Updated August 2026
Family Court Motions and Hearings in Duval County, Florida
A plain-language guide to asking for a family court hearing in Duval County, FL, from the motion you file at the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Duval County to deadlines and what to expect, prepared without hiring an attorney.
File a family law motion in Duval County with the Clerk of Courts at the Duval County Courthouse, 501 West Adams Street in Jacksonville. Dissolution of marriage currently costs $409, the Family Law line item on the Clerk's posted fee schedule. Duval is the most populous county in Florida's Fourth Circuit, and it maintains its own County Law Library for legal research. Clay and Nassau counties do not list this resource separately.
Duval shares the circuit's Family Court Services self-help page instead of running its own. It also uses the Fourth Circuit's Magistrates and Hearing Officers program, so a magistrate may hear some temporary or post-judgment family matters under Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.490, instead of only a circuit judge. Duval's case volume is higher than Clay's or Nassau's, so this magistrate referral may happen more often here.
The circuit's site also lists a Domestic Violence Compliance Review Hearing among its programs. This hearing type differs from a standard family law motion hearing. It matters if your Duval case involves an injunction rather than a standard dissolution or custody motion.
Duval accepts filings through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. The public record does not describe how a standard family motion hearing gets its date and time set, so after filing, call the Clerk's office or your assigned judicial assistant to ask about scheduling.
Where hearings are held in Duval County, FL
Family court hearings in Duval County, FL are held at the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Duval County, with the county seat in Jacksonville. Because courtroom assignments, remote appearance options, and local procedures change over time, use the Florida court clerk directory to confirm current details:
Find the Duval County, FL Clerk of Court (Florida court clerk directory)
How a family court hearing works in Florida
In Florida, a party who wants the court to decide something while a family case is pending, such as temporary time-sharing, temporary support, or exclusive use of the home, files a written motion under the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure. Motions for temporary financial relief generally require a current Financial Affidavit (Florida Supreme Court approved family law form 12.902(b) or 12.902(c)). The core steps are:
- File a written motion stating the relief you are asking for, with a current Financial Affidavit if money or support is at issue.
- Serve the motion on the other party or their attorney.
- Coordinate a hearing date, following your circuit's local procedure for setting family law motions (some circuits use a uniform motion calendar; others require you to contact the judicial assistant).
- Attend mediation first if your circuit requires it for contested family law motions.
- Attend the hearing and receive the court's order.
Local notes for Duval County, FL
Use Duval's own County Law Library to research a statute, rule, or local practice before a hearing. Clay and Nassau filers may need a different approach, since their counties do not have this standalone resource.
If the Fourth Circuit refers your case to its Alternative Dispute Resolution program, ask about cost and scheduling directly. The site does not list a Duval-specific fee schedule for family mediation separate from the circuit's general program.
If your Duval case involves a domestic violence injunction, a compliance review hearing works differently from a standard motion hearing. Ask the Clerk's office or your assigned judicial assistant which process applies to your filing.
Official hearing resources in Duval County, FL
Duval County Courthouse handles hearings filings, located at 501 West Adams Street, Jacksonville 32202.
The filing fee is $409. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, statewide for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.
Fourth Circuit Family Court Services Self-Help (https://www.jud4.org/family-court-services/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Shared self-help resource for the Fourth Judicial Circuit (Clay, Duval, Nassau); Duval additionally has its own County Law Library.
- Duval County Clerk of Courts
- Family Court Services Self-Help, Fourth Judicial Circuit
- Administrative Orders, Fourth Judicial Circuit
- 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.
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Duval County, FL Family Court Hearing FAQs
Where do I file a family law motion in Duval County?
File with the Clerk of Courts at the Duval County Courthouse, 501 West Adams Street, Jacksonville FL 32202, or electronically through myflcourtaccess.com, the statewide e-filing portal covering the Fourth Judicial Circuit.
How much does it cost to file for dissolution in Duval County?
The current fee is $409 for dissolution of marriage, per the Clerk's Family Law fee schedule line item. A motion within an already-open case may carry a different amount, so confirm with the Clerk before filing.
Does Duval County have its own legal research library?
Yes. Duval maintains its own County Law Library, open to the public for legal research, which the Fourth Circuit's site does not separately list for Clay or Nassau counties.
Will my Duval County family case be heard by a magistrate?
It might. Under the Fourth Circuit's Magistrates and Hearing Officers program, some temporary or post-judgment family matters may go to a magistrate instead of a circuit judge, under Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.490. Duval's case volume is higher than Clay's or Nassau's, so this may come up more often here.
What is a Domestic Violence Compliance Review Hearing in Duval County?
It is a distinct hearing type listed among the Fourth Circuit's programs, separate from a standard family law motion hearing. It applies if your Duval case involves a domestic violence injunction rather than dissolution or custody.
How do I find out when my Duval County hearing is scheduled?
Duval and the Fourth Circuit do not publish a scheduling process for a standard family motion. After filing, contact the Clerk's office or your assigned judicial assistant to ask how and when a hearing date will be set.
This page is general information about Florida family court hearing procedure in Duval County, FL, not legal advice for your situation. Deadlines, local rules, and courtroom procedures change; always confirm current details with the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Duval County or the official Florida family court self-help program resources. Virdix is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney.
Hearing guides for nearby counties
Preparing for a hearing in Duval County, FL
Virdix guides you through the Florida Supreme Court approved family law forms your hearing needs, so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file.
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