Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Monroe County, Florida

Monroe County hears child custody and time-sharing cases in the Family Division of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, based at the Monroe County Courthouse, 500 Whitehead Street, Key West. The circuit covers the full length of the Florida Keys. Its family mediation program uses a published sliding scale instead of a flat rate. Parents with combined household income under $50,000 pay $60 per party for a three-hour session. Those with combined income between $50,000 and $100,000 pay $120 per party for a three-hour session. Fees are due to the Clerk of Court before the mediation date.

Parents with combined income over $100,000 must use a certified private mediator instead of a circuit staff mediator, at that mediator's market rate. Call the Office of Court Administration at 305-292-3423 to confirm current eligibility and scheduling for the income-based program before committing to either option.

Monroe County does not appear to run a dedicated family self-help center like some larger circuits do. No such page exists for the Sixteenth Circuit or the Monroe County Clerk. Self-represented parents can still get Florida Supreme Court approved family law forms free through the statewide Florida Courts Help site. floridalawhelp.org lists legal-aid and self-help referrals for the Keys. Anyone unsure what in-person help exists locally should call the Clerk directly at 305-292-3550 instead of assuming a walk-in self-help desk is available.

A parenting course is required under Fla. Stat. 61.21 before a final judgment in any dissolution or paternity case involving minor children, as in every Florida circuit. Any pleading that could affect a child's residence needs a sworn UCCJEA affidavit, Form 12.902(d), so the court can confirm jurisdiction under Florida's Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.

Where custody cases are heard in Monroe County, FL

Custody and time-sharing matters in Monroe County, FL are handled by the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Monroe County, with the county seat in Key West. 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County, FL.

Local notes for Monroe County, FL

Monroe County is a roughly 100-mile island chain with one courthouse, in Key West. That makes driving distance a real factor for a parent living in Marathon, Islamorada, or Key Largo with a hearing or mediation session scheduled there. Check whether you can attend a hearing remotely before planning a long Overseas Highway drive for a routine status conference.

The income-tiered mediation fee schedule stands out: $60 per party under $50,000 combined income, $120 per party from $50,000 to $100,000. Most circuits only cite Fla. Stat. 44.108 without publishing exact numbers. That means a Monroe County parent can budget for mediation with more certainty than in many other circuits, as long as the fee hasn't changed since this page was researched.

No dedicated self-help center exists for this circuit, so a self-represented parent in Monroe County should expect to rely more on the statewide Florida Courts Help forms library and floridalawhelp.org than on in-person courthouse assistance. Call the Clerk's office before a filing deadline to confirm whether any local help exists that wasn't visible online.

Official custody resources in Monroe County, FL

Monroe County Courthouse handles custody filings, located at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West 33040. Phone: 305-292-3550.

E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, statewide.

No dedicated Sixteenth Circuit self-help center located can help with procedure and paperwork. No dedicated family self-help center page was found for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit or the Monroe County Clerk. Florida Supreme Court approved family law forms are available free through the statewide Florida Courts Help site, and general legal-aid referrals are available through floridalawhelp.org. Confirm current in-person self-help options with the Clerk at 305-292-3550.

• Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Family Court Services
• Parenting Plan Forms 12.995(a)-(c)
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Florida Law Help

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

Monroe County, FL Child Custody FAQs