Updated August 2026
Family Court Motions and Hearings in Jackson County, Florida
A plain-language guide to asking for a family court hearing in Jackson County, FL, from the motion you file at the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Jackson County to deadlines and what to expect, prepared without hiring an attorney.
An unmarried parent filing a paternity action in Jackson County doesn't need to search multiple sites for the right motion form. The Fourteenth Circuit's shared Family Law Forms page, which Jackson's Clerk links to directly instead of hosting a separate local page, includes paternity instructions and a settlement agreement along with general motion instructions, a motion to compel, and a Contempt Information Sheet. File at the Jackson County Courthouse, 4445 Lafayette St in Marianna. The current fee is $408.
A general magistrate may hear certain temporary or post-judgment matters in Jackson instead of a circuit judge. This follows statewide Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.490; which division your case lands in decides the assignment.
Given Jackson's size and the distance some residents in Graceville, Cottondale, or Sneads travel to reach Marianna, the circuit's Motion to Appear by Telephone form is worth considering for a routine hearing. Approval still depends on the judge and the type of hearing.
Jackson accepts filings through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. No detailed public description of how a hearing date and time gets set was found, so the practical next step is contacting the Clerk's office or your assigned judicial assistant after filing.
Where hearings are held in Jackson County, FL
Family court hearings in Jackson County, FL are held at the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Jackson County, with the county seat in Marianna. Because courtroom assignments, remote appearance options, and local procedures change over time, use the Florida court clerk directory to confirm current details:
Find the Jackson 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 Jackson County, FL
Jackson routes directly to the Fourteenth Circuit's own forms page, so use that single source for paternity, motion, contempt, and telephone-appearance paperwork. You don't need a separate county-specific version. Print the current form instead of relying on a copy saved from an earlier case, since Florida revises these forms periodically.
A Jackson family case can go to mediation before a contested hearing, under statewide Fla. Stat. 44.102 and Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.740. No Jackson-specific mediation fee schedule has been confirmed. Ask about cost and location when a referral happens, and ask whether the mediator is circuit staff or a private provider billed separately.
Call the Clerk's office to confirm your filing fee or ask about scheduling. While you're on the phone, ask whether your case will be assigned to a general magistrate, since that can affect how fast a hearing gets set compared to waiting on a circuit judge's calendar.
Official hearing resources in Jackson County, FL
Jackson County Courthouse handles hearings filings, located at 4445 Lafayette St, Marianna 32446.
The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, statewide for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.
Fourteenth Circuit Family Law Forms (https://jud14.flcourts.org/family-law/family-law-forms) can help with procedure and paperwork. Jackson routes filers to the circuit's shared Family Law Forms page rather than hosting a separate local page.
- Jackson County Clerk of Court
- Family Law Forms, Fourteenth 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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Jackson County, FL Family Court Hearing FAQs
Where do I file a family law motion in Jackson County?
File with the Clerk of Court at the Jackson County Courthouse, 4445 Lafayette St, Marianna FL 32446. You can also file electronically through myflcourtaccess.com, the statewide e-filing portal that covers the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.
How much does it cost to file a family motion in Jackson County?
The current fee is $408 for a dissolution-related family filing. A motion filed within a case that's already open may cost a different amount, so confirm the exact fee with the Clerk before filing.
Where do I find a paternity motion form for a Jackson County case?
Check the Fourteenth Circuit's Family Law Forms page, which Jackson links to directly. It includes paternity instructions and a settlement agreement alongside general motion forms, so you won't need to search elsewhere for paternity-specific paperwork.
Can I appear by phone for a family hearing in Jackson County?
The Fourteenth Circuit's forms include a Motion to Appear by Telephone. It's worth considering given the distance some Jackson residents travel to Marianna. Whether it's granted depends on the assigned judge and the type of hearing.
Will my Jackson County family case go to mediation before a hearing?
It can. Statewide Fla. Stat. 44.102 and Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.740 allow mediation referral in contested family matters. No Jackson-specific fee schedule has been confirmed, so ask about cost if your case gets referred.
How do I find out when my Jackson County hearing is scheduled?
Jackson and the Fourteenth Circuit don't publish a scheduling process for this. After filing, contact the Clerk's office or your assigned judicial assistant and ask how and when a hearing date gets set.
This page is general information about Florida family court hearing procedure in Jackson County, FL, not legal advice for your situation. Deadlines, local rules, and courtroom procedures change; always confirm current details with the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Jackson 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 Jackson County, FL
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