Alimony in Collier County, Florida

Collier County's court-run family mediation program won't take your case if you and your spouse together earn more than $100,000 a year. Fla. Stat. 44.108 sets that combined income figure as the cap. Above it, parties must hire a private mediator instead. Below the cap, mediation sessions last three hours, scheduled for 9am or 1pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or every other Friday.

You request alimony inside a dissolution of marriage petition, not as a separate filing. The Collier County Courthouse in Naples charges $408 to file one. A counter-petition for dissolution in an existing case costs slightly less, $392.50. For fee questions, call the clerk's Self-Help Center at (239) 252-2646 or email CollierClerk@CollierClerk.com.

Fla. Stat. 61.08 was rewritten effective July 1, 2023, ending permanent alimony statewide, Naples included. A judge here chooses among temporary support during the case, bridge-the-gap support capped at 2 years, rehabilitative support tied to a plan and capped at 5 years, or durational support with a length set by the marriage's duration.

Both spouses need to file a financial affidavit before a judge will hear alimony: Form 12.902(b) for income above $50,000 a year, or the shorter Form 12.902(c) below that.

Where alimony cases are heard in Collier County, FL

Alimony matters in Collier County, FL are handled by the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Collier County, with the county seat in Naples. Because courthouse locations, hours, and local procedures change over time, use the Florida court clerk directory to confirm current details for your case:

Find the Collier County, FL Clerk of Court (Florida court clerk directory)

How alimony works in Florida

Florida ended permanent alimony in a 2023 reform to Florida Statutes chapter 61 (section 61.08). Today a judge can order bridge-the-gap alimony (short-term, to help a spouse transition, capped at two years), rehabilitative alimony (tied to a specific plan to become self-supporting), durational alimony (a set period, generally not longer than the length of the marriage, except in exceptional circumstances), or temporary alimony while the case is pending. There is no formula the way there is for child support; a judge weighs each spouse's need and ability to pay, the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, and the factors listed in section 61.08.

Alimony is requested inside a dissolution of marriage case, using each spouse's Financial Affidavit (Florida Supreme Court approved family law form 12.902(b) or 12.902(c) depending on income), and can be resolved by agreement or decided at trial. Temporary alimony while the case is pending is requested by motion; your circuit's procedures determine how that motion gets set for hearing.

Local notes for Collier County, FL

A Family Case Manager usually raises mediation during Case Management Conferences at the Collier County Courthouse. From there, parties confirm an open slot on the circuit's JACS calendar and notify the Mediation Coordinator at Mediation-Collier@ca.cjis20.org.

Collier operates under the Twentieth Circuit's Admin. Order 1.16, which governs court-ordered mediation across family cases. The income-based eligibility rule ties directly back to Fla. Stat. 44.108's sliding-scale framework for mediation fees.

If your combined household income puts you over the $100,000 court-mediation threshold, ask the clerk or your case manager about private mediator options early. Finding and scheduling one outside the court's roster takes more lead time than booking a JACS slot.

Official alimony resources in Collier County, FL

Collier County Courthouse handles spousal-support filings, located at 3315 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 102, Naples 34112. Phone: (239) 252-2646.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is the standard method; the Self-Help Center can also assist with paper filing questions.

Collier Clerk Self-Help Center (https://www.collierclerk.com/court-divisions/self-help-center/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Listed under Court Divisions; contact (239) 252-2646 or CollierClerk@CollierClerk.com for family law fee questions. Other family filing fees on the clerk's schedule: oath administration by a Deputy Clerk $3.50 per person, summons $10.00, counter-petition for dissolution filed in an existing case $392.50. Admin. Order 1.16 (Court-Ordered Mediation in Circuit Civil, Family, Dependency & County Court Civil Cases) applies; see https://www.ca.cjis20.org/Documents/admin-orders.aspx.

• Collier Clerk - Self-Help Center
• Twentieth Judicial Circuit - Administrative Orders
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Fla. Stat. 61.08 - Alimony

Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.

Collier County, FL Alimony FAQs