Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Hernando County, Florida

File for child custody in Hernando County at the Hernando County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The Fifth Judicial Circuit's Family Division then handles the parental responsibility and time-sharing case. Hearings happen at the Hernando County Courthouse, 20 North Main Street, Brooksville, FL 34601. Every filer in Hernando County, including Brooksville residents, uses this same courthouse.

Fla. Stat. 61.13 governs the process. Florida courts no longer issue custody orders; instead, they require a parenting plan that separates parental responsibility from time-sharing. Most parents use Form 12.995(a). Switch to the safety-focused 12.995(b) when domestic violence or substance abuse is part of the case. Use the long-distance version, 12.995(c), when geography separates the parents.

Fla. Stat. 61.21 requires both parents to finish a state-approved parenting course before the court finalizes a case involving minor children. DCF publishes the list of approved providers. Every minor-child petition must include the UCCJEA affidavit, Form 12.902(d); it uses the child's residence history to show the court has authority to hear the case. Contested time-sharing hearings usually get a mediation referral first. Fla. Stat. 61.183 authorizes this referral, and most circuits treat it as a standard step.

Attorneys must file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. Self-represented parties can use the same portal or file paper documents at the clerk's counter. The Fifth Judicial Circuit's family self-help program offers procedural help to self-represented parents: https://www.circuit5.org/self-help-center/hernando-county-self-help-center/. Staff there point you to the right forms and explain the filing steps. By law, they cannot give legal advice or tell you how to answer a specific question on your paperwork.

Where custody cases are heard in Hernando County, FL

Custody and time-sharing matters in Hernando County, FL are handled by the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Hernando County, with the county seat in Brooksville. 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 Hernando 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 Hernando 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 Hernando County, FL.

Local notes for Hernando County, FL

Reach Hernando County's mediation coordinator, John Nagy, at hernandomediation@circuit5.org. The mediation fee isn't flat. Fla. Stat. 44.108 scales it to combined household income, and the clerk can grant an exemption to an indigent party.

Budget $408 for the filing fee on a time-sharing petition in Hernando County; summons or service costs can add to that. The Fifth Judicial Circuit's Hernando County Self-Help Program operates at the courthouse by appointment only, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9:00am to 4:30pm. By law, staff can confirm your forms are complete and correct, but they cannot fill them out for you or advise you on how to answer.

Fla. Stat. 61.401 allows a court to appoint a guardian ad litem in a contested custody dispute, but doesn't require it. The Fifth Circuit's Guardian ad Litem Program office, mainly a dependency-case program, can be reached at 352-671-5757. Hernando County doesn't publish an exact per-session mediation fee; call hernandomediation@circuit5.org to confirm the amount.

Official custody resources in Hernando County, FL

Hernando County Courthouse handles custody filings, located at 20 North Main Street, Brooksville 34601.

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.

Fifth Judicial Circuit Family Self-Help (https://www.circuit5.org/self-help-center/hernando-county-self-help-center/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Fifth Judicial Circuit Hernando County Self-Help Program at the courthouse, appointment-only Mon/Tue/Fri 9:00am-4:30pm

• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Hernando County Family Self-Help
• Hernando County Clerk of the Circuit Court
• Fla. Stat. 61.13 - Parenting Plans and Time-Sharing
• Hernando County Family Mediation

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

Hernando County, FL Child Custody FAQs