Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Pinellas County, Florida

Pinellas County child custody and time-sharing cases run through the Sixth Judicial Circuit's Unified Family Court, based at the Pinellas County Justice Center at 14250 49th Street North in Clearwater. This court coordinates related family, dependency, and juvenile cases so one judicial team handles a family's matters together. New custody, paternity, and dissolution filings usually go through the Pinellas County Courthouse at 315 Court Street, also in Clearwater.

Any Pinellas case involving parental responsibility or time-sharing needs a Parenting Plan (Form 12.995(a), or 12.995(b) if time-sharing must be supervised) and a UCCJEA Affidavit (Form 12.902(d)) listing where the child has lived over the past five years. When minor children are involved, both parents must also complete a state-approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course before the court finalizes a plan.

The Pinellas Clerk runs a Self-Help Center for parents representing themselves, listed on the Sixth Circuit's Family Law page. The Clerk's own site could not be checked directly when this page was last reviewed, so call the Clerk to confirm current hours before visiting.

Contested time-sharing disputes usually go to mediation under Administrative Order 2011-006 before a hearing date is set, unless a parent files an objection to the referral.

Where custody cases are heard in Pinellas County, FL

Custody and time-sharing matters in Pinellas County, FL are handled by the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Pinellas County, with the county seat in Clearwater. 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 Pinellas 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 Pinellas 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 Pinellas County, FL.

Local notes for Pinellas County, FL

Four judges, one general magistrate, and a behavioral evaluations program staff Pinellas Unified Family Court. It handles every juvenile delinquency and dependency case in the county, plus related custody, dissolution, and domestic violence matters tied to a family already in the system. Call the Unified Family Court staff director at (727) 464-7961 with questions.

Mediation fees in Pinellas family cases follow a sliding income scale, based on an Affidavit of Income both parents file with the court. A parent the court finds indigent pays nothing. If mediation would not work, for example because of a documented safety concern, a parent can file an Affidavit Re: Objection to Referral to Family Mediator instead.

The Toby Center supervises visitation and monitored exchanges in Pinellas cases where a judge orders supervised time-sharing. Standard order forms for both services are available through the circuit's family-law resources.

Official custody resources in Pinellas County, FL

Pinellas County Courthouse (Clearwater Courthouse) handles custody filings, located at 315 Court St., Clearwater 33756. Pinellas County Justice Center at 14250 49th Street North handles Home of Pinellas Unified Family Court, which coordinates related family, dependency, and juvenile cases involving the same family before one judicial team..

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. E-filing through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is mandatory for attorneys under Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.525; self-represented parents may still file paper custody and parenting-plan documents at Clerk office locations.

Pinellas Self-Help Center (https://www.jud6.org/family-law/) can help with procedure and paperwork. The Pinellas Clerk operates a Self-Help Center referenced on the Sixth Circuit's Family Law page; the Clerk's own site blocked automated verification, so confirm current hours directly with the Clerk before visiting.

• Sixth Circuit Family Law page (Pasco and Pinellas)
• Florida Guardian ad Litem Program
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Form 12.995(a) Parenting Plan
• Form 12.902(d) UCCJEA Affidavit

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

Pinellas County, FL Child Custody FAQs