Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Collier County, Florida

The Collier County Courthouse at 3315 Tamiami Trail East in Naples hears child custody and time-sharing cases. It sits in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, along with Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties. For family law fee and form questions, call the Collier Clerk's Self-Help Center at (239) 252-2745 or email CollierClerk@CollierClerk.com.

Every Collier case involving parental responsibility or time-sharing needs a Parenting Plan: Form 12.995(a) for a standard arrangement, or 12.995(b) if time-sharing must be supervised. You'll also need a UCCJEA Affidavit, Form 12.902(d), documenting the child's residence history for the past five years. Before the court finalizes the case, both parents must complete a state-approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course.

The standard filing fee for a dissolution or related family case is $408. Collier's fee schedule also lists related charges: $3.50 per person for oath administration by a Deputy Clerk, $10.00 for a summons, and $392.50 for a counter-petition filed within an existing domestic relations case.

Contested time-sharing disputes in the Twentieth Circuit typically go to mediation under Administrative Order 1.16. That order governs court-ordered mediation in circuit civil, family, dependency, and county court civil cases circuit-wide.

Where custody cases are heard in Collier County, FL

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

Local notes for Collier County, FL

Under Administrative Orders 12.2 and 12.4, the Twentieth Circuit set up Unified Family Court. It coordinates related cases involving the same family, such as a dependency matter alongside a custody dispute, so a consistent judicial team hears them together instead of as separate cases.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the circuit has used remote hearing procedures for civil and family cases circuit-wide under Administrative Order 2.40. Check the notice of hearing for your Collier case to see whether it will be in person at the Naples courthouse or held remotely.

Administrative Order 12.3 sets circuit-wide standards for supervised time-sharing programs, and supervised visitation in Collier operates under it. Contact the Self-Help Center to confirm the current provider serving Naples, Marco Island, and Immokalee.

Official custody resources in Collier County, FL

Collier County Courthouse handles custody filings, located at 3315 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 102, Naples 34112. Phone: (239) 252-2745.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Other family filing fees published by the Clerk: oath administration by a Deputy Clerk $3.50 per person, summons $10.00, counter-petition for dissolution filed in an existing domestic relations case $392.50.

Self-Help Center (https://www.collierclerk.com/court-divisions/self-help-center/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Listed under Court Divisions on the Collier Clerk's site; contact (239) 252-2745 or CollierClerk@CollierClerk.com for family law fee and form questions.

• Collier Clerk Self-Help Center
• Twentieth Circuit AO 1.16 Court-Ordered Mediation
• Twentieth Circuit AO 2.40 Remote Hearings
• Twentieth Circuit AO 12.2 Unified Family Court
• 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.

Collier County, FL Child Custody FAQs