Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Nassau County, Florida

Nassau County child custody paperwork goes to the Nassau County Clerk of Court. A Circuit Court judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit's Family Division decides parental responsibility and time-sharing. Paper filings and in-person hearings go through the Nassau County Clerk of Court - Yulee Office at 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee, FL 32097. Families across the county, including those in Yulee, use this same courthouse.

Florida courts don't award custody the traditional way. Under Fla. Stat. 61.13, the court approves a parenting plan that covers parental responsibility (decision-making) and time-sharing (the schedule). Form 12.995(a) is the standard version. Parents dealing with domestic violence or other safety issues use the safety-focused version, 12.995(b). Parents who live in different cities or states can use the long-distance version, 12.995(c).

Fla. Stat. 61.21 adds one more requirement: both parents must complete a state-approved parenting course before the final judgment issues in a case with minor children. DCF vets and lists the providers. Form 12.902(d), the UCCJEA affidavit, must go in with any custody petition. It lists the child's residence history and lets the court confirm it has the right state and circuit to decide the case. Expect a mediation referral before a contested time-sharing hearing happens: 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 have no choice, but a self-represented parent can still hand paperwork to the clerk in person. If you're handling the case yourself, the Fourth Judicial Circuit's family self-help program (https://www.jud4.org/family-court-services/self-help) can walk you through the required forms and check your packet before it's filed, though staff there cannot offer legal advice.

Where custody cases are heard in Nassau County, FL

Custody and time-sharing matters in Nassau County, FL are handled by the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Nassau County, with the county seat in Yulee. 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 Nassau 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 Nassau 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 Nassau County, FL.

Local notes for Nassau County, FL

The circuit's ADR unit schedules Nassau County family mediation at (904) 255-1090, the same intake line used for Duval County, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fla. Stat. 44.108 ties the mediation fee to combined household income. Parties who cannot afford it can apply to the clerk for an indigency-based exemption.

A Nassau County time-sharing or related family petition costs $408 to file, though extra summons or service fees can apply. The Fourth Judicial Circuit Family Court Services Self-Help program serves Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties. That office can tell you which forms apply and review your packet, though by law it cannot fill out forms for you or tell you what to write.

A judge decides whether a guardian ad litem gets involved in a contested case, per Fla. Stat. 61.401. It isn't automatic. The Fourth Circuit's Guardian ad Litem Program office, mainly a dependency-case program, can be reached at 904-255-8440.

Official custody resources in Nassau County, FL

Nassau County Clerk of Court - Yulee Office handles custody filings, located at 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee 32097.

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.

Fourth Judicial Circuit Family Self-Help (https://www.jud4.org/family-court-services/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Fourth Judicial Circuit Family Court Services Self-Help, serving Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties

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

Nassau County, FL Child Custody FAQs