Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Sarasota County, Florida

Sarasota County hears child custody and time-sharing cases at the Sarasota County Courthouse, 2000 Main Street in downtown Sarasota. The county also hosts the Twelfth Judicial Circuit's main Self-Help Center at 2002 Ringling Boulevard, which serves DeSoto and Manatee counties too. The Self-Help Center is open weekdays from 8:00am to 4:30pm, closed for lunch from noon to 1pm. Call (941) 861-8191 to schedule an appointment or check current walk-in availability.

A Sarasota case touching parental responsibility or time-sharing needs a Parenting Plan: Form 12.995(a) for a standard arrangement, or 12.995(b) for supervised time-sharing. It also needs a UCCJEA Affidavit (Form 12.902(d)) that documents the child's residence history for the past five years. Both parents must complete a state-approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course before the court finalizes the case.

Self-represented parents can bring forms to Customer Service at the Clerk's Office for review and notarization. They can also use the circuit's Self-Help Center or the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

Contested time-sharing disputes generally go through the Twelfth Circuit's Family Mediation Program before a judge sets a hearing. The program's primary intake for the circuit is based in Sarasota.

Where custody cases are heard in Sarasota County, FL

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

Local notes for Sarasota County, FL

The Twelfth Circuit's Family Mediation Program uses a tiered fee schedule. Combined household income of $50,000 or less pays $60 per party; income between $50,000 and $100,000 pays $120 per party. Above $100,000 combined income, the program cannot mediate the case, and the parties choose a private mediator instead. Sarasota's mediation contact is (941) 861-4820.

Sarasota hosts the Twelfth Circuit's central Self-Help Center, so parents from DeSoto and Manatee sometimes call or travel to the Sarasota office for guidance not available closer to home. Appointments are encouraged given the shared caseload across all three counties.

Some Twelfth Circuit family hearings are held remotely by Zoom. Check the notice of hearing for your Sarasota case to confirm whether it takes place in person at the courthouse on Main Street or online.

Official custody resources in Sarasota County, FL

Sarasota County Courthouse (Judicial Center) handles custody filings, located at 2000 Main Street, Sarasota 34237.

The filing fee is $397.50. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal; self-represented parties may also bring forms to Customer Service at the Clerk's Office for review and notarization.

Twelfth Circuit Self-Help Center (https://jud12.flcourts.org/Services/Self-Help-Center) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at 2002 Ringling Blvd., 1st Floor, Sarasota, FL 34237. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, closed daily for lunch from 12pm to 1pm. Walk-ins are accepted first-come, but appointments are encouraged; call (941) 861-8191. This is the main Self-Help Center for all three Twelfth Circuit counties.

• Twelfth Circuit Self-Help Center
• Twelfth Circuit Family Mediation Requirements
• Sarasota Clerk Family Court Self-Help
• Twelfth Circuit Public Court Hearings on Zoom
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal

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

Sarasota County, FL Child Custody FAQs