Updated August 2026
Family Court Motions and Hearings in Lee County, Florida
A plain-language guide to asking for a family court hearing in Lee County, FL, from the motion you file at the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Lee County to deadlines and what to expect, prepared without hiring an attorney.
The Self-Help Center on the first floor of the Lee County Justice Center in Fort Myers offers something several other Twentieth Circuit self-help offices don't: free virtual legal consultations arranged through Lee County Legal Aid. It also provides notary services and public access computers for self-represented family law litigants preparing for a hearing.
Getting a hearing date still runs through JACS, the same scheduling system used across the rest of the Twentieth Circuit. JACS requires a Florida Bar number, so it isn't open to the general public. After you file a motion, contact the assigned judge's chambers to arrange a hearing date instead of looking for a public JACS login.
Once a date is set, expect the hearing to happen by Zoom by default, as it does across the rest of the circuit. In-person hearings are the exception, not the rule, unless a judge finds a specific reason to require one.
Lee also offers TurboCourt for anyone who wants help preparing dissolution paperwork online. It costs $10.40 to prepare and print plus $10.00 to e-file. You can also mail filings to P.O. Box 2469, Fort Myers, FL 33902, in addition to e-filing or filing in person.
Where hearings are held in Lee County, FL
Family court hearings in Lee County, FL are held at the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Lee County, with the county seat in Fort Myers. Because courtroom assignments, remote appearance options, and local procedures change over time, use the Florida court clerk directory to confirm current details:
Find the Lee 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 Lee County, FL
The free virtual legal consultations through Lee County Legal Aid go beyond a typical forms-only self-help office. If you're preparing for a contested hearing in Lee County, use the Self-Help Center for that reason before assuming you have to handle everything alone.
Because JACS access is limited to attorneys, keep your case number handy when you call the assigned judge's chambers to arrange a hearing date. Confirm the time in writing through the notice of hearing once it's set.
If you're mailing paperwork instead of e-filing or appearing in person, remember Lee's mailing address: P.O. Box 2469, Fort Myers, FL 33902. Build in extra time before a hearing-related deadline to account for mail delivery.
Official hearing resources in Lee County, FL
Lee County Justice Center handles hearings filings, located at 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Fort Myers 33901.
The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. TurboCourt is available for form preparation, $10.40 to prepare and print plus $10.00 to e-file, as an optional paid service. Mailing address: P.O. Box 2469, Fort Myers, FL 33902.
Self-Help Center (https://www.leeclerk.org/departments/courts/self-help-center) can help with procedure and paperwork. On the first floor of the Lee County Justice Center; offers free virtual legal consultations through Lee County Legal Aid, notary services, and public access computers.
- Lee County Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Twentieth Judicial Circuit - JACS
- Twentieth Judicial Circuit of Florida
- 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.
Get the free Florida hearing roadmap
A short PDF that walks through how to prepare for your hearing, the forms, and what to expect at the Lee County courthouse. No spam, one email.
We'll send you the roadmap plus occasional filing guides. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lee County, FL Family Court Hearing FAQs
Where do I go for a family court hearing in Lee County?
Lee County family law hearings are handled through the Lee County Justice Center, 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Fort Myers, though most hearings happen by Zoom. The Self-Help Center on the first floor can help with forms before you file.
Does Lee County offer free legal help before a family hearing?
Yes. The Self-Help Center at the Lee County Justice Center connects self-represented litigants with free virtual legal consultations through Lee County Legal Aid. It also offers notary services and public access computers, all on the first floor.
How do I get a hearing date on a motion filed in Lee County?
Lee shares the Twentieth Circuit's JACS scheduling tool, which requires a Florida Bar number and isn't open to self-represented parties. Contact the assigned judge's chambers after filing your motion to arrange a hearing date and time.
Will my Lee County family hearing be by Zoom?
Most likely. The Twentieth Circuit conducts most family hearings by Zoom by default. In-person hearings are reserved for cases where a judge finds good cause to require one. Confirm the format with the judge's chambers ahead of your hearing date.
Can I mail my family law filing in Lee County?
Yes. Lee accepts mailed filings at P.O. Box 2469, Fort Myers, FL 33902, in addition to e-filing through the statewide portal or filing in person at the Justice Center. Build in extra time for mail delivery if a hearing-related deadline is approaching.
What does TurboCourt cost for a Lee County dissolution filing?
TurboCourt is an optional online tool for preparing dissolution paperwork. It costs $10.40 to prepare and print your documents plus $10.00 to e-file them. It isn't required; the Self-Help Center and standard court forms remain available at no extra cost.
This page is general information about Florida family court hearing procedure in Lee County, FL, not legal advice for your situation. Deadlines, local rules, and courtroom procedures change; always confirm current details with the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Lee 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 Lee 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.
If the court clerk rejects a document we prepared, we fix it for free until it's accepted. See how the guarantee works