Updated August 2026
Family Court Motions and Hearings in Palm Beach County, Florida
A plain-language guide to asking for a family court hearing in Palm Beach County, FL, from the motion you file at the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Palm Beach County to deadlines and what to expect, prepared without hiring an attorney.
Palm Beach County's biggest logistical hitch for a family court hearing is figuring out which of its four courthouses handles your case. The main Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach handles most family filings. North County, South County, and West County courthouses each serve their own part of the county and may host your hearing instead, depending on where the case was filed.
Filing a motion in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit doesn't automatically produce a hearing date. Family Case Inquiry, the circuit's system for connecting self-represented litigants with case managers, answers procedural and status questions and points you toward the right office. Case managers can't set a hearing date themselves or give legal advice about the motion.
Palm Beach runs family cases through a Unified Family Court structure. Related motions within the same case, including custody, support, and other family matters, tend to stay in front of one judge. That setup makes it easier to track down the correct chambers once a case is assigned.
The Fifteenth Circuit publishes its Administrative Orders and Local Rules online. Check that page for any current order covering family motion practice, mediation referral requirements, or remote hearing policy before a contested hearing.
Where hearings are held in Palm Beach County, FL
Family court hearings in Palm Beach County, FL are held at the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Palm Beach County, with the county seat in West Palm Beach. Because courtroom assignments, remote appearance options, and local procedures change over time, use the Florida court clerk directory to confirm current details:
Find the Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County, FL
Before heading to any Palm Beach courthouse for a family hearing, check the exact address on your notice of hearing. With four separate locations, the main courthouse in West Palm Beach, North County in Palm Beach Gardens, South County in Delray Beach, and West County in Belle Glade, guessing wrong can mean missing your hearing entirely.
The Palm Beach Clerk's self-service center pages weren't accessible during a direct check. Call or visit in person to confirm current self-help hours and toolbox resources rather than relying only on what a search turns up.
If your case needs mediation before a contested hearing, or you're unsure whether a remote appearance is available, check the Fifteenth Circuit's Administrative Orders and Local Rules page; it's the authoritative source. Requirements can vary by division.
Official hearing resources in Palm Beach County, FL
Palm Beach County Courthouse (Main Courthouse) handles hearings filings, located at 205 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach 33401. North County Courthouse at 3188 PGA Blvd handles Certain family filings closer to the northern part of the county; confirm which hearing types before relying on this location.. South County Courthouse at 200 W Atlantic Ave handles Certain family filings closer to the southern part of the county; confirm which hearing types before relying on this location.. West County Courthouse at 2950 State Rd 15 handles Certain family filings for the Glades area; confirm which hearing types before relying on this location..
The filing fee is $409. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Family law in Palm Beach County is handled through a Unified Family Court division, so related motions in the same case tend to stay with one judge.
Family Case Inquiry (https://www.15thcircuit.com) can help with procedure and paperwork. The Fifteenth Circuit's Family Case Inquiry system connects self-represented parties with case managers who answer procedural and case-status questions but cannot give legal advice or complete paperwork.
Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.
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Palm Beach County, FL Family Court Hearing FAQs
Where do I go for a family court hearing in Palm Beach County?
That depends on which courthouse your case is assigned to. Palm Beach operates four locations: the main courthouse in West Palm Beach, North County in Palm Beach Gardens, South County in Delray Beach, and West County in Belle Glade. Confirm the address on your notice of hearing before you go.
How do I get a hearing date on a motion filed in Palm Beach County?
The Fifteenth Circuit hasn't published an online self-scheduling tool. Use Family Case Inquiry to reach a case manager, who can direct you to the assigned judge's office; from there, coordinate a hearing date and serve a written notice of hearing on the other party.
What is Family Case Inquiry and can it schedule my hearing?
Family Case Inquiry connects self-represented litigants with case managers who answer procedural and case-status questions in the Fifteenth Circuit. Case managers can't set a hearing date or give legal advice, but they can point you to the right office.
Which Palm Beach courthouse handles my specific family hearing?
That depends on where your case was filed and which division it's in. The main courthouse in West Palm Beach handles most family law cases, but North County, South County, and West County courthouses also process family filings. Check your notice of hearing to confirm.
Is mediation required before a contested Palm Beach family hearing?
Sometimes, depending on the division and motion type. Check the Fifteenth Circuit's Administrative Orders and Local Rules for the current policy on mediation referral, or ask the assigned division directly whether your motion requires it before a hearing is set.
Can I get self-help assistance before a Palm Beach family hearing?
The Fifteenth Circuit's Family Case Inquiry system is the main self-help resource for procedural questions. The Palm Beach Clerk also advertises additional self-service resources, but its pages weren't accessible during a check; call to confirm current offerings.
This page is general information about Florida family court hearing procedure in Palm Beach County, FL, not legal advice for your situation. Deadlines, local rules, and courtroom procedures change; always confirm current details with the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Palm Beach 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.
Preparing for a hearing in Palm Beach 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