Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Gilchrist County, Florida

A Gilchrist County custody case starts at the Gilchrist County Clerk of Court's office. The Eighth Judicial Circuit's Family Division then sets parental responsibility and a time-sharing schedule. The courthouse is the Gilchrist County Courthouse, at 112 S. Main Street in Trenton, FL 32693. This holds true whether you live near Trenton or out toward Bell.

Florida courts don't issue a simple custody award. Judges follow Fla. Stat. 61.13 and approve a parenting plan that splits parental responsibility (who decides what) from time-sharing (the day-to-day schedule). Most parents use Form 12.995(a). Those dealing with domestic violence or substance abuse use the safety-focused 12.995(b) instead, and parents who live far apart use the long-distance 12.995(c) plan.

Any Florida custody case with minor children requires a parenting course (Fla. Stat. 61.21). Both parents must complete an approved course, and DCF maintains the current provider list. Court jurisdiction over a custody case depends on the child's residence history, so Form 12.902(d), the UCCJEA affidavit, must go with the petition. When parents can't agree on a parenting plan, the case usually goes to mediation first, under Fla. Stat. 61.183, before a judge hears it.

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. The Eighth Judicial Circuit's family self-help program (https://circuit8.org/self-help/) answers procedural questions, such as which form to use. It can also tell you what's missing from your paperwork or what order to file things in. Staff there cannot give legal advice.

Where custody cases are heard in Gilchrist County, FL

Custody and time-sharing matters in Gilchrist County, FL are handled by the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Gilchrist County, with the county seat in Trenton. 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 Gilchrist 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 Gilchrist 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 Gilchrist County, FL.

Local notes for Gilchrist County, FL

Gilchrist County family mediation is handled by contract mediators from the circuit's Family Contract Mediators list. Combined household income under $50,000 is billed at $60 per person per session, and $50,000 to $99,999 is billed at $120 per person per session. Indigent parties are exempt once the Clerk approves an indigency finding. Fees follow the sliding scale in Fla. Stat. 44.108.

Gilchrist County's clerk has not published a clear filing fee for family law cases. Gilchristclerk.com does not list a dollar amount for a family law petition, so call the clerk's office to confirm the current fee. The Eighth Judicial Circuit Self-Help Center is at the Family and Civil Justice Center, Room 413, in Gainesville, (352) 548-3781, and serves Gilchrist along with Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Levy, and Union counties. Self-help staff can confirm which forms you need and check your paperwork for completeness, but 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; Fla. Stat. 61.401 makes it discretionary, not automatic. The Eighth Circuit's Guardian ad Litem Program, which mostly handles dependency (abuse and neglect) cases, can be reached at 352-374-3656. Call the clerk's office directly to confirm the exact time-sharing and custody filing fee for Gilchrist County, since gilchristclerk.com does not publish it.

Official custody resources in Gilchrist County, FL

Gilchrist County Courthouse handles custody filings, located at 112 S. Main Street, Trenton 32693.

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.

Eighth Judicial Circuit Family Self-Help (https://circuit8.org/self-help/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Eighth Judicial Circuit Self-Help Center, Family and Civil Justice Center Room 413 in Gainesville, (352) 548-3781, serving Gilchrist along with Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Levy, and Union

• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Gilchrist County Family Self-Help
• Gilchrist 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.

Gilchrist County, FL Child Custody FAQs