Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Clay County, Florida

Clay County child custody cases -- legally called parental responsibility and time-sharing -- are filed with the Clay County Clerk of Court and heard in Circuit Court, Family Division, of the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Filings and hearings for Clay County family cases happen at the Judge William A. Wilkes Judicial Complex, 825 North Orange Avenue, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. Everyone in Clay County, including Green Cove Springs residents, files at this same courthouse.

Fla. Stat. 61.13 governs every Florida custody case and requires a parenting plan instead of a simple custody order. The plan covers parental responsibility (decision-making authority) and time-sharing (the schedule). Most parents use Form 12.995(a); Form 12.995(b) applies where safety concerns limit contact, and Form 12.995(c) covers long-distance parenting arrangements.

Cases with minor children carry one more statutory requirement: Fla. Stat. 61.21 requires both parents to complete a parenting course, chosen from the DCF-approved provider list, before final judgment. Because custody jurisdiction depends on where a child has lived, Florida also requires a UCCJEA affidavit -- Form 12.902(d) -- disclosing the child's residence history, with every custody petition. Before a contested time-sharing hearing, expect a mediation referral: Fla. Stat. 61.183 authorizes it, and most circuits treat it as a standard step.

Attorneys must e-file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com); self-represented parties can e-file there too, or file on paper at the clerk's office. For help with the filing mechanics, the Fourth Judicial Circuit's family self-help program (https://www.jud4.org/family-court-services/self-help) reviews self-represented parents' paperwork for completeness, but staff there don't give legal advice.

Where custody cases are heard in Clay County, FL

Custody and time-sharing matters in Clay County, FL are handled by the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Clay County, with the county seat in Green Cove Springs. 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 Clay 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 Clay 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 Clay County, FL.

Local notes for Clay County, FL

Clay County family mediation is scheduled through the circuit's ADR unit at (904) 529-3783, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Under Fla. Stat. 44.108, mediation fees rise and fall with combined household income, and anyone who qualifies as indigent can ask the clerk for a fee exemption.

Clay County's clerk hasn't posted one clear filing fee for family law cases online. Clay's civil fee schedule lists a $408.00-$411.50 range for chapter 61 dissolution actions rather than a flat number for a standard time-sharing case. Fourth Judicial Circuit Family Court Services Self-Help serves Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties; by law, staff there can confirm your forms are complete and correct but can't fill them out for you or advise you on how to answer.

A guardian ad litem isn't automatic in a contested case -- Fla. Stat. 61.401 leaves the appointment to the judge's discretion. The Fourth Circuit's Guardian ad Litem Program office, which mostly handles dependency matters, can be reached at 904-255-8440. Call the clerk's Civil Court Services line at (904) 284-6302 to confirm the exact dissolution or time-sharing filing fee, since clayclerk.com publishes only the $408.00-$411.50 range rather than a single figure.

Official custody resources in Clay County, FL

Judge William A. Wilkes Judicial Complex handles custody filings, located at 825 North Orange Avenue, Green Cove Springs 32043.

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.

Fourth Judicial Circuit Family Self-Help (https://www.jud4.org/family-court-services/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Fourth Judicial Circuit Family Court Services Self-Help, serving Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties

• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Clay County Family Self-Help
• Clay County Clerk of 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.

Clay County, FL Child Custody FAQs