44.108. Indigent parties can seek a fee exemption through the clerk.

Citrus County charges $408 to file a time-sharing or related family petition, plus any summons or service fees. The Fifth Judicial Circuit Citrus County Self-Help Center sits on the courthouse's 3rd floor, Room 1-346, and works by appointment only at 352-341-6723. Self-help staff can confirm which forms you need and check your paperwork for completeness. By law, they cannot fill out forms for you or tell you what to write on them.

A judge decides whether to appoint a guardian ad litem in a contested custody case under Fla. Stat. 61.401; it isn't automatic. The Fifth Circuit's Guardian ad Litem Program, which mostly handles dependency (abuse and neglect) cases, can be reached at 352-671-5757. The mediation coordinator's page lists a $100,000 combined-income cutoff for the court program but doesn't break out the exact per-session fee at each income tier; call citrusmediation@circuit5.org to confirm the amount.

Official custody resources in Citrus County, FL

Citrus County Courthouse handles custody filings, located at 110 North Apopka Avenue, Inverness 34450.

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.

Fifth Judicial Circuit Family Self-Help (https://www.circuit5.org/self-help-center/citrus-county-self-help-center/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Fifth Judicial Circuit Citrus County Self-Help Center, 3rd Floor Room 1-346 of the courthouse, appointment-only, 352-341-6723

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

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

Citrus County, FL Child Custody FAQs