Updated August 2026
Family Court Motions and Hearings in Union County, Florida
A plain-language guide to asking for a family court hearing in Union County, FL, from the motion you file at the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Union County to deadlines and what to expect, prepared without hiring an attorney.
Union County is one of Florida's smallest counties by population. A family law hearing or motion filed there may be routed to a general magistrate under Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.490 more often than it sits on a circuit judge's calendar, though the assigned division makes the final call. File at the Union County Courthouse, 55 West Main Street, Room 103, in Lake Butler.
Union's own clerk website did not load reliably for us, so use the Eighth Circuit's shared Self-Help page at circuit8.org as your primary written resource instead. Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, and Levy counties use the same page. Call the Clerk's office directly to confirm the current filing fee rather than relying on an unverified figure.
The circuit lists Mediation among its Departments & Services. Specific fee and scheduling details for a Union case were not confirmed, so ask the Clerk's office directly.
Union accepts filings through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. No detailed public description explains how a hearing date and time get assigned, so contact the Clerk's office directly after filing to find out.
Where hearings are held in Union County, FL
Family court hearings in Union County, FL are held at the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Union County, with the county seat in Lake Butler. Because courtroom assignments, remote appearance options, and local procedures change over time, use the Florida court clerk directory to confirm current details:
Find the Union 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 Union County, FL
Union's own clerk site did not load reliably for us, so lean on the Eighth Circuit's shared resources and a direct call to the Clerk's office for anything specific to your case. That includes the current filing fee and whether it differs for a simplified dissolution.
Given Union's small size, ask specifically whether your matter, especially a temporary issue, could go through a general magistrate referral instead of waiting on a full circuit judge's hearing calendar. That wait can run much longer in a busier county.
No remote-appearance policy for Union family hearings was confirmed for this page. If attending in person in Lake Butler is a hardship, ask the Clerk's office or your assigned judicial assistant whether a phone or video option applies to your hearing. Ask as soon as a date is set.
Official hearing resources in Union County, FL
Union County Courthouse handles hearings filings, located at 55 West Main Street, Room 103, Lake Butler 32054.
E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, statewide for the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
Eighth Circuit Self-Help (https://circuit8.org/self-help/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Shared Eighth Circuit self-help page; unionclerk.com blocked automated verification during research.
- Self-Help, Eighth Judicial Circuit
- Administrative Orders, Eighth 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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Union County, FL Family Court Hearing FAQs
Where do I file a family law motion in Union County?
File with the Clerk of Court at the Union County Courthouse, 55 West Main Street, Room 103, Lake Butler FL 32054. You can also file electronically through myflcourtaccess.com, the statewide e-filing portal covering the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
How much does it cost to file a family motion in Union County?
We could not confirm the current fee for this page because Union's own clerk website did not load reliably. Call the Clerk's office directly to confirm the exact amount before you file.
Will my Union County family case be heard by a magistrate?
It might, more likely than in a larger Eighth Circuit county. Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.490 authorizes general magistrates to hear temporary and post-judgment matters by referral, often a faster path in a smaller county like Union.
Does Union County have its own family law self-help page?
Union's own clerk website did not load reliably for us. Use the Eighth Circuit's shared Self-Help page at circuit8.org instead. Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, and Levy counties use the same page.
Will my Union County family case go to mediation before a hearing?
It can. The Eighth Circuit lists Mediation among its Departments & Services, but specific fee and scheduling details for a Union case were not confirmed. Ask the Clerk's office directly.
How do I find out when my Union County hearing is scheduled?
We found no public scheduling process specific to Union or the Eighth Circuit. After filing, contact the Clerk's office directly, by phone if the website will not load, to ask how and when a hearing date gets set.
This page is general information about Florida family court hearing procedure in Union County, FL, not legal advice for your situation. Deadlines, local rules, and courtroom procedures change; always confirm current details with the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Union 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 Union 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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