Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Escambia County, Florida

Escambia County child custody cases are legally parental responsibility and time-sharing cases. First Judicial Circuit family judges decide them after the paperwork is filed with the clerk of court at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 W Government St, Pensacola. Florida dropped the word custody from its statutes years ago, but this page still uses it because that's the term most parents search for.

The clerk doesn't publish a working self-help or family-law packet page, so call the family division directly. The clerk's office only handles intake, fee collection, and docketing, not legal advice, so the substance of a case still comes from statewide resources rather than the courthouse counter.

Florida won't finalize a time-sharing order without a parenting plan attached to the file. Parents use the standard Form 12.995(a), the long-distance version 12.995(b) if one parent lives far away, or the safety-focused 12.995(c) if there are safety concerns. Parents of minor children also need proof of the Fla. Stat. 61.21 parenting course before a final judgment is entered.

A new related family case, such as a paternity action or a dissolution that sets time-sharing, costs around $408 in filing fees in the First Circuit. Adding a custody request to an existing case is often free or carries a small motion fee, while opening a brand new case carries the full filing cost. Florida's E-Filing Portal, myflcourtaccess.com, covers all 20 circuits, so most of that paperwork can go in online instead of in person. Two paths lead to the same result: a divorcing couple resolves time-sharing inside a chapter 61 dissolution case, and an unmarried couple files a chapter 742 paternity action instead, which is what first establishes legal fatherhood alongside parental responsibility and a schedule.

Where custody cases are heard in Escambia County, FL

Custody and time-sharing matters in Escambia County, FL are handled by the First Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Escambia County, with the county seat in Pensacola. 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 Escambia 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 Escambia 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 Escambia County, FL.

Local notes for Escambia County, FL

Most of an Escambia County case runs through one building: the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building at 190 W Government St, Pensacola, 32502. The clerk's family division works out of it, and the assigned family judge usually does too.

Florida pushes contested family cases toward mediation under Fla. Stat. 61.183. Mediator pay follows a sliding, income-based scale set by Fla. Stat. 44.108. The clerk's and circuit's current sites don't publish a First Circuit-specific fee table for Escambia County, so call the family division for the current cost before your hearing date.

Filing fees run around $408 in the First Circuit, but the clerk's office has the final say on the current amount. Parents who can't afford the fee can apply for civil indigent status under Fla. Stat. 57.082 to get it waived.

Official custody resources in Escambia County, FL

M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building handles custody filings, located at 190 W Government St, Pensacola 32502.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, statewide system covering all 20 circuits including the First Judicial Circuit.

The self-help center can help with procedure and paperwork. Not verified live on the clerk's or circuit's current site; see unverified list.

• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Florida Statute 61.13, parental responsibility and time-sharing
• Form 12.995(a), Parenting Plan (PDF)
• Form 12.902(d), UCCJEA Affidavit (PDF)
• Florida Guardian ad Litem Program, local circuit finder
• FloridaLawHelp.org

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

Escambia County, FL Child Custody FAQs