Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Flagler County, Florida

In Flagler County, Florida, child custody cases (legally called parental responsibility and time-sharing) are filed with the Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court and heard in Circuit Court, Family Division, of the Seventh Judicial Circuit. Filings and hearings happen at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg. 1, Bunnell, FL 32110. Every resident of Bunnell and the rest of Flagler County files at that same courthouse.

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

Minor children in the case trigger one more statutory step: both parents must complete a parenting course under Fla. Stat. 61.21, chosen from the DCF-approved provider list, before final judgment. Any custody petition also requires Form 12.902(d), the UCCJEA affidavit; it lists the child's residence history and lets the court confirm it has the right state and circuit for the case. Contested time-sharing hearings typically come with a mediation referral first: Fla. Stat. 61.183 authorizes it, and most circuits treat it as a standard step.

Documents go through myflcourtaccess.com, the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Attorneys must use it; a self-represented parent can still hand paperwork to the clerk in person instead. Anyone handling their own case can turn to the Seventh Judicial Circuit's family self-help program (https://flaglerclerk.gov/courts/family-court/), which walks through the required forms and checks a packet before filing, though its staff cannot give legal advice.

Where custody cases are heard in Flagler County, FL

Custody and time-sharing matters in Flagler County, FL are handled by the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Flagler County, with the county seat in Bunnell. 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 Flagler 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 Flagler 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 Flagler County, FL.

Local notes for Flagler County, FL

Flagler County family cases with combined party income under $100,000 qualify for the circuit's court mediation program under Administrative Order FM-2012-027-SC. Families above that threshold must retain a certified private mediator. Florida circuits set mediation fees on a sliding scale tied to combined household income under Fla. Stat. 44.108, and indigent parties can seek a fee exemption through the clerk.

The filing fee for a Flagler County time-sharing or related family petition is $408, though additional summons or service fees can apply. The Flagler Clerk's Family Court page offers in-person assistance at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center. By law, that program can confirm your forms are complete and correct, but staff cannot fill them out for you or advise you on how to answer.

A guardian ad litem's involvement in a contested case is up to the judge, per Fla. Stat. 61.401; it is not automatic. Reach the Seventh Circuit's Guardian ad Litem Program office, primarily a dependency-case program, at 386-239-7803. One thing to confirm directly: the current per-session mediation fee for Flagler County. The circuit publishes the $100,000 program eligibility cutoff but not a dollar fee table, so confirm with circuit7.org.

Official custody resources in Flagler County, FL

Kim C. Hammond Justice Center handles custody filings, located at 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg. 1, Bunnell 32110. Phone: (386) 313-4400.

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.

Seventh Judicial Circuit Family Self-Help (https://flaglerclerk.gov/courts/family-court/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Flagler Clerk's Family Court page; in-person assistance at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center

• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Flagler County Family Self-Help
• Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit 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.

Flagler County, FL Child Custody FAQs