Updated August 2026
Family Court Motions and Hearings in Pasco County, Florida
A plain-language guide to asking for a family court hearing in Pasco County, FL, from the motion you file at the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Pasco County to deadlines and what to expect, prepared without hiring an attorney.
The assigned judge sets family law motion hearings in Pasco County, since the Sixth Judicial Circuit has no self-service scheduling portal for self-represented litigants. Pasco splits court operations between two locations: the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey and the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Your hearing could land at either one, depending on which division handles your case.
Florida skips the Request for Order form California uses. Instead, you file a written motion with the clerk. The court or the judicial assistant then sets a date and time for the hearing, and that gets written into a notice of hearing served on the other party under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516.
Many contested family law matters in the Sixth Circuit go through the Court Programs mediation track before a hearing happens. Whether your motion needs mediation first depends on the judge and the type of relief you're asking for. The Pasco Legal Resource Center, based at both judicial centers, helps self-represented litigants find the correct motion forms, but staff cannot give legal advice or tell you what to argue at the hearing.
When a case involves a general magistrate instead of a circuit judge, the magistrate hears the motion and issues a report and recommendation, which a judge reviews later. The Hearing Officers and General Magistrates office can confirm which category your case falls into before you schedule a hearing.
Where hearings are held in Pasco County, FL
Family court hearings in Pasco County, FL are held at the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Pasco County, with the county seat in New Port Richey. Because courtroom assignments, remote appearance options, and local procedures change over time, use the Florida court clerk directory to confirm current details:
Find the Pasco 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 Pasco County, FL
Because Pasco runs two courthouses, the first practical question after you file a motion is where the hearing will actually happen. West Pasco in New Port Richey handles a large share of family filings, but Dade City's Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center also processes family law paperwork. Check the courthouse address printed on your notice of hearing instead of assuming.
Self-represented filers can call the Pasco Legal Resource Center at 1-800-368-2411 for help finding approved motion forms at either location. The center will not draft your motion, predict how a judge will rule, or appear at the hearing with you.
The Sixth Circuit has no single remote-hearing policy for family motions, so check your notice of hearing for dial-in or video instructions, or call the judicial assistant listed on the case docket. Some judges allow phone or Zoom appearances for short non-evidentiary motions but require in-person appearances for anything involving live testimony.
Official hearing resources in Pasco County, FL
West Pasco Judicial Center handles hearings filings, located at 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey 34654. Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center at 38053 Live Oak Ave handles Self-represented parties may file family law papers here on paper as well as at West Pasco; confirm with the clerk which courthouse your specific hearing will be held at, since Pasco splits family filings between two judicial centers..
The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. E-filing through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is mandatory for attorneys; self-represented parties may still file family law papers on paper at either judicial center.
Pasco Legal Resource Center (Sixth Circuit) (https://www.jud6.org/representing-yourself-in-court/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Locations at both the West Pasco Judicial Center and the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City; phone 1-800-368-2411. Staff can help locate approved forms but cannot give legal advice.
- Sixth Judicial Circuit - Representing Yourself in Court
- Sixth Judicial Circuit - Hearing Officers and General Magistrates
- Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
- FloridaLawHelp.org
Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.
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Pasco County, FL Family Court Hearing FAQs
Where do I go for a family court hearing in Pasco County?
It depends on which division your case is assigned to. Pasco handles family law filings through both the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey and the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Check the address on your notice of hearing, or call the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller to confirm which courthouse hears your case before you drive to either one.
How do I get a hearing date on a motion in Pasco County?
Florida family cases skip the Request for Order form. You file your motion with the clerk, then coordinate a hearing date and time with the assigned judge's judicial assistant, whose contact information appears on the case docket. Once you have a time, serve a notice of hearing on the other party under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516.
Do I have to attend mediation before a contested hearing in Pasco?
It depends on the judge and the type of motion. The Sixth Circuit runs mediation through its Court Programs division, and some contested family matters get referred to mediation before a judge will hear the motion. Ask the assigned division or the Court Programs office whether your motion requires mediation first.
Can I appear by phone or Zoom for a Pasco family hearing?
It varies by judge, since the Sixth Circuit has no single policy covering every family division. Check your notice of hearing for dial-in or video instructions, or call the judicial assistant listed on the case docket to ask whether a remote appearance is available for your motion.
What is a general magistrate and could one hear my Pasco family motion?
A general magistrate is an attorney appointed to hear certain family law, child support, and dependency matters, then issue a report and recommendation to a judge instead of a final ruling. Pasco's Hearing Officers and General Magistrates office, (727) 464-4470, can confirm whether your case has been assigned to a magistrate.
Where can I get help with motion forms for a Pasco hearing?
The Pasco Legal Resource Center, at both the West Pasco Judicial Center and the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center, helps self-represented parties find approved family law forms; call 1-800-368-2411. Staff there cannot fill out the motion for you or give legal advice about what to file.
This page is general information about Florida family court hearing procedure in Pasco County, FL, not legal advice for your situation. Deadlines, local rules, and courtroom procedures change; always confirm current details with the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Pasco 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 Pasco County, FL
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