Child Custody and Time-Sharing in Sumter County, Florida

A Sumter County custody case starts at the Sumter County Clerk of the Circuit Court's office. The Fifth Judicial Circuit's Family Division then sets parental responsibility and a time-sharing schedule. The courthouse, the Sumter County Judicial Center, is at 215 E McCollum Ave in Bushnell, FL 33513. This applies whether you live near Bushnell or out toward Wildwood.

Florida courts do not issue a simple custody award. Judges follow Fla. Stat. 61.13 and approve a parenting plan that splits parental responsibility (who decides what) from time-sharing (the day-to-day schedule). Parents use Form 12.995(a) in most cases, the safety-focused 12.995(b) when domestic violence or substance abuse is a factor, or the long-distance 12.995(c) plan when they live far apart.

Fla. Stat. 61.21 makes a parenting course mandatory in any Florida custody case with minor children. Both parents must finish an approved course, and DCF keeps the current provider list. Every petition involving a minor child needs Form 12.902(d), the UCCJEA affidavit, which lists where the child has lived so the court can confirm jurisdiction under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. Contested parenting-plan disputes usually go through mediation first, under Fla. Stat. 61.183, before reaching a judge.

Electronic filing runs through myflcourtaccess.com statewide. It's required for attorneys and optional for self-represented parties, who can still file paper at the counter. The Fifth Judicial Circuit's family self-help program (https://www.circuit5.org/self-help-center/sumter-county-self-help-center/) helps parents without a lawyer figure out which forms to file and in what order. Staff there do not give legal advice.

Where custody cases are heard in Sumter County, FL

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

Local notes for Sumter County, FL

Sumter County's mediation coordinator, Christopher Blechschmidt, can be reached at sumtermediation@circuit5.org. 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.

The filing fee for a time-sharing petition in Sumter County is $397.50; summons or service costs can add to that. The Fifth Judicial Circuit Sumter County Self-Help Center is currently remote-only, open Monday through Friday 8am-5pm (closed noon-1pm), at 352-569-6949. Self-help staff can confirm which forms you need and check your paperwork for completeness, but by law they cannot fill out forms for you or tell you what to write on them.

Fla. Stat. 61.401 leaves guardian ad litem appointments in contested custody cases to the judge's discretion. For general information, the Fifth Circuit's Guardian ad Litem Program office, which mainly handles dependency cases, is at 352-671-5757. Call sumtermediation@circuit5.org to confirm the exact per-session mediation fee for Sumter County.

Official custody resources in Sumter County, FL

Sumter County Judicial Center handles custody filings, located at 215 E McCollum Ave, Bushnell 33513.

The filing fee is $397.50. 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/sumter-county-self-help-center/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Fifth Judicial Circuit Sumter County Self-Help Center, currently remote-only, Mon-Fri 8am-5pm (closed noon-1pm), 352-569-6949

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

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

Sumter County, FL Child Custody FAQs